March 2008 Newsletter

  Welcome

Welcome to the March 2008 e-newsletter!

Here I bring to you news of the recent happenings within Kerala Link and our volunteer program as well as news from the two organisations with whom we work, Jyothis Special School and the Sevika Sanghom Women's Centre.

Warm regards,  

Caroline

Editor

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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.

Current Volunteers  

Katy, from the UK, is currently volunteering at the Women's Centre in Thiruvalla. She shares her time between a couple of projects at the main campus, working with elderly and disabled women, and also travels to the Centre's second campus, to work within the Girls Home, and at the Rehabilitation Centre. I hope we shall hear from Katy about her time at the Women's Centre in a later newsletter.

Future Volunteers  

We still have vacancies for much of the year. September to December at Jyothis is fully booked but there are places at other times.