Tom Harrigan testimonial

Latest news and updates

Thank you from Unique Home for Girls

Article posted:
20th December 2011

The Trustees at UK Friends of Unique Home would like to thank everyone in US, Canada and indeed worl
Read full story...

How to Help India's Disappearing Daughters

Article posted:
12th December 2011

ABC News program update...
Read full story...

Leicester High School For Girls raise over £500

Article posted:
13th October 2011

A big thanks to leicester high school for girls for their fundrasing efforts for unique home
Read full story...

completed the leicester half marathon

Article posted:
13th October 2011

We are delighted to confirm kash singh completed the leicester half marathon for unique home.
Read full story...

Testimonials

Tom Harrigan, MBE. MCMI

To whom it may concern I have been approached and requested to furnish an authoritative and objective testimonial of my personal knowledge of the Unique Home for Girls, Jalandhar, Punjab, India and the reason why I feel it is a Project worthy of continued support.

I first became involved with the Project approximately 7 years ago, when as the Race Relations Coordinator for Strathclyde Police, Scotland I had the occasion to visit the premises while on an official trip to India to participate in the first ever UK-India Police Conference in New Delhi. A visit to Unique Home was on the itinerary as a place ‘not to be missed’ as was a visit to the Punjab Police Academy at Phillaur, just some 10 miles from the Home.

Yes, as a serving police officer the Police Academy was interesting from a professional point of view. However, the images that were etched in my mind when I left the Punjab was not of any police procedure/practice or indeed individual, but that of what is going on at Unique Home for Girls.

This little piece of Heaven nestling in the north of the world’s largest democracy provides hope to some of the most vulnerable members of the world’s community i.e. new-born and young Girls who are abandoned for reasons only known to their mothers.

The babies are placed in ‘The Cradle’ which is similar in nature to a bank Night Safe hatch which is then pulled open exposing a shelf built into the wall where the child is laid. The person then closes the hatch, when after a few moments an alarm is triggered by the weight of the child indicating to the staff that they have another Resident to care for. The older children are just left outside the home, taken in by staff or handed over by the hard-pressed local authority.

Presently there are around 56 Girls ranging in age from 6 months to 14 years in the care of the home all as you can imaging requiring much time, effort and finance in looking after them. Some of these girls have been at the home since they were very young and will remain there during which time they will be taught at local schools/colleges and provided with life skills before they have to leave because of their age.

As you can imagine, there is a big demand on the home with many factors having to be taken into consideration to keeping it operating. The most important being availability of space and financial support, yes it does receive some funding from the Indian Government, but this is not nearly enough.

The project is in the process of building new premises which will provide better facilities/amenities for the staff and girls.

But all this will take lots of investment from those kindhearted individuals and organisations who are only too willing to contribute to this most worthwhile project.

I am sure that if you were to visit the home that is if you have not already done so, you only have to look into the eyes of the girls to see how happy they are, or look at the staff and see how committed they are to their young ‘charges’. We all have a duty to protect and care for the vulnerable members of the world’s community and as I stated previously there are none more vulnerable that young abandoned girls. Let us not leave all the caring to the committed and dedicated staff who are predominately volunteers.

Yours truly
Tom Harrigan MBE. MCMI