Happy Birthday Umeed-Ek-Asha

Hello Umeed ,

Many Many Happy returns of the day ! I still remember the day when you were created.  A group of enthusiastic but crestfallen people gathered at the gate of Dilli Haat. They were crestfallen because they could not join the Teach India initiative as all of them were professionals and could devote time only over weekends.

Strong team dynamics led to your creation and we created you – very lovingly and christened you “Emeed Ek Asha” . And the journey started ….!

We did activities in Anubhav Shiksha Kendra (wing of DPS RKP for underprivileged ), Jaago for ASK, Amar Colony, Prayas and Kasturba Niketan.  We donated clothes to the poor slums and books and stationary to an orphanage in Noida.

We are a strong group of people and we all have the promise of  nurturing you . We want to work for the underprivileged children – finding out time on weekends .

I pray to God that we can see many many happy returns of the day.

Happy birthday again

Ananya

 

My experience at KN…

Since 1^st March 09, I got the chance to teach 7 students ( 3 from VII, 1 from V, 1 from II, 2 from VIII) from the scratch as the new session started. There were instances in the beginning where few students stopped coming. I make them to come to my class, sometime by love/threat.

And believe me by just giving 3 hours every Sat & Sun, there is a remarkable improvement in children education, manners, personal hygiene, way of thinking.

Children who were not able to read English now can read English story books and understand it. They know how to use dictionary. Earlier they have fear from English and now they are crazy to learn English. Their fear from maths is no more. Every day they study for 4 hours minimum and on weekends they show me when  and what they studied.

In short now they are interested in studies. When a child get into the habit of study, one can be sure he is on the right track.

This really gives one a sense of satisfaction when your efforts are giving results.

~ Priyanka

 

Invisible Children

‘Invisible Children’ is doing a very courageous job by informing the public about the plight of children, who are abducted and forced to fight as soldiers in Central East Africa

You can help the organisation by clicking on the link at the bottom right corner of our blog….

 

…and I stand and admire….

…I have read with great interest some mails regarding your meeting on 11th and subsequent noble work you people executed.  I am sorry I could not be part of the whole exercise.

However I feel very happy and see a bright India ahead when I read what all you have done in the very short time since inception of the Group and what you want to do.

My only wish is that one should select a limited sphere of work and devote all his attention to the single cause if we want to make a real impact.  It is difficult and impossible to make everyone happy and the whole world change for the better by a single Group or organisation.  But I believe in Gandhi’s theory that if we can change one person, its effect will be larger and longer.  The chain of such persons can influence the society deeply and in a real effective way.  This may sound irrelevant  in today’s time but Gandhi has become dear to the world by his uncommon beliefs like this.

I would have liked the Group to continue  as a campaign and in an informal way.  That could have spread positive feelings and would have reached unexpected quarters.I did not react at that time because I thought I should not come in the way of the goal of you all.

Maybe you have great hopes after forming the NGO – no doubt it has its own many benefits too but there is no dearth of NGOs and the impression  about NGOs in our society is not positive unfortunately though many are really doling good work with great transparency.  There are also examples in abundance where informal groups have made real impact and  continue to work silently away from the glare of media.

However I admire your involvement and the way you are leading the Group.  May God grant you more energy to be helpful to the society.

My hearty best wishes to you.

Sincerely,
Vishan Lal

 

Where do we stand?

Education indeed open doors…..

Where do we stand….

 

…the way I look at it….

Hi! Umeedians,

Hats off to the work by umeedians on this Sunday…… !!!!!

The thoughts by Avnish ji is really great. I was just thinking about the money we generated this time amounted almost 20,000 +,  but the potential of that money is gone once donated.. I hope people won’t miss understand me, but the motto of our group is to empower and not enslave.

I understand that collecting money etc, and giving it to the needed ones is a noble act and is necessary. As an individual we can always donate anything, but what is the use of having a group then. I personally feel that donation is like a patch up work. Our group can donate for say about 200 ppl, but what about the rest? Donation in pure form may not be sufficient to achieve the larger goal..

What I intend to say is, we shall carry off with our donation works, but we should focus on self help groups. If we can generate a MODEL by which a group of children or say slum dwellers can full fill their own needs (We may need to put in the initial capital), then we can develop on this model and be facilitators to tailor and copy this model to different places, by this manner we can reach out to more people in need, and of course avoid the problems like reselling of donated products.

As group, I personally feel (and would like the comments of the group), that we should not be following the same path as any other NGO, after all Delhi has the maximum number of registered NGO’s but what difference is it making, or rather how can we make a difference which others are not able to.

Hope to have a healthy discussion on this matter…

Regards
Nipesh

 

My sojourn at Amar colony Blind school….

…Ruchika and I went there on Sunday, 14th Sept and conducted the first class for spoken English.

That day there were only 7-8 students, from class 9th – 12th. All of them were quite enthusiastic to speak English. I had bought a book for Spoken English and we cpuldcover the first two chapters. Ruchika had to leave after 30 mi. I continued for another 30-45 minutes. I spoke with them in English and got to know them better. It was an insightful experience for me. In my heart I was feeling very sad  at their plight but could not let that come in my voice. I had to control myself.

I came to know that they have good awareness and were aware of the floods in Bihar and the bomb blasts ! One of them – 9th class student even had a girl friend back in the village !

I have bartered with them that they will also teach me Braille.

After this visit , I understand how lucky we are to be able to see the world, the colors, our near and dear ones  .  I hope I can show my gratefulness to God by doing whatever little I can .

Regards

Ananya

 

Umeed se bhi zyada….ek nahin bahut aashayen badh rahin hain….

…Diwali celebrations at Kasturba Niketan brought  mixed feelings.  I thanked God that He gave me opportunity to be amongst children who smiled and laughed with us and made the occasion so special for us all ..  I could share their innocence, their  inner and deep  feelings.  While many children were seen enjoying every moment, silence on the faces of many said a lot.

Everyone who contributed to the whole programme are God’s chosen angels who have the vision of VASUDHAIV KUTUMBAKAM (the whole universe is one family).

I feel very happy when I see a group of many  young enthusiasts who are keen to spread happiness and peace even on the islands which are not visited by many busy with their day to day routine life.  I only pray and wish that the crop of such people who care for less-privileged more and more keeps on growing.

Umeed se bhi zyada    ek nahin  bahut aashayen badh rahin hain.

With love and regards to all….

Regards

Vishan Lal

 

A glass of milk…

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.

Instead of a meal he asked for water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?”

“You don’t owe me anything,” she replied “Mother has taught us never to accept payment for a kindness.” He said…. “Then I thank you from my heart.” As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt; stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor’s gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case. After a long struggle, the battle was won.

Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught; her attention on the side as She read these words….. “Paid in full with one glass of milk.” (Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: “Thank You, GOD,

that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands.”

Best Regards

Avnish Jauhari