Our Story 

One Man’s Dream

Our story begins with Kurian Thoonkuzhy, my great-grandfather, who lived in the town of Thiruvambady in Kerala, India. Thiruvambady was a town predominantly inhabited by poor plantation working families. The men worked long hours in the plantations, while the women took care of household duties. In these poor families, boys were often expected to work alongside their fathers, while girls were typically assigned domestic responsibilities and encouraged to marry at a young age. Despite the desire of many children in this community to receive an education, there were numerous obstacles in their path. For instance, they had to walk through unpaved forest terrain for many miles to reach the nearest school, often risking encounters with wild animals. Kurian witnessed the determination of these children to pursue education, but he was also deeply saddened by their suffering. Although he lacked the financial means to assist them, he held onto the dream of making a difference. However, he did manage to provide his own eight children with an education, leading them to become professors, doctors, and nurses.

Nearly 15 years after Kurian's passing, his son Rt.Rev.Dr.Jacob Thoonkuzhy, at the age of 74, decided to fulfill his father's vision. Jacob, a retired Metropolitan Archbishop and the fourth child of Kurian, held degrees in civil law and canon law. He began raising funds from surrounding communities to cover the start-up costs of Kairos. Jacob's sister, Bertila Thoonkuzhy, purchased the building for Kairos. Through their relentless efforts, they managed to establish Kairos in 2005. Many of their extended family members living in the United States also provided financial support, each contributing a dollar a day to sustain Kairos for ten years. Eventually, they purchased an apartment building, using the rent money to fund Kairos. Jacob also enlisted the help of the Kristhudasy sisters from a convent he established, entrusting them with the management of Kairos. Bertila, having retired from her job as a nursing professor in the United States, happily returned to India to support Kairos and the sisters.

Today, Kairos provides a home for 24 fortunate girls aged 9 to 18. Many families request Kairos to care for their daughters due to their own financial instability. Unlike traditional orphanages, Kairos evaluates potential students based on their competence, eagerness to learn, and their family's financial situation. Admissions are based on availability, and Kairos maintains a consistent capacity of 24 girls. Unfortunately, due to limited funding and space, only around 15% of applicants are accepted. Once admitted, the girls are expected to maintain high grades and prioritize their studies to create a better future for themselves. Kairos provides the girls with essential daily needs such as food, water, shelter, as well as fully covering their schooling and book expenses. Additionally, they offer a nurturing, clean, and joyful environment for the girls to grow as intellectual catholic young women. Kairos continues to uphold Kurian Thoonkuzhy's steadfast belief that education can transform lives, and we strive to educate the women of the future.