HOUSE OF KATHLEEN, ASSAGAO

The children had a great time in the month of November as there were a lot of activities throughout the month. School, outings, picnic, Fantasia, beach visits etc. ensured that the children had an enjoyable month. All our children enjoyed excellent health this month. Anti-Filarial tablets were distributed by the staff of the local health centre. (more…)

SHANTI NIKETAN SCHOOL, ASSAGAO

The month of November witnessed some exciting events especially in the sports arena. Students were on Diwali vacations from the 23rd of October till school reopened on 10th November. Even during the vacation, those students selected to take part in Fantasia were busy practicing on the school grounds. The ones selected to represent the school in sports and athletics were also practicing alongside. The students as well as the staff were involved in quite a number of activities as well. (more…)

RAINBOW HOUSE, ASSAGAO

The month of November had everything in small doses, holidays, school, outings, picnics, parties, visitors, staff movement, and Fantasia. The girls at the Home and the Cottage had a full month and enjoyed, studied, practiced and learnt new things. The staff too saw a slight movement in their placement. Overall the month was pleasant and the health of the children was excellent. (more…)

LITTLE ACORNS, CALANGUTE

The Shelter at Calangute experienced a month where we said hello to many of our friends, some who have been visiting us for years and also made some very good new friends. We had a few days of sadness as well as a few days of gladness. New children began coming to the Shelter and availing of the facilities here and some of the children who were regular here before, but had since gone away, began coming again, which brought a smile to our faces as we know that it is our love that has brought them back. (more…)

VICTORY HOUSE, SALIGAO

November brought a change at the Victory House. This Home for 62 boys and 4 staff saw the surrounding around the house changing for the better. At the same time many changes have also occurred inside the Home, all making the lives of the boys much more enjoyable and pleasant. (more…)

STEPPING STONES, MARGAO

The month of November saw a tremendous rise in the number of children attending the Shelter. There has been consistency in the number of school children coming for tuitions. Some children were distributed clothes, while the hair and nails of others were clipped. Medical attention was provided to the children in the Shelter as well as in the slums. (more…)

VICTORY HOUSE, SALIGAO

The month of October began with a holiday. The occasion was the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Nation. The boys learnt about the great man and what he had done for the country and the freedom of India. The next day too they found an unexpected holiday, as there was a strike and the buses would not ply on the roads. They spent the day catching up on the various chores that they had to do and also played different indoor and outdoor games. (more…)

STEPPING STONES.

The month of October was a sad one for the staff and children of Stepping Stones. The local ruling body, the Margao Muncipal council, issued demolition notices to many slums in and around Margao: and later caried out the orders, thus forcing the dwellers to take their belongings and go elswhere for alternate accommodations. Most of our children come from these slums and so they along with their parents have moved away. The number of children has dropped drastically and it is going to fall further as more and more slums are going to be torn down and children are going to go away. All the efforts we had put into teaching and keeping them clean and giving them nutritious food and helping them with education and vocational training, seem to be wasted as they will go back sad way of life in the new area they settle down.

The month of October has however been busy for the children and the staff, nonetheless. A team from the Ponda Educational Society was here at SS, in connection with a project. The children were very enthusiastic and assisted them in whatever manner they could. Dr. Hegde was here on a medical mission. He took the blood samples of over forty children and has recommended a few for further, more specialised observations and tests. We on our part are doing everything to assist Dr. Hegde. Tanuja from the ‘Art of Living foundation’ was here and she conducted a 5-day, one -hour a day workshop for the children to inculcate the best of human values in the children. The workshop has helped the children in overcoming shyness and nervousness, and has  brought out a few talents in them that we did not know even existed.

A team of ICFAI, of the Tripura University, which is in the Northeast of India was here. During Diwali festival, this team along with our children, had a grand celebration at the Shelter. They started with the painting of the lamps, which were later hung around the shelter, drawing followed and also cultural activities and dancing and singing. The festivities ended when this team gave the children Diwali gifts and sweets. This is one Diwali the children are not going to forget for a long time.

Visitors came and blessed us with their time, talent and donations. Sheila and Leslie Medcroft from the UK, Temples and Oogjes from the Netherands, and our ever faithful Mavis, all graced us with their presence and talents. John Van Der Platt, who filmed the first El shaddai video many years ago also visited us and went to film the slums in and around Margao.

This coming month of November is one of uncertainty for the slum dwellers. Most of the slums have been notifies with demolition orders and the children are the ones who are going to  suffer the most. We are networking with the Municipal authorities, Police, Land survey personnel, Railway officials and other NGO to locate our children and also to see if we can help he ones who are going to be displaced soon. We are hoping to be able to help these children as they are the ones who really need our assistance the most. We pray that God will take us to the right place at the right time.

RAINBOW HOUSE, ASSAGAO

The month of October has been a great one for us at the Rainbow House. The health of the girls has been excellent, except for a new girls who had a few minor infections; however all of them have recovered fully and are enjoying life to the fullest. The Diwali vacations were an added and welcome break from school and the daily routine of life. Some of the older girls assist the staff in the running of the home and also assist the neighbouring House of Kathleen in minding the smaller children. (more…)

SHEKINAH HOUSE - OCTOBER

October means holidays and fun in the sun. The first two weeks were spent in studying for the exams and the next two playing their hearts out. We constantly encourage the children to excel in their studies as a good education is the backbone to a better and brighter future. Apart from studies and games our boys also begun with their practises along with Ms Erica, Ms Sonia and Mr Giocoso for the upcoming of ‘ FANTASIA‘. (more…)