A vital part of the project is giving a permanent home to the poor. Fifteen elderly men and women and 15 orphaned children will be looked after. They will be saved from the horror and loneliness of their situation.
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2.See a visual image of the Happy Development
The purpose of this project is to create a self-sufficient village, consisting of a small school, a home for the elderly, up to eight mud-and-straw houses to accommodate tourists, staff premises and a camp site. There will also be a dormitory, kitchen, dining room, workshop and library. Income from eco-tourism should fund the cost of supporting the rural poor.
All fruit and vegetables consumed will be grown on the land: coconuts, bananas, pomegranates, pineapples, potatoes, aubergines, carrots, radishes, onions, garlic, beans, etc. We will also operate a tree-planting scheme.
A key challenge is to allow poor children to attend school and aim for higher education in order to support themselves. Apart from receiving a contemporary schooling, they will hear traditional stories from old people steeped in Odisha’s culture. The tourists will also hear translated versions of these tales. Children from the neighbouring village will also be able to attend.
We want poor rural people to continue having a say in the running of the land, at a time when so much of it is being taken over by large financial groups.
A jewellery designer and shopkeeper, Santosh, 32, also has years of experience as a tour guide and NGO volunteer. For a decade and a half he has been Simon’s assistant in India, thereby learning the work of Boys Town Society and SPPD (Society for Poor People Development) in Tamil Nadu, and the Mathieson Music School in Kolkata.
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STAFF AND SUPPORTERS
Simon Howard and Santosh Kumar Barik will lead the administration of the NGO. The project is Santosh’s brainchild.
A jewellery designer and shopkeeper, Santosh, 32, also has years of experience as a tour guide and NGO volunteer. For a decade and a half he has been Simon’s assistant in India, thereby learning the work of Boys Town Society and SPPD (Society for Poor People Development) in Tamil Nadu, and the Mathieson Music School in Kolkata.
Balihar Village – Santosh’s dream
In a serene landscape near Puri, Odisha, lies a remarkable project that embodies love, kindness and care.
Balihar Village is the brainchild of Santosh Kumar Barik, a passionate individual whose dream was ignited by a life-changing experience, nurtured by the support of Indophile Simon Howard. It started to take shape near Chilika Lake on the east coast of India. Spanning wonderful countryside with a beautiful lakeside beach, eco-friendly Balihar Village will unite people from different walks of life.
The journey towards this began in 2014 when Santosh, inspired by Simon, started visiting various NGOs in India. Witnessing the incredible impact of these organizations instilled a deep sense of purpose and motivation within him. Simon bought a piece of land near Chilika Lake, an idyllic location known for its tranquillity and abundant wildlife.
Chilika Lake has Asia's longest sand beach. It is a sanctuary for diverse ecosystems and home to three species of dolphins and a plethora of migratory birds from all parts of the world. This breathtaking setting provides a unique backdrop for Balihar Village, offering residents and visitors an opportunity to bask in nature's splendour. From camping, swimming and surfing in the lake, this haven promises a range of activities.
While the dream of Balihar Village was taking shape, there was a temporary setback due to the unexpected arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Creating a beautiful and vibrant future…
However, in April of last year, an opportunity arose for Santosh to return to India from his home in Japan and start creating the Village. The first steps involved constructing a security room, providing a safe space for local elderly individuals until security personnel could be appointed. This gave employment to several women. Despite the challenges posed by a scarcity of water, a pump was installed to assist workers and provide water for the children during their explorations in the nearby forest.
A small room was also constructed to store work equipment and materials for future development. These rooms, strategically located at the entrance, alongside the pump, serve as the initial building blocks of Balihar Village. The vision is to steadily expand the project, empowering more and more people to become part of this extraordinary community.
Balihar Village stands as a testament to the power of dreams, compassion and tireless dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of others. Through the collective efforts of passionate individuals and a supportive community, this dream project near Chilika Lake is poised to become a haven of love, kindness and care.
With each step forward, Balihar Village brings us closer to a world where people from all walks of life can come together as one family, bound by the shared values of unity, harmony and a deep appreciation of nature’s beauty.
We’re sure that we can change the world - one village at a time…
He has overseen several of Simon’s projects for sick children and the poor, and been a volunteer with the Life of Hope NGO in Kolkata, looking after street children and arranging medical help for people in need.
He is a member of Sundarban Backpackers Eco-Village and a partner in Puri Backpackers. A native of Puri, he speaks Oriya, English, Hindi, Bengali and Telugu, and also has a smattering of Japanese, French and Italian…
Santosh will organize a team of four guides who will take it in turns to conduct the project’s eco-tours: Bapi, Mantu, Pratap and Chandan, former street boys from Puri.
A cook will prepare meals for the tourists, the elderly, orphans and staff. All fruit and vegetables will be supplied from our own garden. Tourists can choose local or Western food.
