Praise for the Baale Mane
“I visited the girls from the Baale with Mr Venkatesh to attend a free give away of notebooks funded by Motorola. A humble and deeply committed individual, Venkatesh talked about his own experience growing up as a poor child in rural India. The kids were performing songs and dances and entertaining the guests. I was delighted to be invited and I was determined to say something positive and inspiring to these kids. I told them to dream big and bold. I told them to dream of becoming a great lawyer in India and to take their skills all over the world. I was very touched by the love and the warmth of the kids. Many girls came up to shake my hand and speak English with me (their first language is Kannada).”
Attorney based in Singapore
“The enthusiasm shown by the girls and everyone at Baale Mane is extraordinary,one cannot be anything other than impressed”
Chairman, UK public company
“I was deeply touched when visiting the girls at Baale Mane. I admired the way each girl smiled from ear to ear, not giving any indication as to what they’d been through. They are the most giving, loving, generous, respectable and talented young ladies I have ever met.”
Volunteer helper
“Visiting the Baale Mane hostel was a truly thought provoking and uplifting experience. One could not help but be moved by the stories of these young girls – experiences that no child should have had to endure. At the same time it was heartening how the girls with the help of Baale Mane were overcoming the challenges life had presented them. They have energy, enthusiasm and great hopes for the future. A lot of people – volunteers, agencies and funders have worked very hard to achieve this success. It must continue.”
Senior UK Government official
“I had the pleasure of visiting the Baale home in the summers of 2006 and 2007. It was the most eye-opening and amazing experience; one which filled me with a great sense of admiration. The girls there had an unbelievable strength and were incredibly generous, always wanting to give what little they had. They wore genuine smiles and the work that the charity is doing has brought so much happiness into the girls’ lives.”
Volunteer helper
“It was great to see how people with the right support have the capacity to overcome incredible hardships and enjoy some of the simple pleasures in life…in this case doubling up on a homemade see saw.”
Director, international construction company
“My overwhelming impression was of a calm, safe place. I had a lump in my throat watching the girls act out the Ramayana for us with such poise, enthusiasm and humour, knowing what lives they had been rescued from.”
Director, UK department of health
“I had the privilege of meeting the children and young people whose home is the Baale Mane in February. It’s difficult to single out one thing that impressed me.
I walked down the road from the school along a dirt road with two girls; one about 7 and one about 12. The twelve year old asked me about who was my best friend. She told me all about her best friends and the best friend of the 7 year old. This conversation was in very good English. It’s about family and community and belonging. These were the overriding things that I felt about the Baale Mane.
I couldn’t help but be impressed by Mary; the ’Mother’ of Baale Mane. It was clear how central she was to the atmosphere and sense of family which permeated every minute of our time at Baale Mane.
In terms of the girls’ achievements we saw an absolutely amazing display of dancing and drama which would have drawn praise from a paying West End audience.
I was however particularly impressed by the elected Government roles the girls held. Ministers for education, health, transport, child rights, housing, food and water and an elected Chief Minister.
The sense of collective responsibility, family and the values that the Baale Mane promotes is truly inspirational. It will provide the young women leaving Baale Mane with a very strong sense of self, family and community and support them to achieve their dreams.”
Director of Change & Innovation
Commissioner for Child Health UK regional healthcare authority
