Here's what our German coordinators had to say:

 

"Dear Anita,

It's one week that we had this very special day - I can't believe. The time is running. We got so much positive feedback from the people around the town. They all enjoyed the evening and the day and they all want us to do this again next year.
We're just finishing all the "after-event" action these days. The website is totally revised. Pictures and newspaper articles are on it now. Also a guest book, where the visitors can write down their impressions of the day.

We hope you had a good journey back to England and you could relax a little bit in Peiss. So what are you doing next? You told us you will go to Sweden and Denmark. Whereto and when?

I will contact you the next weeks to discuss where the raised money should go to. The girls would like to support that village in Karnataka you told me. I think that’s a good idea, even to take a part of the money for this village and the other part for the established houses.

Best wishes and all our love from the south of Germany.

Teena, Monica and Andi!"

The Ruby Run

 

A member of our local Methodist church took part in the 'Ruby Run', which is an annual run from the town of Holsworthy to Hatherleigh in Devon, England, a distance of 13 miles.  Mark Banks decided to run for El Shaddai. He has raised around £600 in sponsor money, which is a great effort. The pictures show Mark, wearing an El Shaddai vest, at the beginning of the race with Ruth and Mary and at the Finish line.  He made it in under two hours. Well done Mark!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                               

Walk of Hope 2010

We will be organising a Walk of Hope 2010, by relay, from Land’s End to Exeter Cathedral from August 27th to September 5th. Our aim will be to walk a baton containing a message of hope to the children of India, and through this to raise money and awareness to improve the lives of poor children and their communities.
For most of the journey there will be two walkers and two supporters in a car as the roads are too narrow to safely take a large number of people. Over Dartmoor and for the last mile to both Cathedrals many more people can participate. If you would like to know more, join us for part of the walk, or sponsor us, or want to know further information on ‘WALK OF HOPE’ please contact ruth@childrescue.net or mary@childrescue.net at our UK Office, you can also visit our website at www.childrescue.net The baton has a Just Giving page, so if you don’t know any of the walkers, you can sponsor the baton itself!  Go to www.justgiving.com/-Walk-of-Hope-baton

 

Matthew's visits the North Teignmouth Community Centre

Matthew preached at Anita's UK Church the North Teignmouth Community Centre. He preached on “How to handle hurt" and well very well received. A donation of £60 was given by the Church towards El Shaddai's Children's Hospice.

 

Chief Minister donates books 

 

Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Digambar Kamat visited Stepping Stones Shelter along with Mr. Damodar Borkar, President of Congress Party along with some other party members visited & distributed 500 notebooks for our children.

 

Following is an encouraging email which was sent by a Volunteer, Emma Stack who was volunteering in our Shelter at Little Acorns:

From the moment I first walked into Little Acorns I immediately knew that I wanted to help at the shelter. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming and the staff and the children all had big smiles for me. Since then I have been going to the shelter as a visitor and have spent time doing different activities with the children which I have enjoyed immensely. Some days I have spent helping them with their English, other days have been spent doing creative things with them or playing games and more recently a couple of trips to the beach. Every time I arrive I have a sea of beautiful faces smiling up at me saying ‘Good morning didi’ and once again I am reminded of how lucky I have been to have had the opportunity to help at El-Shaddai.

When you volunteer you do so because you hope you can make a difference somehow. It may not be a huge difference, but you hope that in some small way you can make a contribution to the lives of others and give something that will help in the right way. What you don’t necessarily realise though is what you get back. I may have helped teach the children but I have also learnt a great deal from them.           
 I have never once seen them appear to be bored or to complain that they want something they haven’t got. They play board games together in teams and although they may be competitive, they interact with each other rather than pursuing more solitary activities. There is a feeling of unity at Little Acorns and I believe that this is because the shelter provides a safe and caring environment where the children can be nurtured and are encouraged to share and look out for one another. It’s a place that feels like family, whether you are an adult or a child. It’s a place to be proud of.

    
Helping at Little Acorns has been an absolute privilege and I will miss everyone very much. I will take very happy memories away with me and I will not forget the kindness of all the team that work there – Lavino, Joanna, Kiran, Shankar, Ajit and Kaman – all of whom work incredibly hard to make a difference and create a place that feels like home should. I may not speak Hindi or Konkani and not everyone at Little Acorns can speak English, but I realise now that even with a language barrier, a smile is universal and you don’t necessarily need to understand each others words to be able to help and care.

I would like to thank everyone at the shelter for allowing me the opportunity to meet and help such amazing and inspirational children and for the friendship that has been extended to me. I am truly grateful.
With much love,
Emma

 

More feedback from a Volunteer

 

To everyone at Little Acorns!

I just want to thank you all once again for letting me be a part of your family. When I first started helping I felt as though I was not needed but that changed within a few days. The children soon began to know me and come to me and the staff were always at hand for me. As the weeks went by and various volunteers came and went I was glad I was staying longer. Due to the children being on school holidays it was good to get to spend time with the older ones too.

I have to say there are some very gifted children at Little Acorns, We did a few pictures using paper and materials which the children and staff seemed to enjoy.              
       
The boy who did the drawings was amazing and I feel his talent should be made known.
In all the time I was there I was treated with great respect by the children and the staff. I looked forward to my mornings at Little Acorns and I will miss them all, the children and the staff.
If anyone reads this and is not sure about Little Acorns then go and visit. The smiles that greet you make it all worth while.

Thanks again,

Gill Boatwright.

were given TT Vaccination (above 10yrs.), DPT, Vitamin A (above 5 yrs.), Rubella (for girls above 10 yrs.) and Japanese Encephalitis. The Health Centre also provided Iron tablets/Syrup, Paracetamol tablets and D-worming tablets.