The princesses of plastic castles.

The princesses of plastic castles.
Last November a TV crew from Spain visited our Sandipani Muni School and did a 30 minute documentary on
the children. At the end of the documentary there was a
clip that brought me to tears. The commentator was saying: “These are the princesses of plastic castles, you see them
on stage wearing silk and very beautiful decorations. They
look like princesses, but at the end of the performance they
have to put on old rags and go and live underneath a plastic
sheet.”
Recently this difference in their daily life became even
more prominent when a famous Bollywood actor, Vivek
Oberoi, came to our school for a three day visit to celebrate
his birthday with the children. Like many other kids of the
school, Manasi and Nandini - playing the roles of Radha
and Krishna - had the chance to dance with the famous star
sharing with him the light of the stage, the applause of the
public and the excitement of the glamour. But immediately
after, they went back to the crude reality of their lives.
I am confident that it will not be always like this. The
distances are surely shortening. Only by seeing them dressed
in their neat school uniforms with blue ribbons and well
braided hair, you can see that something is happening, and
deep inside many of these children know that they will not
always have to go back to their
plastic castles. Nikunjavasini devi dasi
(Nicoletta Santagostino)
Sponsorship Coordinator
nik@fflvrindavan.org
Nandini and Manasi on stage with Vivek Oberoi
Autun Winter 2009
What makes them so confident while performing on stage
with big stars? What drives their hopes?
It is you with your contribution, with your sponsorship,
with your help and love. They feed on that, they hung and
hold on that as their only hope.
They know, now they also have a chance!
Dreams can happen!
An interview with Nandini
Nandini is 12 years old. Her father
left the family about four years ago
and her mother is maintaning three
children by cleaning houses for less than one dollar per
day.
When asked what she would like to do when she grows
up she says: “My wish is to become a dancer and a doctor and I know that if I try it will happen. And I want to
try. I am doing well at school, and I get all the facilities,
so why not?!”
When we asked her about her experience on stage with
Vivek Oberoi she said, “Oh, it was like a dream come
true! Something I really never expected. When I went
home I was a bit sad but I think that if this could happen…. then my dream to become a doctor could also
happen!”
Nandini at Sandipani Muni School with Vivek Oberoi
Nandini at home, after the house wall
collapsed due to heavy rainfall.
Left, Nandini during
a press conference in Agra
info@fflvrindavan.org
fflv.blogspot.com
www.fflvrindavan.org
A magic Diwali Night in London
It happened at the unassuming Kadwa Patidar Hall in
Harrow early on the evening of Saturday, October 10th. It
was hard to imagine that this humble place would soon
be the site of a glamorous gathering that would include a
visit from the Bollywood heart-throb Vivek Oberoi, UK
Foreign Aid Minister Gareth Thomas, and the Mayor of
Harrow, Eric Silver.
The stage was set with candles, fabric and various Diwali
decorations. Flashing across the large screens on either
side of the room, were the faces of the real stars of the
show: the students of Food for Life Vrindavan (FFLV)’s
Sandipani Muni Schools (SMS). They, not the glamorous and charming Vivek, were the stars of the night. They
stole people’s hearts.
And, as it turned out, before the evening was over, those
girls and their stories, with a little help from Vivek and
East Enders’ star, Nitin Ganatra, were able to persuade
London’s Gujarati community to donate more than
£150,000 for the construction of a new school complex
in Vrindavan for 1,500 desperately needy children, most
of whom will be girls.
After visiting FFLV in September, Vivek decided to become FFLV’s spokesperson and to start a special fund to
help Vrindavan’s girls, “Project Devi”. As donations began coming in, we wondered if the guests knew just how
lucky they were to be a part of this project that is growing
in Vrindavan. We hoped that one day, they would be
fortunate enough to visit Vrindavan to find out.
A new school for our children
Work on the third Sandipani Muni School complex is in
full swing. The opening ceremony for the first phase of
the project is scheduled for October 22nd, 2010.
Nitin Ganatra, CB patel, Vivek Oberoi, & Rupa
at the Gift of Hope Event, London UK.
‘Project Devi’
for the underprivileged girls of Vrindavan
On 16th September 2009 Project DEVI (Development
and Empowerment of Vrindavan Girls’ Initiative) was
born. This venture is a partnership between Food for Life
Vrindavan Charity and Vivek Oberoi’s personal charity
The Yashodhara Oberoi Foundation.
The partnership was born after witnessing the extraordinary achievements of Sandipani Muni School’s female
students and learning more about the challenges faced by
poor girls in rural India, where empowerment of women
and protection of their rights continues to be an ideal,
not a reality.
Development studies have consistently shown that investing in girls’ education and helping women become
economically self-sufficient are among the most effective
means of bringing individuals and communities out of
poverty.
Girls who attend the Sandipani Muni schools come
mainly from families that earn less than 1 USD a day and
live in Vrindavan’s slums and shantytowns where they
have little or no access to nutritious food, clean water and
basic sanitation.
