ABBA FATHER ILLAM (HOME) - PRESENT & FUTURE

The slums of Kannagi Nagar and Rajiv Gandhi Nagar in Chennai, India are not for the faint of heart. These areas are considered unfit for human habitation: piles of garbage everywhere; sewer water streaming into the narrow streets; dilapidated buildings with families of 4-6 cramped into small rooms. And the "smells" in the air is enough to leave you nauseated. 

Unemployment is high among its residents resulting in high crime rate, prostitution, alcoholism and drug abuse run rampant. These slums are home to more than 60,000 families, where many of the young girls have either been abandoned or raped by their fathers, or are enduring both physical and sexual assaults, or are being prostituted.  

This is also where Pastor Nanda Kumar and his team, for more than 9 years have waded the sewer waters, endured the stench of garbage and faced danger from gang members undeterred, all to bring hope and restoration to the poorest of Chennai, and to rescue the young girls facing the most danger.