School uniforms and concrete floors have replaced ragged clothing and muddy pathways as a hostel/orphanage is dedicated
this month in Maradiyur, India.
Today, 400 orphaned, abandoned and neglected girls between the ages of five and 20 are safe and going to school at
Homes of Hope in southern India. One of them is Reena, shown at left at age eight, who is now 14. Seven years ago, her
smile inspired Paul Wilkes to reach into his pocket and give.
From that first fistful of dollars, more than $1 million has been raised through Homes of Hope India-US and more than
100 Wilmingtonians have traveled to teach and lead the girls, to repair the original Prathyasha Bhavan, or Homes of Hope,
which now includes three orphanages, 18 schools and nine community empowerment centers throughout southern India.
45 www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com
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smile By Paul Wilkes • Photography by Arrow Ross