We will also employ:
One kitchen assistant, one dining room assistant and two cleaners.
One driver to transport guests, goods, food, staff, etc.
Two full-time teachers, and one part-time retired teacher, assisted by volunteers.
One gardener to oversee our own produce, trees and flowers.
One maintenance worker: water supply, electricity, handiwork, etc.
One night watchman.
A volunteer – Myako, from Japan – will run massage workshops for villagers,
children, tourists and the elderly…
SIMON HOWARD - Filmmaker|Theatre director
'HI… I KNOW INDIA BETTER THAN THE UK!'
A filmmaker, theatre director, journalist, screenwriter and lecturer… And I’ve spent more than forty years travelling all over India, visiting a lot of NGOs which are improving the lives of the poor – both old people and children. My most recent film project is as writer on Risk Takers, a documentary about people living very dangerous lives in Mumbai, directed by Siddhesh Pandey and produced by Pravesh Sippy. It won the May prize for the Tagore International Film Festival.
I’ve taught film and drama at universities in the UK and at the Prague Film School. I sometimes do drama sessions in Oxford with visiting schoolchildren from Ukraine, including a group this May.
Balihar Village will provide vital permaculture and eco-friendly holidays in Odisha to fund living facilities for very poor old people and orphan children who would otherwise be in danger. They need protecting!
Ranjit Banerji married my cousin Sara, the novelist, when I was a small child – so I’ve had Indian family for as long as I can remember. Sadly, Ranjit died in late 2022. I belong to Sara’s group Walton Street Writers in Oxford, and our third collection of short stories, Côte Tales, is coming out in the autumn.
I’ve written about India, but also taken masses and masses of photographs there. Only twice have I been told not to. Try and stop people posing for the camera in India!
Balihar will be built around the school. It will occupy one acre of land. Later, we plan to build a small temple dedicated to the villagers’ chosen deity…
Five houses will be built out of brick, mud and cement:
A dormitory for the orphan children.
A dwelling for the homeless elderly people.
A large building for the staff, including a kitchen, dining room and library.
The school house.
A workshop for the children, elderly and volunteers to learn and teach skills and handicrafts.
Tourists will be accommodated in comfortable eco-friendly mud-and-straw huts with en suite bathrooms…
The buildings will be powered by electricity and solar panels. Part of the land will also be used as a camp site for tourists.
We’ll be happy to accommodate volunteers – some from other NGOs – in exchange for a donation, so that we can share ideas about various schemes to help the poor, etc. They will stay between 15 and 30 days.
The children will get up one hour before school, bathe and have breakfast. The rest of the morning will be spent in the classroom. After lunch they will play or take a nap before resuming lessons. Later on they’ll engage in workshops: reading, chess, music, painting, cooking, dancing, gardening, films, etc.
They will also listen to traditional tales, including Hindu epics, told by old storytellers.
What they won’t hear is outdated caste prejudice.
Older children will mentor the younger ones.
For entirely practical reasons, we’ll need a minibus and a motorboat.
One day we’ll launch an eco-friendly film festival using solar power…
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
The village will be 28 km from Puri, famous all over the world for its Jagannath Temple. Much nearer are Mukteshwar and Baliharachandi Temples.
A huge number of tourists visit Chilika Lake, just over twenty km away. Attractions include dolphin-watching, fishing, exploration of local wildlife and flora. A beautiful little temple, Kalijai, is situated in the middle of the lake…Read more
STAFF AND SUPPORTERS
As both a charitable individual and organization, we understand the immense importance of donors and supporters in sustaining our projects, such as The Balihar Village initiative. Their contributions not only provide crucial financial resources but also inspire others to join in, amplifying the impact of our efforts.
Donors and supporters breathe life into our projects, providing the essential funding needed to implement programs, build infrastructure, and support communities in need. Without their generosity, our work would simply not be possible. Each donation, no matter how big or small, directly contributes to the well-being of those in The Balihar Village, enabling access to education, healthcare, clean water, and sustainable development opportunities.
Leave a legacy of compassion. Your support for The Balihar Village will leave a lasting impact, transforming lives and communities for years to come.
Your donation will be a beacon of hope for The Balihar Village, showing that together, we can achieve great things.
Ultimately, donors and supporters give purpose and meaning to our charity's projects. Their belief in our mission reaffirms that our work is making a tangible difference in the lives of others. Their continued support not only sustains our initiatives but also fuels our determination to create positive change, ensuring that The Balihar Village and similar projects continue to thrive and grow for years to come.
Moreover, donors and supporters serve as advocates, spreading awareness about our cause and encouraging others to get involved. Their passion and commitment create a ripple effect, inspiring more people to donate, volunteer, or lend their support in various ways. This collective effort not only increases financial resources but also fosters a sense of community and shared purpose.
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