The boys are mainly Indian and Nepali boys aged between 5-19. All come from very poor families, and most have lost at least one parent. They come from various religious backgrounds and they are free to continue practising these beliefs. At the same time daily life at Albella involves Christian input: “Prayers” morning and evening, and boys attend Sunday Service either at Albella or if they wish at a larger church in Kalimpong.
Younger boys attend Albella’s free primary school, Bonami, together with local day-scholars. The children start the day with singing in the yard. The Bonami Primary boys are given their free tea & snacks at noon. From class IV upwards, they are taught through the medium of English with explanations in Nepali. Increasingly they are being encouraged to develop their English skills because this can be important for their future employment prospects.
Daily Life
All the secondary boys get up early to do over an hour’s study before breakfast and prayers. Residents are given two meals a day at 7am and 6pm, usually rice, dal, vegetable curry, including meat & egg thrice in a week. The senior boys, who walk to one of three secondary schools, drink only water during the day but get tea when they return at 3.30pm. After sunset, about 6.30pm, the big boys study till prayers at 8.30pm.
Great emphasis is placed on the older boys looking after the younger ones. There is never a shortage of volunteers!
Senior boys have practical, vocational courses in electrics and building skills as well as academic studies. They practise their skills, painting, decorating and repairing, around Albella with supervision.
Life is not all work. The boys favourite sports are cricket and soccer. Albella also has its own fenced-in basketball/volleyball ground, one TV in Bonami and one in Albella’s dining room, a table tennis room – and a gym for the older boys. Several boys rise early to train for running events.
A photo of the youngest boys enjoying craft activities on our recent visit.
