“Have you ever lost a loved one? That’s what it felt like when we lost one of our Matajis here yesterday. We finished her last rites and it feels like a big part of my heart left with her. But I knew she left in peace because she had all of us around her. Every Mataji here is like family to me, and they treat each other like sisters. This is their family, one that they found when their own children left them to suffer on the streets.” - Dolly Sharma, Founder, Radhe Diety Vridh Ashram
Dolly Sharma always dreamed of giving old and abandoned women a better life and she has spent over five years now dedicated to serving them. Radhe Diety Vridh Ashram in Vrindavan is made up of around 25 women who are widowed, abandoned by their families and have no one else to rely on. While the world might label them many things, for Dolly they are her Matajis.
An Old Woman Crying On The Streets Gave Dolly Her Purpose In Life
More than five years ago, Dolly and her husband saw an old woman crying on the streets of Vrindavan. Her children had left her and she didn’t know where she would even get her next meal from. This broke Dolly’s heart and she then decided to do something more for women like her.
“I think I found my purpose that day. I used to feed Matajis every now and then, but I saw that what they needed was a permanent place to call home. My husband told me that he would support me in every way that he can and thus we rented a place, renovated it a little to make it more comfortable and started taking in any Matajis that needed help.”
When asked what the mental state of these women is when they’re rescued, Dolly gets emotional.
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“People get homesick even being away from home for a few days, imagine never being allowed to step foot in your own house - one that you’ve built with your love and hard work. These Matajis are devasted when they come here. They’ve been beaten and abused by their families. But once they start living here, they say they never want to leave. This is their real home now.”
Radhe Diety Vridh Ashram looks after all the needs of these abandoned women - from food to medicines, they don’t have to worry about anything. All the women here have the freedom to live life according to their own terms, something they didn’t have before this.
Dolly Has Done Her Best For Them, But Now She Needs Your Help
Dolly faces several challenges in running the old age home. She not only has to worry about rent, electricity and groceries every month but also has to ensure that their quality of life is not compromised. However, she can’t do this without help any longer.
The Ashram is currently in a rented house and Dolly wants to build a home of their own for these women. For this, she needs your help to get construction materials. She also needs help to get essentials such as groceries, hygiene products and medicines for the Matajis.
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“The only reason they’ve found hope again is because of the ashram. I want to give them the best life they and I need your support to do this.”
Donate now to help these Matajis find happiness again.
About the NGO: Radhe Diety Vridh Ashram was started by Dolly Sharma in 2018 with the aim to give abandoned and widowed women in Vrindavan food, shelter, medicines and a family. It is currently made up of around 25 women who are widowed, abandoned by their families and have no one else to rely on. While the world might label them many things, for Dolly they are her Matajis. Dolly has been running the old age home with the support of her husband and wants to continue serving the Matajis to the best of her abilities. All the women here have the freedom to live life according to their own terms and have finally found a supportive family in each other - something they didn’t have before this.
