Dutch Lady's Selfless Service Lights up Special Lives

Report & Pics: Chethan Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Sep 2: Marthje (33), a citizen of Holland and resident of Amsterdam, is one of those rare people who follow their ideologies and principles, giving no importance to worldly possessions. She has left behind her parents, her close ones and her assets, for the sake of looking after the special children of the district.

Marthje has been serving the inmates of Manasa Residential School for Special Children in Japti, Kundapur taluk. She had visited this school as a member of a delegation of FSL, an NGO from Holland, on August 15, 2007. She was overtaken by a feeling of belongingness to the poor, the orphaned, the mentally and physically challenged children of the school, and since then, has never thought of going back to her country. She says she experiences bliss in the innocence, affection and love showered upon her by the children here, and that serving them makes her happy.

Marthje completed her four-year physiotherapy degree course when she was 24. Thereafter, she went to Indonesia, where she spent a year with physically challenged children in a slum area. After returning to her native country, she imparted physiotherapy counselling and training to hundreds of special children, and earned handsomely for this service. Marthje, who owned a flat, car and several other luxuries at Amsterdam, left everything behind after her heart melted at the sight of these poor, suffering children. Moreover, she was also attracted by Indian culture.

Marthje’s father, Jon Jave, had retired as a superintendent. After retirement, he got involved actively with UNICEF and other socials service organizations for a decade. Her mother, Birgitte, also was a social worker, and used to impart counselling and Yoga training to cancer patients there. The inspiration provided by her parents made Marthje sensitive to the problems of the people and encouraged her to get involved with helping the neglected children.

“Whenever my parents want to visit me, they come here, meet me, and go back. I can never think of leaving these children behind,” Marthje explains.

Marthje, during her three-year stay here, has learnt to speak Kannada fluently. In a programme held in Manipal on Wednesday September 1 for felicitating her, she took the local people by surprise by speaking in Kannada after the programme.

"My Heart has Melted"

“The poverty of these children, the fact that most of them have no parents, and the problems they are suffering from, have melted my heart. I can never go back to Holland, leaving behind these helpless children. Like my parents, I will dedicate my entire life to social service. For me, my assets back home have no value as compared to these children and my only aim in life is to brighten their lives,” Marthje said.

She also said that she would like to continue her stay here, if she is given visa, and spend her life in the service of these children. About her plans for marriage, Marthje says, “I do not know what is written in my fate. If ever I marry, my groom will be an Indian boy, as I plan to settle down in India.”