Amanda.Greene@ReligionNews.com

Sister Jacintha Lobo knows the plight of street children in India from two sides - as a lawyer and advocate for street children in juvenile court and the nun superior or administrator of the Homes of Hope orphanage in Bangalore, India, which cares for 170 children.

She's traveling to Wilmington representing Homes of Hope to see dual art exhibits “My Passage to India,” and “Orphan Girls of India: From Streets to Safety” of photography by artist Arrow Ross, who recently spent six months in India. “My Passage to India,” opens 6-9 p.m. Feb. 22 at WHQR's M. C. Erny Gallery, 254 N. Front Street, 3rd Floor and continues through March 22. And “Orphan Girls of India: From Streets to Safety” opens at Acme Art Studios, 715 N. 5th Street, 6-9 p.m. Feb. 22, 6-9 p.m. Feb. 23 and 1-5 p.m. Feb. 24. 

The exhibits support Homes of Hope India, a nonprofit based in Wilmington, that helps support the children in cooperation with the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, building three orphanages, which house 400 girls and supporting 18 schools that educate 10,000 children. National Geographic magazine featured Homes of Hope India founders Paul and Tracy Wilkes in an online issue last year.

Traveling with Sister Jacintha will be Shanthi Ravikumar, 19, and an orphan who became a child laborer. At age 14, she was rescued and came to live at the orphanage where she completed a home nursing course, beautician  and tailoring courses and is now studying computer. The two will tour local Catholic churches and schools, speaking about their lives in India. 

Details: Visit www.homesofhopeindia.org  or 910-815-0695