DEEPAVALI and monsoon

Last month the children celebrated Deepavali, the Festival of Lights.

They enjoyed a special meal and plenty of treats, and in the evening they played with fire crackers and had lots of fun.

After a delayed start, the monsoon finally came to Tamil Nadu. It has been raining very heavily for the last few days and many people lost their belonging, crops and even some lives where lost.

For the first time the children have been able to sleep in a dry floor during the rainy season, since the new home is in the second and third floors of a building. In the past years, the water would float the old orphanage for days.

Being able to move the orphanage to this current location has impacted the children's lives in so many positive ways, the boys and I thank you for your kind donations and send you Love and Light!

MY BIRTHDAY

Last week the children celebrated my birthday with cake and a special dinner.

They are doing well and preparing for their quarterly exam, and we are planning an outing to the Zoo for them.

TYPING SCHOOL

This are Thamil Arasen, Babu, Satish and Prasanth. They are between 14 and15 years old, and the only children that qualify for the typing lessons due to age requirements.



They began classes on August first, and in a few months, when they will be familiar with the keyboard, they will start taking computer lessons.



The boys are really happy, and realize that this is a privilege not even most of their classmates have. They promised to work very hard.



Personally, I am so happy to see that finally my input is about to produce some practical results and will add some valuable skills to their education.

RIYAZ AND JARINA BEGAM

While I was in Mamallapuram neighbours told me about Riyaz and Jarina Begam and an afternoon I met with them.

Riyaz is an extremely intelligent boy who wants to be an engineer. He showed me his school qualifications from the last few years and he is the first kid in the class in almost every subject. When not, he is second. Unfortunately his family is very poor, and to add to this, his father is alcoholic. I was so touched by his situation that I committed to help him with his education, for as long as he keeps up with his excellent marks. The yearly tuition is only INR4000 so I took care of this years fee and gave him a little extra for schools supplies and clothing.

Jarina Begam is a 14 year old girl that has always suffered from a very serious neurological disease. She has to go every other day to the hospital to get treatment. She is also very smart and sweet, and faithfully believes in a better, healthier future. I was also able to spare a little money for medical bills for her and her mom.

Ice-cream and new school supplies

The children are very happy in the new home and with the newly established practice of having an ice-cream a week, as you can see.

We also have some additions, five new orphans have joined the home. We got school supplies for everyone and I am looking into sending the older boys (14 years old) to computer school.

NEW HOME

The new home is ready.

Finally we leased the first and second floors of a building in a very quite street, next to Cuti's tea stall (where I have chai every morning). I think the children will be more comfortable here, they will have more room and there is better air circulation and much less mosquitoes. Children moved in the first week of june, and they are back to school already.

I am also attaching a copy of the lease which shows monthly rent.

So far I have payed for the renovations (painting and construction of an extra room) school supplies and first month rent.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR DONATIONS

First week

Arrived last monday to Chennai, and was met at the airport by orphange director and... 5 of the children with jazmin flowers!! On the way to Mahabalipuram (mamallapuram) baby Stephan got sick and we had to stop on the middle of the road...
I am staying with my Indian family at their restaurant, same than last year.
I went to see the new space for the orphanage, the second and third floors of a building. It looked quite runned down to me but better that the current place, which is extremly unsafe since the owner of the building has alredy started construction.
I agreed to pay the rent money for the first year, but I am not happy with the amount they are asking for the security depostit and contract conditions, so I will meet with the lawyer of my friend's Dad (thank you Raj) for advice.
In the meantime and starting tomorrow i will be doing the daily grocery shopping for the children in the morning and make sure they have a nutritious meal in the evening.
This evening I am taking Vijay2 to the doctor (he has a hole in his head after landing on in)
Sometime this week I will also go to Chennai to buy clothes for the kids, he one they are wearing are all ripped and held by safety pins.
Not much more to report, lots of delicious chai and street food (my most favourite but not feeling too well today... ) and some Ayurvedic massages in between.
Miss NY and my bathtop,