SHISHU
MANDIR
CHILDREN'S
HOME
The Shishu Mandir Children’s Home is the beating heart of the organisation. It is from here that the journey of Shishu Mandir began. It has been - and remains - a place of security and safety for the poorest and most vulnerable children in our community.
OUR HOME
MODEL.
Our Children’s Home is for girls with a maximum occupancy of 30 at any given time. There are three units. Each unit has eight children of mixed age groups with one Housemother. Each unit functions like a family in that they share a common room, 2 bathrooms, 2 bedrooms and a room for the Housemother. All the units come together as one big family for meals.
As per law children are admitted to the Home after the age of 6. They stay with us, until they complete their higher education and are independent. Some may choose to move closer to their colleges, in which instance Shishu Mandir remains their guardian, fulfilling all responsibilities towards them, as a family would.
Our Children’s Home runs all 365 days of the year. This is because we recognise that these children have been admitted, because their family circumstances are not conducive. Some of the children have lost one or both parents, some come from broken families, or extremely poor families, where even a daily meal can be a challenge. Our children can choose to visit their parents or families, depending on how comfortable or safe they feel there. There is no expectation that they should return to their families for holidays.
ADMISSION TO THE HOME.
When a vacancy opens up in the Home, our social workers produce a list of children who would benefit from living here. The Home Working Committee studies every case to make the decision. Preference is given to the poorest children, orphans, children without mothers and families with many children.
As per law every child admitted to the Home is approved by the Child Welfare Committee of the Government of India. Every 6 months, we submit a progress report to the Committee.
We go beyond the legal requirements to support the families of these children, emotionally and economically so that they are able to rise above their poverty.
The children stay in the Home until they are 18 years old. We support them with accommodation at paid hostels if they are studying further. During holidays and vacation Shishu Home remains open to them.
MANGALA HOME.
In 2023, we also took over the running and management of the Mangala Children's Home which was started by the Lion's Club (Ladies Wing) 10 years ago. This Home has 32 (as of 2024-25) girls between the ages of 6 to 21 and is manned by 3 staff members.
Mangala Children’s Home continues to serve as a supportive residential space for girls pursuing school, college, university, and vocational training. The home provides both short-term and long-term shelter based on individual family circumstances and needs, offering a stable environment that ensured continuity in education and personal development. Mangala Home supported a total of 32 girls during the year 2024-25. This included 14 school-going children (Classes 6–10), 6 college students, 3 university students, 5 vocational training participants, and 4 girls requiring temporary shelter due to difficult family situations.
Life at Mangala Home
Weekends are spent with music, cooking, TV time, walks, and unicycle rides. Monthly outings are organised to parks, museums, malls, and cinema halls. Children maintain contact with their families and visit home on special occasions. They also observe their respective religious practices by visiting temples and churches.
Health support is provided through Shanthi Nilaya Primary Health Centre and Shishu Mandir’s in-house medical team. Regular check-ups, nutritious food supplements, and prompt treatments are arranged.
Events and Cultural Participation
Children actively participated in the Bhumi Nakshatra event, where Mangala and Shishu Home jointly won the overall championship among 30 participating children’s homes. Festivals such as Diwali, Christmas, and New Year were celebrated with Shishu Home through cultural programmes, prayers, shared meals, and gifts. During the Children’s Carnival organised by the District Child Protection Unit, Mangala Home girls performed Bharatanatyam and received appreciation. They also joined a Peace Poster competition organised by the Lions Club.
The annual excursion took place to Ooty, from 28 April to 1 May, along with children and staff from Shishu Home. The itinerary included visits to botanical gardens, tea plantations, a chocolate factory, waterfalls, and a toy train ride. The children enjoyed recreational games and meals together in a relaxed and joyful environment.