The boys at Dayavu Home are there because they had no one to care for them. Some are orphans, some are semi-orphans and others came from dire family situations where poverty and trauma left them struggling to survive. The transition to the disciplined, structured life at Dayavu Home is sometimes difficult but made easier by the support and encouragement from the other boys who have had similar experiences. With the loving care of the staff and the daily provision of nutritious meals, health care and hygienic living, these boys soon flourish. They are full of energy and fun and also show great respect to the staff and to one another.

Although initially shy, shortly after your arrival the boys will take your hand and invite you to see their pet birds, the peacock, and the vegetables and banana trees they are growing. The coconut grove and papaya and tamarind trees provide wonderful shade as well as food for the kitchen. There is also a large grove of guava trees, teak trees and flowering plants. The playground equipment and expansive space in front of the home allow room for the boys to play their favorite sports. Water availability is often a problem in this area, but thanks to new wells and a drip-irrigation system from Field of Hope, the situation has dramatically improved.

It doesn’t take long for the boys to win your heart at Dayavu Home. The smiles on their faces and sparkles in their eyes are rewarding to see, especially as they have all experienced various forms of trauma in their lives. They take great pride in their tidy bedrooms, the plants they nurture and grow, and the art they create out of sand or flower petals. They are delighted to share these achievements with you. When you ask to take their pictures, they will comb each other’s hair to make sure each looks his best. Should you happen to notice a red seed lying on the ground and pick it up to look at it, before you know it you’re presented with handfuls of those seeds. Hearing them laugh as they are up to their knees in mud while playing in the irrigation ditches of the coconut grove brings home the realization that these boys have been given the gift of a childhood that includes joy and laughter, when their lives could have been so different.