The first month of the year has been a good one for Stepping Stones. The Shelter has a brand new look after going through extensive renovations and restorations. For nearly two months now the workmen have been building, polishing, painting and cleaning. Stepping Stones shines at night with all the new lights fixtures. Visitors have helped us with donations and some even assisted in the day to day running of the Shelter. There has been an upheaval in the staff composition with some members leaving for better prospects, some being transferred to other Units and new faces coming to work here. Overall it has been a great start to the year.

This month we at SS have reached out to more than 1150 children through the Shelter and this is amazing because we have achieved this through minimal fieldwork. Sadly we also had more than the usual number of medical cases, mostly cuts and bruises received on the streets. Staffing here has undergone some major changes. Raj our In-Charge left in search of other avenues. Ram was transferred to Shekinah House because his gift of teaching was required there. Vandana our cook was replaced by Akkama from Rainbow House and Narayan stepped into the boots of Raj. Millian Baretto is also here and is a great help with the girls who come here everyday. They see in her a mother figure. Office staff have visited us regularly. Godfrey has come at regular intervals to check the renovation work being done and so also have Mario and Stephen. Pastor Matthew came and spent time with the staff and children. We have received assistance whenever we have needed.

Visitors have been plenty this month. Many have donated in cash and kind. Clothes, toys, sports items etc have been donated. Some have donated food items and snacks. Pastor Michael even donated an acoustic guitar for the children. Visitors have helped with the non formal education of children. On the weekly beach outings many friends have come and made these outings that much more fun. Mavis has been a tremendous help as always. A well wisher even took the children and staff on a picnic to Majorda.

We at Stepping Stones feel we are at the beginning of something new and fabulous. The Shelter looks new, there are new faces everywhere and new children are coming in almost daily. Every week new methods of teaching are being employed to assist the children to learn. We believe that in the coming month of February we will be able to make a positive difference in the lives of many children and share the love of God with them. There is already a great expectancy in the attitude of the staff and children.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 at 5:19 pm and is filed under Events, Stepping Stones. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.