Hayden Hall Institute, started in 1969, works in the areas of Health and Nutrition, Education and Vocational Guidance and, Livelihood and Entrepreneurship across Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri, impacting over 3000 vulnerable families annually. Edgar Burns, a Canadian Jesuit started Hayden Hall, fifty years ago, as a centre to expose students of an elite Jesuit school in Darjeeling to the rea
lities of the communities around it. The Landslides of 1968 changed the Darjeeling Hills forever leaving a trail of devastation. Burns realised that Hayden Hall had to play an important role in rebuilding Darjeeling after he was moved by the sight of a woman on the street carrying heavy loads along with her newborn. Hundreds of houses were constructed and the focus shifted to adult literacy and empowering women financially. Hayden Hall thus opened its doors to migrants, refugees and tea garden labour who had no one else to turn to. Before the Darjeeling District Government Hospital opened, Hayden Hall served as a hospital. Before the Government began thinking of policies for children’s development, a day care centre for children of porters and manual labourers was set up at Hayden Hall. Thus, the three pillars - Health and Nutrition, Education and Vocational Guidance and, Livelihood and Entrepreneurship evolved, finally coming together as our flagship approach - The Integrated Community Development Intervention, with a strong focus on sustainability. Hayden Hall has consistently responded to the needs of vulnerable communities through a vast network of 48 centres in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri, with a staff strength of 130 Community Development Workers and Volunteer Teachers, impacting over 3000 families on a regular basis annually. The Institute has maintained a fine balance between, ‘giving someone a fish and teaching them how to fish’ in the words of Mother Teresa. Our vision keeps us relevant and sustainable - A healthy, well-informed, self-reliant and self-transforming community. Today, the Hills are different, with ever-evolving needs, aspirations and dreams. Poverty, social power structures continues to hinder communities to realise their full potential. Our committment of Human Development through love and service has never been more crucial to our mission. Hayden Hall’s legacy of compassion continues to live on.
