History of Santvana
After working with people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS for a decade and a half in Mumbai, when Dr. Edwards returned to Pune she was much burdened to witness the plight of children affected or orphaned by AIDS. The stigma was immense and they were austrasized hurt and lonely. After praying for a long time the LOrd placed on her heart to start a home for these children. So Santvana meaning comforter was started in 2005, with six little girls. Santvana was meant to be a home for AIDS orphans.
However as the weeks turned to months 3 children came for admission all from one family and the youngest was HIV positive. The question now she asked the Lord was should I send this child back and add salt to the hurting children or should I accept this boy and keep the children together.
Thus Santvanawas born not as originally planned for; just for the hurting AIDS orphans but also for HIV infected kids. The Lord did not allow Dr. Edwards to seperate the siblings whatever their health status was.
The name Santvana comes from 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4. " 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."
The first 6 months were tough with no funding available, but the god who has promised never to fail and to be the provider provided for the needs in wonderful ways.
Now Santvana has 35 children, of them 12 are HIV positive and 10 on anti-retro-viral treatment.