The aim of Project DEVI is to assure dignified upbringing, safety and medical care, and improve the conditions
in which so many Indian children live, especially the girl
child that is considered the lowest of the low in the rural
patriarchal society.
Empowering girls through education
info@fflvrindavan.org
fflv.blogspot.com
www.fflvrindavan.org
They can be children again
Where to start when you want to write about Sandipani Muni
School….the experience is so overwhelming and intense that it is
hard to describe it in a few words. The smiles and the singing voices
of the kids will be in my head forever and I can only say how grateful
and fortunate I was to spend almost four weeks at Sandipani Muni
School.
What impressed me deeply is that the school is not only providing education, food, clothing, books and medical care but also provides the kids a safe place. The incredible team is always there to put
a strong arm around them when they need comfort or help. The
school is a place where they can dream and most important, they can
be children again! Ineke Zondag, Dubai UAE
When words have no more meaning
“...the eyes of the children search for you with curiosity, they have
the desire to discover you, with small gestures they make you enter
their heart. Theirs is the language of the heart. They are looking
for care, a gentle glance and in exchange they make you understand who you are.
Their eyes are reflecting you, you are lost in the deepness, you
drawn in their suffering..... then the joy to live appears, it is so
strong that it inundates you and at that point the words have no
more meaning. The voice disappears and leaves space for a big
hug... the kind that only children can give. Rosita Biagini, Italy.
These small gestures are so significant
Thanks for the note about the latest 08/09 annual report. As I make it a point of my own to visit your FFLV
website every Sunday I had already seen the report; and have indeed enjoyed pouring over every last word of the phenomenal progress your operation has achieved inspite of the current economic and political climate. I’m genuinely in
awe of the transformation for the better you manage to achieve for the lives of so many.
Recently I visited my sister and family in Perth, Western Australia. When I landed home on January 9th, jet
lagged and still below freezing, it was wonderfully “warming” in every sense of the word to find a big envelope with not
only a beautiful 2009 calender but a really heart melting hand made card with a photo of Manisha Kumari in front of
the Taj Mahal.
These small gestures are so significant. They keep alive a real sense of contact between sponsors of FFLV outside
of India and FFLV’s day to day operations. I feel enormously priviledged to be allowed to continue supporting your
mission. Wishing and praying for you and your teams every continued success,
Jai Radhe! Luke McDonald, London UK
info@fflvrindavan.org
fflv.blogspot.com
www.fflvrindavan.org
Camping out in the wild
Summer camp children at Nainital lake
Last May the children who passed with the best marks from each class at Sandipani Muni School got a chance to escape
the scorching heat of the Indian summer. Every year SMS summer camp takes the children to a hill station, and this
year we went to Nainital. For the first time we camped in the forest and the children had the opportunity to experience
nature. We hiked to a beautiful waterfall in the mountains about two miles away. The children enjoyed it very much.
The weather was just perfect... except for a few summer storms that literally lifted our tents from the ground. Mrs Bogomolova L.V. from Russian Institute of Childhood, who joined us commented, “This was such a wonderful experience
that I would like to come every year.” Next summer we will
visit Uttarkashi on the way to Gangotri. Would anyone like
to join us?
“Our entire world, all of humanity, is divided into two: those
who need help, and those who can give it. Those of us who
can count our blessings must thank God for how fortunate we
are to be on the giving side. We must reach out; we must help;
and we must love with all our hearts”.
Vivek Obeoi
Sept.16th, 2009. Yashoda and Vivek Oberoi
with Sandipani Muni School children
For more informations please visit:
www.vivek-oberoi.com
www.projectdevi.org
www.fflvrindavan.org
info@fflvrindavan.org
fflv.blogspot.com
www.fflvrindavan.org
Sumitra Singh and her two children (five and six years old) are some
of the beneficiaries of our Food for Families program. Sumitra lost her
husband three years ago in a car accident. Since then she has been living
with her elderly parents. Sumitra does some cleaning work but it is not a
full time job. She is the only working member of the household and her
work opportunities are severely limited because she is illiterate and has one
limp hand. Without free education for her children and support to feed
them, Sumitra could be forced to send her children out on the streets to
beg for their food.
In some cases, help is temporary - just for a few months until the main
breadwinner of the family recovers from illness, but in some cases, a family needs help until children graduate from school. Anyone that wishes
to help a family is encouraged to donate US$25 a month, which gives us
the chance to buy monthly grain rations for one family. Over 30 families
are currently receiving food rations and we have another 10 desperate families on the waiting list. If you would like
to receive the story of a family in need and get the opportunity to support a Vrindavan family, please contact nik@
fflvrindavan.org .
The Girls’ Fund: Our fight to save the girls
We are seeing the benefits of constant awareness programs and the “Save our Girls Fund” through a reduction in the
number of girls leaving school early to get married. This year only two 17 year old girls were taken out of school for
marriage. Our school community was devastated, but those who have been around since the school began reminded us
that before starting the “Save our Girls Fund” we were losing many more girls per year.
