Raphael, the internationally renowned Indian charity located in Dehra Dun in the foothills of the Himalaya, celebrates its 50th anniversary in April 2009. Established by Leonard Cheshire and Sue Ryder, Raphael is dedicated to improving the lives of some of India’s most disadvantaged people. ‘Share Thy Bread’ is the earliest of a number of films about the charity made by the Ryder-Cheshire Foundation, all of which are available to watch in the BFI Mediatheques in London and Derby.

Raphael started by providing a home for children with learning disabilities and leprosy patients and in this film, made in 1963, we see the jungle being cleared and the first buildings going up. It also includes a focus on one of Raphael’s longest-standing residents, Paiman. Over 45 years later she is still one of the charity’s most determined characters and a vital cog in the operation of Ava Vihar (Raphael’s residential centre for people with learning disabilities). For more information about Raphael and details of its work today see http://www.raphaelicare.org (Robin Baker)

Courtesy of the Ryder-Cheshire Foundation

You can watch over 1200 other complete films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive free of charge in the Mediatheque at BFI Southbank, London and at the new QUAD centre for art and film in Derby – http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque http://www.derbyquad.co.uk/bfi-mediatheque

Duration : 0:18:8

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