Posted on: 31 July 2025
To mark South Asian Heritage Month, Indian girls' home directors Kemuel and Drakshavali Silumula visited CNWL last week.
They were accompanied by Susan Holtom, Trustwide Career Coach (pictured middle) who has volunteered with the girls’ home in India over the past 12 years.
The home offers a loving and stable home in Hyderabad, Telengana state in India for 15 orphaned, abandoned or disadvantaged girls. They also support widows, homeless people and street children.
Susan says:
"It’s been a great privilege getting to know the girls and the dedicated family team who run the home. Many of the girls were 7 or 8 years old when I first met them. Now they are amazing, ambitious young women beginning their professional careers. One has qualified as a nurse, others are studying nutrition, cardiology, forensic science or engineering. On my last visit in 2023, I used my career coaching experience to help them practice university interviews and presentation skills. Their motivation and mindsets are inspiring and I always get back so much more than I put in."
Kemuel and Drakshavali said:
"This is our first visit to England and we were pleased to visit CNWL during South Asian Heritage Month and hear about your vital work with diverse communities. We are currently constructing a new home for the girls, for which we are setting up a charity in England to help support us."
More South Asian Heritage Month celebrations
We are proud to mark South Asian Heritage Month, (18 July – 17 August) as a moment to celebrate the diverse histories, cultures, and contributions of South Asian communities across the UK and within the NHS.
This year’s theme, “Roots to Routes,” invites us to reflect on the journeys, past and present, that shape our identities and build our shared future.
Claire Murdoch, Chief Executive and Nick Green, Chief People Officer share a video to highlight and show appreciation for our South Asian colleagues contributions across the Trust. Click here to watch.
