Sad orphan stories inspire Hollywood help

Photo: JASON OXENHAM

HELPING ORPHANS: Cathy Pope is holding a charity movie screening to benefit an Indian orphanage.

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A holiday in India turned out to be a life-changing experience for Cathy Pope.

The Waterview resident was nearing the end of her trip in January when she decided to visit a safari park recommended by a friend.

The owner of the park, Dhanraj Malik, also runs the Akaash Gaanga orphanage in an area called Kutch. It works to alleviate the terrible conditions in which many children live.

Ms Pope was so inspired by his kindness, she returned home to New Zealand vowing to get behind the cause.

"I went and met the children with him one day and he told me all the terribly sad stories of what they had been through," she says.

One such story was of two sisters who were so traumatised by their father's death and mother's subsequent suicide that one became mute and the other took to biting people.

Another was a girl who suffered from cerebral palsy and was sold by her parents to an elderly lady to be a cleaner at the age of 10.

Now, Ms Pope says, they are happy and learning skills such as sewing and repairing equipment.

"My world just slowed right down and I thought, if I gave up two bottles of wine a month, it would feed a child. It made me realise how much I have and how much I waste it."

She spent time teaching the children how to sew french seams, which she found such a rewarding experience that she wants to go back to teach more sewing and English.

"My mind was still ticking when I left India. I couldn't stop thinking about what I could do. All the pieces came together in my mind."

She has decided to hold a special fundraising screening of the film, Firaaq, written by her friend Shuchi Kothari, which has won 14 international film awards since being released last year.

Ms Pope is a costume designer for film and television and has called on friends in the industry to help her put on the event at Avondale's Hollywood Cinema.

Several artists have also donated works to be auctioned, including original sketches from the creators of the animated television series Bro Town. Actress Madeleine Sami will be master of ceremonies for the auction.

Little India in Kingsland is providing the catering, and Trade Aid is donating gifts that are part of a prize pack to be won by a lucky ticket holder.

Ms Pope hopes to sell 396 tickets and raise $10,000 – enough money to keep the orphanage running for a year.

The auction and charity screening of Firaaq will be held at the Hollywood Cinema on St Georges Rd on April 7. Tickets cost $25 and include pre-movie nibbles.

To buy tickets, visit cathypope.co.nz. For more information on the orphanage, go to akaashganga.org.

- © Fairfax NZ News