"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."
- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."
- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
25 Jul 2023
Shanthi Nilayam, a shelter for abandoned and runaway children in Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, has been providing a safe haven for over 12,000 children in the last 34 years. Founded by Antony D’Cruz, who himself had a lost childhood, the shelter provides food, shelter, education, and guidance to children who have been abandoned or are in need of support.
Many of the children who have found refuge at Shanthi Nilayam were rescued from Villupuram Railway Station, where they were abandoned. The shelter also rescues minors from the clutches of labour exploitation, and its teachers provide free classes even in rural areas and cemeteries near Dalit settlements.
Shanthi Nilayam has guided children to enrol in technical education at ITIs and has sent a batch of 100 students between 2000 to 2017. The shelter has given a dignified life to 1,700 children this way. Through the shelter, D’Cruz has helped Dalit residents of Salamedu and Anna Nagar areas to avail financial aid for building houses and higher education.
D’Cruz, who no longer keeps kids at the shelter, opens its doors for those who cannot afford tuition. He is committed to working for the rights of children and breaking the shackles of child labour. Shanthi Nilayam continues to be a beacon of hope for children in need of support and guidance, transforming the lives of many abandoned and runaway children.
