Building hope and mending Lives

It was early in the year 2002 when they came together for a greater goal that not many gave heed to. They care for them, whom the society thought (and is still perhaps thinking) are too alienated from the common ground. They have given hope to many hopeless, journeyed all these years picking people from the shambles, loving all along and giving a new meaning to life to many of those who were on the verge of giving up.

'Kekhrie Foundation' which is an offspring of Kripa Foundation is a well known NGO by now. They are closely associated with HIV/AIDS and one can so well acquaint themselves with the causes they stand for. But for those of you who didn't know, Kekhrie (meaning Love)'s the word because the need to have a localised organisation for a cause as genuine as combating HIV has also come to surface.

Of course, drug addiction popularly came to be known in Nagaland in the eighties and then one thing led to another with more causes of concern overlapping the other. It was with this vision to reach out to the affected Nagas that a group of passionate people came together to form 'Kekhrie Foundation'.

Bazo Kire, Director of the Foundation, who has been there since its inception still insists that she's there by accident. "But I see a purpose in it," she says and also talks of the satisfaction that the organisation derives from making sad lives happier. She expresses "I think in our small way, we made a difference." She was also quick to add that the projects they do are comparatively very small but dwells richly on the fact that there is joy in working in this organization because of the dedication and sincerity that each member of the 'Kekhrie Foundation' puts in. "They are all purpose driven" she says.

At present, they have a number of 20 staff working full time but they insist they are more like a family given the environment of the working place. One thing that connects them very well is the fact that they are a team of passionate people. They are not simply a part of the organization for namesake but because they care and believe in the power of making a difference. Interacting with them, it makes you feel like you are home. Perhaps it's this very magic that pulls even strangers to tell their sad tales.

More to it is that, they come out feeling better and the next thing their hopes are slowly built and they are on their roads to recovery. Therein lies the beauty of touching people's lives.

But it's not all easy, one of the staff quips. And then I realise it also takes a lot to make someone come to you and open up. They maintain strict confidentiality of those individuals who come devastated and go out feeling a lot better and so I try not to sink into the details. But they also affirm that the joy they derive from making someone feel better is incomparable. One of them adds 'the courage and hope you see in their eyes after counselling, also the health improvement that you notice in them is the ultimate reward'.

In her experience, another staff expresses that, being a Christian and a Social Worker, it means a lot to be part of the NGO. "Getting really involved with the Organisation has a different feeling," she said and that dealing with the vulnerable section of the people has been a humbling experience- 'To know that people come to you and approach you for help when you are not even known to them is a great feeling.'

The Foundation also feels that helping people is like a mission and says 'Kekhrie Foundation' is also a place where we can serve God. Among the many laudable social services they do, their objectives include caring for the addiction, HIV/AIDS, STD, providing treatment and rehabilitation, creating awareness, educating and counselling families, motivating people, providing opportunities for capacity building, promoting recreational activities for the vulnerable youth, also economic activities and taking up welfare activities.

And they do it all for 'Love'- it's in their mission, in their service and in the way they reach out to the most vulnerable section of the society. It's noteworthy that 'Kekhrie Foundation' is mending many people's brokenness with the constant love and care they generously provide. They are on a drive to build broken hopes and they are here to make a difference.