Care Centers

Bethania Kids care centers are located in and around the town of Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, and in two remote tribal areas of Odisha. All are thriving community centers and have waiting lists for day care and after-school programs.

• Mabel’s Care Centre
• Deborah Care Centre
• Nathanael Care Centre
• Joshua Care Centre
• Mahanaim Care Centre
• Mannavanur After-School Care Centre
• CSI After-School Care Centre
• Cilpajodi Child and Mother Care Centre
• Dholdoholi Child and Mother Care Centre

Life in a Village

It’s a cold morning, with some of the mist that gathers in the valleys of the Palani Hills of South India at 7000 ft. still lingering.  Parents of young children, if they can find work, are day laborers who look for work every day, often earning less than $1 per day. Poverty, unemployment, alcoholism, abandonment and abuse are major hardships these children and families confront.

Most families in the villages served by Bethania Kids care centers are extremely poor, living in substandard housing with no electricity or plumbing facilities. An inadequate supply of clean water especially impacts the youngest children and the threat of infectious disease is always present. Malnutrition and upper respiratory infections are common, as cooking is done on fires inside the houses with little ventilation. There is a high incidence of single parent families, often with the woman of the household the only family support.  Additionally, alcohol addiction prevalent among men causes family dysfunction and trauma. When the parents go to work, if it were not for Bethania Kids care centers, the children would be left unsupervised to wander the streets and get into trouble, often going without food or fundamental guidance and care.  

Children served are provided academic assistance, Christian nurturing, nutritious meals, health care, clothing, uniforms, and a safe refuge in which to learn and receive the love of Christ. The staff provide the children a nutritious lunch and healthy snacks. Children flourish in an atmosphere of love and joy while learning through Bible songs and nursery rhymes, hearing stories about Jesus’ love for them, and learning to read and write. The staff monitor their growth and health and provide them with nutritional supplements and additional health care as needed.  While at the center, the children are taught appropriate social skills and basic hygiene. We accept children with the greatest need into our care centers. 

Day Care

Day care programs, for children ages 2-5, begin between 8 am and 9 am and are based on a tried and true curriculum of early child development, complete with learning objectives and pertinent activities to foster confidence and joy in learning. We focus on:

• Language development
• Motor skills and coordination
• Body functions, including toilet training
• Pre-reading and writing skills
• Appropriate behavior and relationship skills
• Distinguishing between right and wrong
• Food and nutrition

Children from Bethania Kids Care Centres are well-prepared for going to school and local teachers tell us often of their positive impact on other students when they attend school.

In addition, the children at our Care Centres receive two nutritious meals plus snacks during the day. Too often the only food they receive is at the Bethania Kids Care Centre. Care Centres meet Monday through Saturday to ensure the children receive adequate food.

After-School Care

After-school programs for students in school, ages 6-18, are designed to supplement and enhance the academic education the children receive at the local schools they attend.

The after-school curriculum includes:

• Tutoring in class subjects; guiding daily assignments and homework; special attention to skills in reading, writing, and mathematics
• Physical skills development, e.g. games and sports
• Attention to conscience, ethics, values and moral behavior issues
• Spiritual growth through Bible study and Christian nurture
• Supplemental nutrition, including food before and after school

Teachers in local schools tell us they look forward to having students from the Bethania Kids care centers. Our children do very well in school, and they have a positive impact on other students, encouraging them to do their best and setting a high standard for each class. Many Bethania Kids alumni become candidates for post-secondary education and training, as well as being offered good jobs. It is always a joy to hear of the accomplishments of our alumni and their gratitude for what they gained during their time at Bethania Kids. We thank God for the opportunity to share in their lives