WECAN has been my home since I was 5. My father died when I
was very young and my illiterate poverty stricken mother enrolled
me here. My days here at WECAN were the happiest of my life.
I received full education which later helped me acquire a job
at Mumbra after my husband deserted us - my 5 year old child
and me. In 1994, I came back to WECAN to work as supervisor
where I look after the resident girls.
The D. M. Girls Orphanage Trust was established in 1938
to start an orphanage for girls and to provide
primary, secondary and technical education.
To pursue these objectives, the Trust set-up
the orphanage at Fort Road, Mahim, Mumbai in
1940.
In the beginning, the orphanage housed 5 girls
until 1958 and thereafter underwent a major
reorganization and its capacity increased to
accommodate over 100 girls.
The trust was in debt until 1958 when Mr E
U Botawala stepped in to help the Trust overcome
its financial difficulties.
The orphanage was housed in 3 buildings. The
larger one (which is more than 12000sqft) was
used for lodging and boarding the girls. The
smaller ones (approx 10000sqft) were used as
office, dispensary, study rooms, prayer rooms,
sewing and embroidery classes.
In 1994, the Trustees considered the larger
building which was more than hundred years old
unsafe.
In 1998, the building collapsed and was rebuilt
to the present comfortable conditions.
