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Friendship Children’s Home (FCH)
Giving vulnerable children a safe home, a strong education, and a hopeful future
In many rural communities of Tamil Nadu, children grow up without the support and protection they need to thrive. Some have lost both parents. Others are from families struggling with extreme poverty, illness, or abandonment. These children are often left behind—facing the risk of child labor, school dropout, and emotional neglect.
Friendship Children’s Home (FCH) was established in 2006 by VOICE Trust to break this cycle. Located in Siruganur, Trichy District, the home was founded with support from AEM, a child-focused organization based in France. What began as a humble initiative for 15 children has grown into a model care facility that provides not just safety, but love, dignity, and lifelong opportunity. Today, FCH is officially recognized and supported by Tamil Nadu’s District Child Protection Unit and District Social Welfare Office, and is registered under the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act.
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A Safe and Nurturing Home for Every Child
As of July 2024, Friendship Children’s Home provides round-the-clock care for 39 children, aged between 6 and 18, who are enrolled in nearby government schools, from Grade 1 through Grade 12. An additional 9 young adults who grew up at FCH are now pursuing college and technical education, showing that with consistent support, children can rise above their circumstances.
Children at FCH receive everything they need to grow into confident, responsible individuals:
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A safe, clean, and emotionally supportive environment where they feel secure
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Nutritious meals, clean clothing, and healthcare to support physical well-being
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Formal schooling, combined with evening tuition classes taught by external teachers to help them keep pace and excel
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A wide range of extra-curricular activities, including sports, art, library time, and monthly film screenings
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Life skills and character development, through structured activities and mentorship
What makes FCH unique is its family-like atmosphere. Children are not treated as beneficiaries — they are treated as individuals with dreams, potential, and voices that matter.
Support That Doesn’t End at 18
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19 former residents are working in start-ups, small businesses, and service sectors
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They receive ongoing career counselling, help with job applications, and guidance on managing adult responsibilities
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2 alumni have gotten married, with VOICE Trust and the extended FCH community continuing to support them through this important life milestone
This long-term approach reflects our belief that true care doesn’t end when a child turns 18 — it evolves into mentorship, encouragement, and community.
Environmental Learning Through Hands-On Practice
Friendship Children’s Home integrates environmental responsibility into its daily life. In 2016, with the support of French volunteers, FCH launched an ecological agriculture garden — not just to grow food, but to teach children the values of sustainability, care for the earth, and the dignity of manual work.
Children actively:
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Tend to their own plants and crops
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Learn about organic farming techniques, composting, and the dangers of pesticides
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Understand the importance of clean food, clean air, and environmental stewardship
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Connect classroom learning with real-world action through nature-based education
These activities not only provide fresh produce for the home, but also instil discipline, patience, and pride in contributing to their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of the planet.
The Sunday Agriculture School: Preparing Future Farmers
In many rural communities, farming is no longer seen as a respected or viable career. Young people migrate to cities, leaving behind traditional knowledge and family farmland. VOICE Trust launched the Sunday Agriculture School in July 2020 to reverse this trend — by reconnecting children with agriculture in a way that is modern, exciting, and purposeful.
As of March 2024, the program has:
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Reached 567 children from 14 villages surrounding Trichy
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Provided 10-week practical training sessions in natural farming, home gardening, seed-saving, and water conservation
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Encouraged over 60% of participants to start gardens at home and assist their parents in the fields during holidays
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Sparked a sense of community pride and environmental awareness, while planting the seeds of future rural entrepreneurship
Our goal is for at least one-third of these children to view agriculture as a career with dignity — one that sustains families and heals the environment.
How You Can Support Friendship Children’s Home
While AEM continues to provide core support, the needs of our children grow each year — especially as more students enter higher education and new children are brought into our care.
With your help, we can:
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Provide safe housing and nutritious meals every day
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Ensure continued schooling and tutoring so no child falls behind
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Support college fees, books, and transportation for older students
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Maintain the organic garden and improve hands-on learning infrastructure
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Celebrate festivals, birthdays, and cultural events, so that every child experiences joy and belonging
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Offer psychosocial support and life skills training to strengthen emotional health
Every donation — big or small — helps change a child’s future. Be the Reason a Child Believes Again
At Friendship Children’s Home, children who have known loss, fear, or neglect are given a second chance — to be children again, to go to school, to laugh, and to dream.
Your support ensures that this safe, nurturing space continues to grow and reach more children who need it most.
Partner with us. Help us raise children who will one day become responsible citizens, thoughtful leaders, and loving parents.
IMPACT Sessions: Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders
At VOICE Trust, we believe that lasting change begins with informed, empathetic young leaders. Our IMPACT Sessions are immersive learning programmes designed to engage school and university students in the real-world challenges faced by communities.
These experiences go beyond the classroom, introducing young people to grassroots realities through hands-on workshops, service projects, and interactive learning modules. Participants explore vital themes such as environmental conservation, social equity, and inclusive development, while building key skills in leadership, critical thinking, and civic engagement.
By encouraging meaningful participation, these sessions inspire young people to discover their own agency, develop a sense of purpose, and become responsible citizens equipped to lead change—compassionately, consciously, and collectively.