Jubilee Choir during the golden jubilee celebration of Nagaland Children’s Home at Diphupar, Dimapur on March 5. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 5
Nagaland Children’s Home (NCH), founded by the late Soyelo Wetsah at Diphupar, Dimapur, commemorated golden jubilee on March 5. As envisioned by the founder, NCH, which serves as a home for underprivileged children as well as a school, has seen over 5000 children groomed under its guardianship since 1972.
As reported by The Morung Express, in an exclusive feature in November 2021, imparting life skills with strong focus on vocational training, apart from free education, has been a unique feature of the home-cum-school. “Its alumni include doctors, army officers, bankers, lecturers, among others. No child is made to leave till he or she pass class 12 (even if they fail).”
PHE Minister, N Jacob Zhimomi, speaking at the historic 50th anniversary celebration at the NCH campus paid tributes to the lifelong sacrifice of founder Soyelo Wetsah and his wife Kedu-u Wetsah, who put humanity before self, ensuring the survival of the institute despite the odds. While stating that their sacrifices have borne fruit, he added, “As we celebrate the jubilee today, we are also celebrating their lives.”
He described NCH as not only a place for food and shelter but also a place for “preparing them, giving them education so that they grow in full capacity and face the challenges in life.”
Terming the youth as the greatest strength of a country, he said that conventional education along with employment-oriented courses would impart the skills required “to prepare them as per the market demand.” He added, “This is one area we have to focus. We cannot ignore the basic subjects but once they cross a certain stage, as parent we have to guide them and see that in which courses or subjects they may prosper.”
He also announced Rs 5 lakh, as aid for the NCH, from the Local Area Development Fund. According to him, “It is important to seek Almighty God’s blessing but if you don’t work hard, then you will not be blessed. God helps those who help themselves.”
A member of the Board of Directors, Lesehu Meru, described Wetsah as a patriotic Naga, who was touched and inspired by the sight of orphaned children to start a place for the under-privileged in Nagaland. “Not long after starting the Home, he realized that such an institute without education was not complete. Side by side, educational classes was started,” he said.