Statistics show that for every extra year a girl spends in school, her future wages will be 10-20% higher. Girls who
stay in school longer also have healthier and fewer children.
The Girls’ Fund is a financial incentive that sponsors contribute with their child’s sponsorship. The donation is kept
in interest earning account and it is given to the girl when she is 18. But anyone sympathetic to the problem can make
a contribution to the “Save our Girls Fund.” Please help us in our fight to give poor girls a better education and a better
future.
info@fflvrindavan.org
fflv.blogspot.com
www.fflvrindavan.org
SMS @ a glance
SMS SMSS-Reality Facts:
75% have parents with income less than US $1 per day
25% of the families have more than five children
35% live in huts made of plastic sheets and mud
20% had at least one brother or sister die at an early age
49% have illiterate parents
82% were completely illiterate
18% started school but had to interrupt their studies
90% have parents who cannot afford to buy them milk
60% have parents who cannot afford vegetables and clothes
12% have lost either a mother or a father
2% are orphans
SMS/SMSS average monthly expenses, 2009
Particulars Breakfast/Lunch
Educational aids
Running expenses
Salaries
Maintenance
Medical expenses
Transportation
Administration exp. (7%)
Total
Rs
600,000
400,000
140,000
480,000
80,000
127,000
22,000
129,430
1,978,430
Classes population, October 2009
Boys
Girls
Total
325
898
1223
Kindergarten
Preschool
First grade
Second grade
Third grade
Fourth grade
Fifth grade
142
188
210
120
120
117
107
info@fflvrindavan.org
Sixth grade
Seventh grade
Eights grade
Ninth grade
fflv.blogspot.com
98
76
23
22
www.fflvrindavan.org
US$
13,187
8,791
3,077
10,549
1,758
2,791
484
2,845
43,482
Sponsorship
FFLV offices around the world: www.fflvrindavan.org/contact
India
Food for Life Vrindavan Society
Sandipani Muni School
Burja Road, Chaitanya Vihar
Vrindavan 281 121
Mathura Dist. U.P. India
Tel: +91 (0)565 254 0239 / 772
info@fflvrindavan.org
UK
Food For Life Vrindavan UK, Ltd
101 Leighton Road
Ealing
London
W13 9DR
Tel: +44 (0)207 127 4864
chandra@fflvrindavan.org
USA
Care for Vrindavan Inc.
P.O. Box 982
Saratoga Springs
NY 12866
Tel: +1 (0)518 587-5700
care@fflvrindavan.org
Spain
Fundacion Dharma
Carrettera Monovar
Novelda Km 7 03640 Monovar
Tel: +34 (0)96 547 1089
fundacion@fundaciondharma.org
Your opportunities
Switzerland
Food for Life Vrindavan (Schweiz)
Centr. Imp 28
6656 Golino
Tel: +41 (0)61 381 5844
ribibasel@datacomm.ch
Sandipani Muni school’s classroom
Germany
Food for Life Deutschland e.V.
Alice Schumann
PF 680312 50706 Köln
Tel/Fax: +49 (0)221/7603308
al.schumann@t-online.de
Rs 1,800 per month:
Sponsorship for one child attending Sandipani Muni School (including Rs 300
for the Girls’ Fund).
This includes education, nutritious
meals, medical care, clothes and uniforms. Sponsors will receive photos and
details of the child assigned to them and
will have the chance to exchange photos
and letters.
Canada
Contact for Assistance in Canada
160 McMorran Crescent,
Thornhill, Ontario, L4J 2Y2
Tel: +1 (0)9057312461
yashandneeta@rogers.com
Holland
Food for Life Fryslan
Skelte Van Aysmastrjitte 22
8744 EP Schettens
Tel: +31 (0)517 532218
sabine@foodforlife-fryslan.org
France
Michel Jean Baptiste
19 BIS rue Danton
F-93110 Rosny sous Bois
mjbmaharsi@hotmail.com
Belgium
Food For Life W. Vlaanderen
Astridlaan 170
8310 Assebroek (Brugge)
Tel 00 32 50362052
jita-kandarpadasa.bcs@proximedia.be
Italy
Cibo per la Vita
Via Osteno 8, 20152 Milano
nik@fflvrindavan.org
Australia
Care for Vrindavan Inc.
21 Smith Street
Beechboro 6063
Ph. +61 (8) 9378 9215
care-aus@fflvrindavan.org
Evening school children
To sponsor a child please contact:
nik@fflvrindavan.org
Rupa’s Vrindavan Dairy
If today you feel
like reaching out
to someone
www.fflv.blogspot.com
Rs 5,000
Sponsorship for one child in our afternoon school (includes basic education,
food, medicines and clothes).
Girls supported by FFLV scholarship prog.
Please visit us
www.fflvrindavan.org
info@fflvrindavan.org
fflv.blogspot.com
Rs 5,000
Scholarship for one school girl whose
family cannot afford her education.
This is a scholarship for continuing studies beyond SMS. Includes school fee, uniforms, books and school materials.
www.fflvrindavan.org