Joan Smart
Easter 2007, Joan Smart visited the Home in Hyderabad and the Light of Love Home in Tuni. This was her first visit to meet the children and to teach in the classroom block dedicated to the memory of her husband Dougal Smart. Dougal gave his life trying to save another young man from drowning when on holiday in Australia. Joan has kindly written about this deeply moving experience:
My first impression of Hyderabad was the chaos and the poverty. It was awful to see people huddling in tents at the side of the road while the rain poured in. Although I had been told that we would be given a big welcome it was still overwhelming. We distributed teddies to the children. Some were under the impression that they had to give them back when we left. They are just not used to having a possession.
There are about 60 children in the Hyderabad home. There is one big room that is divided down the middle: boys sleep on one side, girls on the other. The buildings are in desperate need of repair. It was raining for most of the time we were there and water was coming into some of the classrooms (SLA has now responded to this need and the repairs are completed). Mary Mani took over the home after her husband and daughter were killed in a car accident and she is doing a wonderful job despite the fact she is still grieving. She was obviously very grateful to SLA for the support she is getting and was so glad that we had gone to see her. Another overwhelming welcome was waiting in Tuni. I had been told how bright and loving the children were but you don’t really understand until you are there with them. Having seen the poverty in Hyderabad, I kept thinking “These children are the lucky ones”.
It was an emotional moment for me to see the Dougal Smart block, a second floor of classrooms added to the original school building. I had seen pictures but it was so good to actually be there. It was one of the most surreal moments of my life to walk over to the block and see hanging there a huge photo of Dougal and me on our wedding day. The children were talking to me about him and saying that he was a brave man. So lovely, and so emotional.
I did a little bit of teaching in a Maths class, so I have taught in the Dougal Smart Block, and got a round of applause at the end. That doesn’t happen in Scotland!
