Dr Graham’s Homes ~ Dr Graham’s Homes

Have you ever wondered how sponsored children first come to the Homes?

For the very youngest pupils, it all begins with Lucia King – the famous little kindergarten that was created by Dr Graham in the early 1900s and still cares for vulnerable children today.

For nearly 120 years, this small cottage in the heart of the campus has been a safe haven for the smallest members of the DGH family, welcoming children and infants who have been orphaned or abandoned, or whose parents can’t afford to fund their education.

You can learn all about the nursery’s history, and how it works, in a new feature in the Step Inside section of our website. In the meantime, here are some brief Did-you-knows about this amazing institution.

A century of care

The nursery first opened its doors on 24 September 1910 – exactly 10 years to the day after Dr Graham founded the Homes. It was named after Mrs Lucia King, a tireless fundraiser who managed to raise around £1,000 a year for the Homes – a remarkable sum in the early 1900s.

A home of colours and symbols

To create a sense of family, the nursery bedrooms are divided into Pink, Blue, and Green “colour families”. Because the children are often too young to read their own names, they are given a unique visual symbol – such as a picture of a ball, an engine, or a doll – to identify their own cot, towel, and toothbrush.

Some famous footsteps

The nursery has captured the hearts of many high-profile visitors over the decades. In 1952, India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, insisted on visiting the babies in the nursery. His daughter, Indira Gandhi, joined him for the visit. The nursery was also close to the heart of Lady Edwina Mountbatten, an early patron of the Homes.

Support Lucia King today! 💙

The Lucia King nursery has been a beacon of hope in the eastern Himalayas for many decades. But the support it provides to the children is only possible thanks to the generosity and dedication of our sponsors around the world.

Would you be interested in helping us bring more children in need to live and study at Dr Graham’s Homes? We’d love to hear from you!

Find out more about the Sponsor a Child scheme on our website. Or drop us a line direct with any thoughts and questions – we’ll be delighted to help you get started.