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Quite often, great ventures start with a simple idea. We present the story of Sevalaya, a wonderful example of five young people whose simple idea, inspired by the teachings of the great leaders of India, blossomed into a full fledged project with a long term vision.
In the same vein, please read the heart-warming story of two school girls wanting to do something for other children. With a heavy heart, we also share the loss of a dear member of our Vibha family. All the three stories presented in this newsletter are gentle reminders to all of us that one individual does make a difference!! |
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Meet our young fund-raisers!Two school girls from Santa Clara, who heard about Vibha during the Bay Area Walk/Run in 2006 came up with an innovative way to raise funds for Vibha. Ten year old Uma and her neighbor, eight year old Avani started an Art Club. They made cards, posters, Christmas tree decorations and donated the proceeds from the sales to Vibha.
Avani also presented her initiative at her girl scouts meeting and her idea was enthusiastically received by her troop.
Uma and Avani continue their endeavor by selling their craft items in the neighborhood. How delightful to see children supporting the cause of other children less privileged than themselves! A tribute to Sumati Mahajan (1941 - 2007)
It is with a heavy heart that we share the loss of Smt. Sumati Mahajan, a member of the Vibha family in Atlanta.
Sumatiji was a part of our volunteer family for more than ten years! She attended the very first volunteer meeting in June 1996, and was deeply involved in all subsequent Vibha fund raising efforts in Atlanta. She had strong dedication and commitment to the cause and was unrelenting in her efforts. Sumatiji was a rare senior citizen among the otherwise young volunteer force of Vibha. She was a source of inspiration and strength for several young volunteers. It is quite fitting, and yet ironic in its timing, that a volunteer who worked with her in Atlanta , talked about her in Boston as a shining example of volunteerism in Vibha, just two days before she suddenly passed away. The Atlanta Action Center of Vibha, is partnering with the Indian classical Music Society (ICMS) in honoring her memory with a classical concert on April 1, 2007. Please click here for details about the concert. Sumatiji continues to inspire us all. After going through the website set up in her memory, Sunil Patil, a relative of Sumatiji came forward from India to start an Action Center of Vibha in Pune and continue her work. That would be the most fitting tribute to her memory. ErrataWe would like to note the following items which were incorrectly published in previous versions of the newsletter. They have been corrected in the online edition.
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Project ProfileSevalya Inspired by the ideals and life of Mahatma Gandhiji, Mahakavi Bharathiyar and Swami Vivekananda, Sevalaya was started in 1988. From a humble beginning, with 5 children, in a rented house in Sivanvoil village in Tamil Nadu, Sevalaya service center now functions from its own campus in nearly seven acres of land at Kasuva Village near Thiruninravur (40 Kms west of Chennai) , sheltering 125 underprivileged boys and girls.
In addition to the Swami Vivekananda Boys Home and Mother Teresa Girls Home providing shelter, Sevalaya also runs Mahakavi Bharathiyar Higher Secondary School (recognized by Govt. of Tamil Nadu but unaided) providing free quality education through the medium of mother tongue to 700 poor rural children, Mahatma Gandhiji Medical Centre, Swami Vivekananda Free Library, Kasthurba Craft Centre providing free training in tailoring to rural women, Vinobhaji Goshala sheltering both milk yielding and dry cows and Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Old Age Home sheltering 60 destitute senior citizens.
Sevalaya serves several villages with nearly 3000 families of either landless agricultural laborers or brick kiln workers with an average income of Rs 600 per month. Before Sevalaya intervened, the children were being sent for daily wages. While there was some resistance to sending the children to school, with a lot of persuasion and assurance that Sevalaya will be providing their children absolutely free education - no fees, free text books and free notebooks and 2 sets of free uniforms the admissions to school started trickling in. Now the entire scenario has changed. Impressed by the quality education provided to the children free of cost, and the facilities provided in the school which are at par with any city school there is demand for admission in to the school run by Sevalaya. Most of the children are first generation school goers.
As a result, the literacy rate in the villages has gone up. There is more awareness about cleanliness, health and hygiene. The village parents are now more convinced about the need to educate their children. Education has opened up a whole new world for the children. They are now able to think beyond their village. The books have introduced them to the concept of nation, cultures of various countries, lives and works of great scientists, poets, and authors of the world, the various opportunities that exist for them to explore. They dare to dream now and work hard to turn their dreams into reality.
Vibha is helping the work of Sevalaya since November 2005 by supporting the salaries of several teachers, librarian, and the headmaster with an annual support of $10,000 per year! Ilayaraja, a product of Sevalaya gets a job with TCS. He lost his father when he was seven years old. His mother was not able to support him. He grew up in the care of Sevalaya for the past 18 years, completed his studies and then finished his diploma in computer science. He was then selected by TCS and now works for them. He comes to Sevalaya every weekend and talks to the children about his experience. "As Sevalaya grows, we would like Sevalaya to be managed by children who grew up in Sevalaya. Hence we have taken him as one of the trustees, he is now part of Sevalaya management", said Mr. V. Muralidharan founder and the managing trustee of Sevalaya. He has taken a house and is taking care of his mother. Ilayaraja says "Sevalaya is solely responsible for my growth. Now I want to give back to the society and do my bit and make sure that all other kids at Sevalaya come up in life like me". |
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| Vibha 1030 E El Camino Real, #424 Sunnyvale,
CA 94087 |
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Vibha is a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit, non-religious, non-political
organization that seeks to restore to underprivileged children their
basic rights to food, shelter, health and education - in short, a future.
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