Round up of April
April was hot and humid and we also had a couple of days of rain which only made the humidity unbearable. Despite the weather we have had ourselves a great month. The children have answered their exams and the results have come in. Our children have done extremely well. All our children attending formal school have passed and moved to the next grade. Nearly fifteen children have answered their 10th and 12th standard Board examinations. The House Managers are very happy with the progress of their children at Shanti Niketan School.
The month however began on a sad note. Mary Yelland who had raised money for the Tremara Community Centre at Ribandar suddenly passed away. She was here with us for the inauguration of the centre and this was sad and shocking news to us. We pray God’s strength will be with Trevor at this time of grief. Martyn Sherman visited each and every Unit of El Shaddai and examined the feet of all the children for defects. Many a child had benefited from his Orthotic insoles over the years and we thank him for his care. While on the topic of feet, Pooja and Sushma were operated on theirs. Sushma for the reconstruction of her big toe and Pooja for Congenital anomaly of foot. Sushma has to undergo two more surgeries. Nagamma too was operated and one final surgery is left from the process that was begun two years ago to give her a normal face.
Shekinah and House of Kathleen were closed for the summer and so also were the Cottages. The school too has closed its doors till 26th May. Various maintenance and renovations have been carried out in view of the coming monsoon. The roof of Stepping Stones too has been repaired. Shanti Niketan School too is being fitted with a new roof. SNS has been the venue for the Accelerated Christian Education (A.C.E.) teachers training workshop. Individuals from all over India attended. On 5th the Parents Staff meet took place and many children left to be with their parents for a few weeks. They will return at the end of May. Speaking of vacations, the Co Founders and family went on their annual vacation. This year they went to North India.
The Shelters experienced a fall in the number of children attending and this was expected as the season is drawing to a close and holidays are on and so many people go to their native villages. Little Acorns Shelter had a grand picnic partly sponsored by a friend of El Shaddai. Asha Deep in Panaji celebrated five years in the service of underprivileged children. Due to the efforts of the fieldworkers many new faces can be seen at Shelters. Our Rucha spends the week at Stepping Stones as she enrolled in an internship at Turbo Cam in Margao. Admissions to Homes too have been opened and nearly 30 new children have already been admitted this April.
New staff has also been inducted into the family of El Shaddai. The coming academic year will begin with full strength. Many staff members have also gone on summer leave to be with their families. Some who have served us have also said goodbye and gone in search of other avenues. We wish them the very best.
Another year has come to a close and the next one is fast approaching. We hope to reach out to every child at risk and who needs our assistance. We hope we can be there to share the love of God with the ones who never experienced love and we hope to give them back their childhood which is their birthright.