Welcome to Kerala Link News

September 2008 Newsletter

Kerala Link News

Great news - Kerala Link has finally been granted permission to establish a Liaison Office of the parent UK charity in India.

      What does this mean for Kerala Link?

As Kerala Link is already fully registered as a charity in the UK, the establishment of a Liaison Office here now enables us to continue to operate locally under the name and administration of Kerala Link. The parent UK charity retains full control and yet we are now allowed to bring such funds into the country as necessary to operate from here, as well as be fully recognised as a placement agency within India.

Santha, our wonderful local representative is now, officially, a Kerala Link employee.

Changes to the volunteer program
 
Acting on a suggestion from previous volunteer Dolly Austin, we have decided to reduce our minimum time commitment for volunteers to the Sevika Sanghom to 6 weeks. Dolly thought that we might get more applications from professionals like herself (she is a registered nurse) who would be unable to commit to a longer program.
 
There will be no change in the minimum time commitment of 3 months for the Jyothis School program.

New trustee

We are thrilled to welcome Karen Herbert, disability nurse and former Jyothis volunteer, onto the board of trustees. Karen is replacing Leigh Keeble who resigned from her post this year.

Karen has also taken on Leigh's training role within the organisation.

The Volunteer Program
 
Women's Centre Volunteers
 
The past few months have seen Dolly Austin, Katy George and Jenny Gray, all from the UK, spending time at the Women's Centre.  Dolly is of Indian origin and Santha writes a piece about her in this newsletter.
 
Katy George
Katy shared her time among the many projects at the Women's Centre, but concentrating on Sneha Theeram, a mental health rehabilitation centre. The centre is situated quite a distance from the volunteers' accommodation, but Katy willingly travelled up and down three times a week on the local buses - having to ask if it was going her way as each bus stopped, the destinations being written only in Malayalam.
 
During her three months within the centre, Katy conducted activities such as fabric printing, papier mâché and jewellery making.
 
Jenny Gray
Jenny also visited many of the projects, yet preferred to concentrate on working within the Centre's Junior School and put her many musical and craft talents to use with the youngsters there, as well as some basic English teaching.

Jyothis Volunteers
 
Jyothis School has not been so fortunate and several months have passed without being able to place a volunteer. Karen Herbert and Mary Capon volunteered at Jyothis some time ago - please do have a look at their article about their time at Jyothis. (the volunteer experience)
 
Claudia Engels
Jyothis has recently been revisited by one of Kerala Link's very first volunteers. Claudia Engels volunteered at Jyothis School back in 2002; the experience has since influenced  her choices in life. During her placement six years ago, Claudia was shocked to discover the lack of interaction between a handicapped person and other members of society. She has since researched Hinduism trying to find a reason for this and, at present, is working towards a Masters in Visual Anthropology from Manchester University. Claudia, continually thinking about Jyothis and the children there, was interested in taking up the challenge of discovering more about disabled children and their role in a predominantly Hindu society. Hence, for her final project, she chose to revisit Jyothis School to film a documentary depicting the life of disabled children in Kerala. 

A Volunteer 62 Years Young
 
Here Santha, our Kerala Link coordinator in India, shares her thoughts about volunteer Dolly Austin (in her own words)
 
On a fine day I received a message about the arrival of a 62 year old volunteer for five weeks. Since then we had not had volunteers above the age of 30 and all of them spent 3 months. What she can do at this age within such a short time: some of the younger ones find it difficult to adjust with the culture, insects and so on.

I went to Trivandrum air-port to pick up her. A lean and energetic woman with black hair emerged from the terminal and on our way back to Tiruvalla I offered breakfast and tea. She refused everything politely. She added she will manage her food and I need not worry. As usual I arranged some food stuffs in the apartment. Except fruits and milk she refused other things with thanks. It added my doubts about the old woman but perhaps the secret of her health depends on the secret of her diet I thought.
 
Teaching communicative Malayalam (language of Kerala) is a part of our program. Since she is planning to be here for only 5 weeks, I thought it is better to drop language class. Her age, food habits and without knowing at least some words of Malayalam how she is going to be an effective volunteer? I was doubtful about her. 
 
Within few days I wiped out all my pre-conceptions. Unlike other volunteers she did not go on tour but worked most days for the Women's Centre. She even baked many items and distributed them among the members of the center.
 
As a member of the walking club at home she inspired our old age home inmates (they think old age is for taking rest and be inactive). Since she was a Christian she was particular to attend Sunday service at church. To attend the English service at 7.30am, she used to walk more than three kilometers in the morning towards church. It was an eye opener for the older people who are members of sitting and sleeping club.
 
Laughter was an added gift of her personality. She was very good in breaking jokes and so language was not a barrier for her interaction. For our inmates in the old age home, mental patients centre, girls home, orphanage, school, training school, bakery, office staff and all others in the campus, Dolly Austin was 'Jolly Austin'.
 
