Our Purpose
In keeping with the vision of Raphael's founders, Group Captain Lord Leonard Cheshire of Woodhall and Baroness Ryder of Warsaw, we are dedicated "to provide for the relief of suffering for the people of Raphael."
"Raphael" means archangel of healing. Raphael embraces men, women, and children of every race and religion.
Situated on the banks of the Rispana River, across from the town of Dehra Dun, Uttaranchal, India, Raphael began in 1958 with a small cluster of tents to house eight mentally impaired children and twelve leprosy patients.
The only item Leonard Cheshire brought with him was a roll of pig wire to enclose the little camp. He also had a consuming desire to provide care and shelter for people in desperate need. This desire he shared with Sue Ryder and Raphael became their first joint endeavor.
Today this river bed is what we now call Raphael, a thriving community of over 260 men, women, and children supported by 100 staff. In addition volunteers from Australia, New Zealand and the UK are regular visitors.
In the shade of Sal trees is a community of simple buildings.
Little White House
This is a hostel for normal children of leprosy parentage. The 62 children are ages 6 to 18 years. They are provided with free board and lodging within the campus and education up to class 12 in local schools. On completion and based on the child's potential, they are sponsored to undergo technical and vocational training so that they can stand on their own feet. Twenty such children after training are now on the teaching staff of Ava Vihar.
Ava Vihar
This deals with the care and rehabilitation of the mentally challenged. It's activities include:
- Day Centre
- 70 mentally challenged children come by day and go back home in the evening. During the day they receive education and training with the help of special teachers, a speech therapist and physiotherapist.
- Hostel
- Provides a residential facility to the mentally challenged which includes care, education and training, there are 50 residents in this wing.
- Community Based Rehabilitation
- Disabled children in the rural areas who do not go to regular schools on account of a disability are imparted education and training through the Community Based Rehabilitation programme at their locations. Presently, there are three such centers with plans to open two centers every year for the next few years. Presently there are approximately 30 children with disabilities receiving education and training in these centers.
- Assessment and Remedial Measures for Children with Specific Learning Difficulties such as dyslexia
- A Raphael team creates an awareness of dyslexia amongst local schools and their staff and carries out assessment of children in these schools. Those suffering from dyslexia come to Raphael for remedial measures, which may last for 6 to 8 months. Presently about 30 children are undergoing remedial training.
- Training of Resource Persons in the field of Disability Management
- Because of a paucity of trained resource persons in the field of mental retardation, 3 courses recognized by the Government of India and the Rehabilitation Council of India are conducted in Raphael to train professionals who wish to opt for a career in the field of Disability Management. These are Batchelor of Education in Special Education (Mental Retardation), Foundation Course on Education of Children with Disabilities, and Diploma in Special Education.
- TB Hospital
- Raphael has a 26 bed TB hospital for those too ill and not able to afford hospitalization. Their stay for treatment including follow-on treatment is free. An Out-Patient Department for patients with TB functions on all days of the week except Sundays. The satisfaction rate in the treatment and cure of TB patients has been more than 85%. In the last three years approximately 2750 patients with TB have been treated in the hospital or through the Out-Patient Department.
Shiv Sadan
A home for Leprosy cured patients who are provided with the necessities of a dignified life and in turn, based on their ability they work within the campus. Today there are a total of 56 residents in Shiv Sadan of whom 26 are employed in different activities.
As leprosy declines we will look at other areas such as HIV and cancer detection which are contributors to suffering.