“Be the change you want to see in the world.” Ghandi
NEIGHBOURS AID MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO INDIAN LIVES
Vijayawada Hope Project
Our project director Dany writes that a new tailoring class has commenced in a slum colony where 19,000 families who were living along the roadsides have been relocated. 42 women have completed their course and 12 have found employment which helps them provide food for their families. Our literacy classes are teaching life skills along with literacy and numeracy empowering the women, some of whom also enrol in the tailoring classes. 24 children living with widowed mothers or guardians are provided with food and education and are enjoying music and dance classes in the afternoon. Medical camps are providing vitamins, medicine and counselling services for HIV+ people and pregnant women.
Kolkata Educare Project
The Educare program commenced operating in April in the Ultadanga slum in Kolkata. There are 1100 homes in the slum with only two to three schools catering for the children, many of whom do not attend. Deena, our project director writes, “There is a hall that belongs to the community which we were able to rent. It was in a terrible condition so we repaired the floor, built a bathroom, fixed the roof, connected electricity and bought some furniture. The children learn English, Hindi, Bengali, Maths and Drawing and receive a meal at the end of each day. Two classes of 25 children received basic computer literacy skills. Most had never seen a computer and were very excited to be involved. The behaviour of the children is changing. They used to come to class in shabby dirty clothes but now they are arriving with combed hair and neat clothes. The families in the community consider themselves so blessed to be able to give their children a basic education and are glad that they are connected with us, being shown genuine love and care.”
“Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who make oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.” Isaiah 10:1-2.
