An orphanage amidst the lush green beauty of Kandy embraces children in need

Evelyn's Children

By Chamintha Thilakaratna and Ayesha R. Rafiq

The sitting room was quiet as we walked in. 'The children are all at school, they'll be back soon," Ms. Ada Goonewardene, supervisor of the orphanage, said. True enough, after about 15 minutes, the halls were filled with activity as the children arrived for their meals.

Evelyn Nurseries the orphanage is located on top of a small hill, close to Hillwood College Kandy, with a scenic view of Kandy. The home was set up by missionary Ms. Lena Chapman for children from three to eighteen. The third principal of Hillwood Girls College in Kandy, after retirement, she took up the task of giving orphaned children a better life and named the orphanage after her sister Evelyn who provided the funds. The Evelyn Nurseries celebrated their 70th Anniversary recently.

Starting out with just five children, today the home houses 40 children and four matrons, and is run by the Anglican Church in Kurunegala. Children are brought there by the police, hospital and social workers, even relatives who can't afford to look after them. "We don't accept children over five because it is difficult to find schools for them after this age," Ms. Goonewardene said.

Four-year-old Anushka and six-year-old Amali from Trincomalee were abandoned when their father left for work one morning and never returned. "He is missing" was all that people knew.

The teddy bears and dolls which lie on each of the six beds to a room, speak volumes of the homely atmosphere. A senior girl sleeps in the younger children's rooms, taking care of her little 'sisters' joined by a bond stronger than blood.

Just like in any ordinary household, at the privately funded orphanage, the children are trained to fend for themselves as much as possible. They are taught to keep their corners of the room neat and tidy and even the youngest of the children help in the cooking. The children's old clothes, sheets, etc. are turned into dusters and floor cloths. "We teach them not to waste anything," says Ms. Goonewardene.

Of course, they fight, argue and fuss, just like the rest of us. However, the feeling of belonging and knowledge that the others will be there for them when they are needed the most has strengthened the children.

Earlier, when the children came to the orphanage, they had no contact with any of their relations. But realizing that this could have adverse psychological effects on them, Ms. Goonewardene, who had herself grown up in the orphanage, decided to change this. Whenever possible, she traces the children's roots, and if their relatives are located, the children can adopt their surnames and sometimes spend a day with them.

This way, Ms. Goonewardene says, the children don't feel lost and alone in the world, and moreover have an identity of their own.

Little Chulani's and Jayani's mother was electrocuted when she went in search of the family cow. With her death, the family split. Unable to look after the children their father had appealed to an orphanage to take them in. Their ill fate was brightened by the love and care they found at Evelyn Nursery.

The girls usually leave after they reach the age of eighteen and some of them are now employed in nursing and secretarial work. "Very often they want to stay on with us but we encourage them to go out into the world. Some of them are married to foreigners and living abroad," Ms. Goonewardene said.

Wasanthi Dharmaratne is one of those who grew up in the orphanage and still lives there. As one of the matrons, she takes care of all the home's sewing needs. When we walked in, she was sewing some dresses for the girls.

"I'm very happy here and don't want to leave this place. That is why I asked to stay on as a matron," she said.

Evelyn Nurseries has also recently opened up a pre-school for poorer children in the area.

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