ONE DROP OF HOPE, BENARES, INDIA.

Stella Deetjen in Benares (above), helping orphans and people with leprosy.

While traveling in Benares, India Stella Deetjen had a key experience that would alter the direction of her life. A chance encounter with a poor leper sparked in her a strong desire to help and changed her life forever. It was over a decade ago and today Stella Deetjen has unselfishly devoted all her strength and energy to the street children and orphans in Benares, protecting them from violence, abuse and agonizing child labor.

Stella Deetjen found out that leprosy could be cured with a treatment costing only $2 a day. She sought donations and began giving out the medicine which soon became known as Stella’s Street Clinic in 1996. Coming to know many of those children who were living on the desolate streets she expanded her mission to help them as well. In 1996 she opened the “Little Stars School” to help educate and feed them and in 1998 a Kid’s Club, where they can spend the day in safety. In 2003 Stella Deetjen opened a children’s home – for many kids the first home they ever had. More donations helped her buy a larger house in 2004 and give more children shelter. Her generosity of spirit and her gift for giving illuminate the world.

WORLD HOPE AWARD.
In 2006 President Mikhail Gorbachev presented the World Hope Award to Stella Deetjen, an extraordinary woman making a difference.

The WOMEN’S WORLD FORUM is actively supporting the woman “Vogue” magazine has called “The Angel of Benares” and her project, helping it to gain global media coverage and providing assistance in raising donations. Between December 2006 and February 2007 over $150,000 have been raised for “One Drop of Hope”.

If you want to support Stella Deetjen's heroic work please refer to the following website:
www.one-drop-of-hope.com