There’s a special kind of holy chaos that comes with back-to-school—forms to fill out, uniforms to size, supplies to buy, and children to encourage. But at Operation Smile Children’s Home in Lower Poonah, Williamsville, this year carries an added weight of wonder: it’s the first new school year since the home reopened and began welcoming children again.
For some of these little ones, this is more than a new term. It’s a first-ever beginning.
When “school” is brand new
Imagine starting kindergarten—or primary school—without ever being registered. Without records. Without a history of consistent attendance. Without the stability that makes learning feel safe.
That’s been the reality for many children who come from hard places. The transition into education can feel overwhelming: doctor visits, documentation, placement decisions, uniforms, schedules, and transportation—all while helping children learn what it means to sit still, listen, share, and try again when something is difficult.
This is why reopening a home isn’t just unlocking doors. It’s rebuilding a pathway—step by step—into a life that children once couldn’t imagine.
A home built on compassion—and rebuilt by community
Operation Smile Children’s Home was founded in 1997 by Pastor Madho Basdeo and the Basdeo family as a response to neglected and displaced children. It grew into a family-style model of care on a 10-acre property in Poonah, creating space for children to heal and develop physically, spiritually, socially, and educationally.
In recent years, the property received new life through major renovations led by Men & Women of Action teams. In June 2023, four of six family-style cottages built in 2006 were significantly updated—new beds and bedroom furnishings, bathroom repairs and tile work, hot water heaters, kitchen cabinets, and extensive cleaning and painting.
HOHI also helped strengthen the project beyond construction—supporting shipping costs and providing training and coaching for the team as the ministry prepared to welcome children again.
Sandy Joy Basdeo: leading with steady hope
Today, Sandy Joy Basdeo leads the staff as manager, continuing a legacy of care her family has carried for decades. As the home has prepared for a new season, Sandy Joy has focused on strategic planning and building a capable support team—because caring for children from hard places requires more than good intentions. It requires strong systems, trained caregivers, and consistent love.
Back to school is more than supplies—it’s stability
Yes, the children need the basics: uniforms, shoes, backpacks, notebooks, and school fees. But what sustains school success is what happens after the first day. It’s the daily rhythm of a safe home:
- a predictable morning routine
- encouragement when learning feels hard
- help with homework and reading practice
- patient correction and steady praise
- the emotional safety to focus and grow
Operation Smile is building that kind of environment again—one where children can “be children” without fear. Currently, eleven children are living at Operation Smile.
Planting hope for the future
This home is also shaping opportunity beyond the classroom. The children are learning sustainability through raised-bed farming and hydroponics—projects described as “classrooms of hope,” producing crops like cucumbers, kale, and tomatoes while teaching responsibility and hands-on skills.
And there is more vision ahead: a multi-functional Hope Center is planned, designed to include a kitchen/cafeteria, library, computer lab, infirmary, and therapy/visitation room—creating even stronger wraparound support for children as they grow.
This back-to-school season, we rise together—because for children who once had no start line at all, education is not merely a requirement. It’s a door opening into a future.