The Move

Throughout all that time, much of it spent struggling with bureaucracy and corruption, Joy has kept her single objective in mind. That is to care for and educate, helpless, homeless and deprived children, with the bedrock of Christian values at the heart of all she does. Since 2000, it became apparent that the remoteness of Sikkim, the rise in the general levels of corruption in Gangtok and a marked increase of persecution of Joy as a Christian in a predominantly Buddhist state was becoming the cause of great distress. The school premises were in a rented building so the landlord could and would hold Joy to ransom by raising the rent at any time and without any warning at all. This led those of us who were involved at that time in Joybells to see that there was an urgent need to find a new and safer site to build both a new school and from Joy’s point of view, a newer and bigger orphanage.

The Present

The new Joybells Orphanage and School is being built near the town of Dehradun, the capital of the newly formed state of Uttaranchal. The site is about 200 miles north of Delhi in the foothills of the Himalayas. The first of the new buildings has been opened and is home to 51 children. Work is expected to start on the main building in September 2006. This will be the main school building as well as providing further accommodation for children and staff.

Eventually there will be a home for about 400 children and a primary school providing education for the 200 or so younger children up to the age of 12. For their secondary education the children will go to other schools in the area. The orphanage will be home for the children throughout their schooling. Joy’s aim is to give the children in her care a Christian home and education. However, children of all faiths will be welcomed by Joybells as has been the case in Gangtok for the past 20 years.

The Future

A UK registered charity has been set up with the objective of establishing and building the new Joybells Orphanage and School and maintaining both into the future. A charity has also been established in India to safeguard Joybells and the children for whom it is home.