After her, I acknowledge the fact that older ones can also be volunteers. Older one's life experience can be an added qualification. They can be active and make others also active. Anybody with dedication, outlook, planning, willpower, capacity to mingle with others, creativity and concern towards underprivileged can be a volunteer. 

Fundraising news

This year, the two organisations at the Elanthoor campus of the Sevika Sanghom benefitted from Kerala Link funds. At Balika Bhavan, the Girls Home, we were able to help in the provision of new facilities by providing fans, ovens and utensils for a new kitchen extension. Additionally, new school uniforms were purchased for all the girls and some sports equipment was also donated.
 
At Sneha Theeram, the Halfway Home, Kerala Link is providing the funding for the medical care of the 5 resident women.
 
At the main Sevika Sanghom campus, Kerala Link is providing a years' scholarship for 10 children from needy families to attend the Centre-run Primary School.
 
Very many thanks to all our regular sponsors and donors as well as all others who have helped in raising both funds and awareness over the past year.

March 2008 Newsletter

Jyothis Volunteers

 Karen and Mary, from the UK, volunteered at Jyothis School during October, November and December last year. Both qualified disability nurses, they had much to offer the Jyothis children and staff and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their incredible commitment to the school. They enjoyed playing all manner of games with the kids, conducted numerous craft activities and helped the students in the construction of a fantastic deep sea mural in one of the classrooms.  

Jyothis school went through a sticky patch in December when a staff shortage saw Karen and Mary in school all day long, every day, mucking in with all the day to day stuff in addition to their activity sessions with the kids. A huge thank you to you both and we hope you settle back well in the UK! 

World Disabled Day

December 3^rd last year was celebrated across India with sports meets and events for disabled people. Jyothis School sent a delegation of students to a local sports meet held in Alappuzha Government Girls' High School in Alappuzha. The Jyothis students acquitted themselves admirably, winning plenty of medals to bring back to the school. The event was covered in the local press and the New Indian Express ran a photo and article about the Jyothis children.

Resident artist at Jyothis

Jyothis School has welcomed it's very own resident artist! Mavelikara, the town where Jyothis is situated, is home to a well known college of fine arts. A young boy who grew up in a home for physically disabled boys (a Jyothis School partner institution) won a scholarship to study at the college and so Jyothis is proud to provide a home for him while he completes his studies. He is one of the many foot artists who were profiled in the local press on World Disabled Day.

Christmas at Jyothis

Christmas was celebrated at the school with the usual chaos of preparation, performance, pomp and ceremony. Students, parents and other invited guests assembled in the twilight to watch dancing girls and drummer boys, a nativity play, a staff choir and the 'Christmas Father' delivering gifts. The evening stretched on well into the night after which an exhausted staff said goodbye to all their charges as the school closed for the 10 day Christmas period.

Trustee departure

We are very sorry to say goodbye to one of our trustees, Leigh Keeble. Leigh first joined us as a volunteer in 2004 and went on to become a Kerala Link trustee, our UK coordinator and trainer. She was a wonderful asset to Kerala Link during her time with us and we wish her all the very best with her growing young family. 

Thank you very much, Leigh

I have taken on Leigh's duties as volunteer coordinator from India and Leigh has very kindly agreed to continue in the pre-departure training role for us.

New trustee  

Leigh's departure means we have a vacancy for a trustee.

The main duties are becoming accustomed to the charity's aims and objectives and the role of a trustee. Thereafter the minimum requirement is attendance at (mostly phone) meetings three times a year - around 2-3 hours each plus a little preparation.  

Of course it would be great if someone wanted to give a few hours a month to helping with enquiries, finance, fundraising or other activities.  

If anyone is interested, please do get in touch with the chair of trustees, Neil on  

neil@kerala-link.org

Fundraising news  

Fundraising trustee, Elaine, and her partner Colin are back in Kerala visiting all the Kerala Link projects and giving out the funds they have raised over the past year. This piece from Elaine:

Once again we find ourselves in Kerala with a 'pot' of money to be distributed between Jyothis School and Sevika Sanghom. This money was raised via craft stalls, sale of cards and other items, as well as individual donations.  

Support for Jyothis:

We were able to support Jyothis School with a number of special meals as well as equipment for the vocational class (soap making venture).   

Support for the Sevika Sanghom Women's Centre:  

At Sneha Theeram (the rehabilitation centre) the ladies were very pleased with their new house coats, while the girls at Balika Bhavan (the girls' home) are now the proud owners of new uniforms. 

As well as these practical gifts, to the delight of all, we were also able to give 'fun' gifts in the form of cricket / badminton sets / frisbees, an assortment of art materials / a selection of reading books / board games. 

As usual, all the gifts were well received and much appreciated.