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Newsletter Q3 2011 Chetonar Dak
I'll be heading up to the village in a few weeks so am looking forward to speaking with the children and their parents to see if these small changes are making a difference. Anna Ray - Oct 2011 The Choir With No Name The Choir has been super busy over the last couple of months. Thanks to all those who voted for it in the Social Change Award. We'll find out on December 1 if it's been successful but just being shortlisted is an achievement as only three finalists were named from 600 nominations. Talking of amazing achievements - the Choir has also spread its wings to Birmingham. The first rehearsal was in October which welcomed 20 new potential members. OPS funding has helped the Choir to expand their great work to more people in London and to Birmingham too.
Emma Wheelhouse - November 2011 Seeds of Hope Seeds of Hope have produced a fantastic newsletter specifically for OPS which you can read here: Anna Ray - November 2011 SBT Highlights for the Salaam Baalak Trust include the continuing success in getting street children into formal school. At least for a few hours in the morning, each of the children are to some extent included in rather than excluded from Indian society, and can get a foothold on an escape ladder from addiction. Other children receive non-formal education from the SBT staff, and are currently taught one day a week by an enthusiastic volunteer; she takes a class that successfully seems to combine street-living boys and remarkably smart young girls from the local community. Four of the older children have been placed in jobs as well; three as motor mechanics at Kashmere Gate nearby in Old Delhi and one as a barber in Ghaziabad. Figures from the Old Delhi contact point co-ordinator, Manoj, show that the charity has been reaching more children this year. In the period of July to August, 324 children were registered with SBT, compared with 222 in the same period last year. Over the same three months, 1,460 recieved medical check-ups compared with 621 in 2010 and 78 were transferred to other shelters, NGOs or detox facilities compated to 31. And OPS supremo John Arnold dropped in on SBT in October - you can read about his visit on his and Anna's blog here: annaandjohn.wordpress.com/2011/11/07/salaam-balak-trust/. But each visit to the contact point reminds me sharply what a difficult environment the staff work in: this is very much at the sharp end. And it’s all done with only three full-time staff and a budget of just over £17,000. OPS’ contribution makes up a much appreciated 10 per cent. Nick Thompson - November 2011 | |
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Much of this quarter's money has been spent on the continued effort to improve the pre-schools. Until now all the schools have had open windows and insecure tin doors. Rains and high winds can easily damage the inside of the schools leaving damp rooms and pitted floors. So far six of the schools have fitted windows and doors. Some of the floors have also been replastered and new matts bought for the children to sit on. All this work helps to make the school a more comfortable environment in which the children can learn and play.
Chetonar Dak also runs a small sewing school where women from the local villages are taught how to make clothes. A small portion of our money has paid for some minor repair work so all seven machines can now be used in the classes.
Finally if you fancy some festive fun with the Choir, join them at the Union Chapel in London (near Highbury & Islington underground station) on Dec 13. It's a gorgeous music venue with brilliant acoustics and atmosphere. In fact it's the only place I know where you can watch a gig with a cuppa and a cookie and not feel out of place. Singers from London and Birmingham are coming together to perform there. Tickets are £10 each and are selling out fast - visit 
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