Vol 5, No.6 | June 2009       »www.vibha.org » info@vibha.org  

“I can move the earth….”. You can imagine how energetic and inspiring the conference would have been if someone who attended remotely said that. More than 60 people attended the Fifth Vibha National Volunteer Conference, held at San Jose, California on May 30-31, 2009. The two days of intense discussion and brainstorming energized each and every participant. For some of them it was the realization of the impact we make to the children, for some of them it was dream come true after more than a decade of volunteering. For some of them it was a realization that Vibha begins with each one us. An 8 year old boy from Toronto inspired the volunteers by sharing his plans to help underprivileged children.

The presentation by the Guest Speaker, Dr. Preetam Yeshwant, updates on Vibha - India and the two break-out sessions were the key agenda items of this conference. There couldn't have been a more relevant topic than "Indian Government's Role in Child Development" to hear about. Dr. Yeshwant talked about the various schemes the Government has put in place for a child from the moment he/she is born till reaching the age of 14. He also talked about the challenges and gaps in implementing these schemes and how child development organizations such as Vibha can make a big difference by filling in some of these gaps. The presentation was very well received by the audience followed by a Q/A session.

Imagine a group of Vibha Volunteers wearing Vibha T-shirts and carrying out a health camp at one of the schools in a remote Indian village. It's not a dream anymore. Vibha in India is now a reality in 5 cities, Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Delhi . The Board members, Ron Victor and Vijay Vemulapalli, updated the volunteers on the various activities taking place at these Action Centers. Vibha – India volunteers are doing hands on volunteering at Health Camps, and tutoring and mentoring children. Watch one such video here

Last but not least, 8-year old Rohan from Toronto, our youngest volunteer, talked to us via video conferencing on how he wants to help out underprivileged children. Rohan wants to build a school for one of our projects and he is raising money for the same by selling bracelets. It was truly inspiring.

One can really get tired when you are locked up in a room for two days with 60 other people having intense discussion and brainstorming. But each one of the participants were more energized and committed at the end of the conference. If you think you have missed out something, please mark your calendars right away so that you will not miss out the conference next year. The conference is always held during the weekend AFTER the Memorial Day weekend. It is open for all volunteers and patrons. We hope to see you there next year.

The ViBlog is here. It’s fresh, it’s motivating and it will bring you closer to the people and the projects at Vibha. Read how one of our Vibha volunteers, Lakshmi Rajaram, shares through this blog, her experience of attending the Volunteer conference remotely.
I can move the earth…

The Vibha Volunteer conference moved me, motivated me, impressed me.

It engaged, inspired and consumed me.

It enabled, empowered and encouraged me.

It energized, drove and compelled me.

To believe that I am Vibha, and Vibha begins with me…

This was my first experience attending the annual Vibha volunteer conference, which was hosted by the Bay Area action center this year. Having no previous experience at this, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Let me just put it this way, I was blown away! It was a phenomenal show of teamwork, organization, planning and execution.

I must say, Hats off to the entire team for organizing such an outstanding event. Not only was it impressive in its format, content and structure, it set the expectation bar very high. Having been a part of Vibha’s volunteer force for close to 3 years now, it is the organization’s professionalism, volunteer dedication and passion that drew me to it. Attending the conference was like witnessing ball after ball being hit out of the ball park with all 4 bases loaded. The relevancy of topics, balanced themes and discussions, effective power points, brainstorming, breakouts and workshop were all so well organized and conducted, I felt like I was attending a large scale corporate 2 day seminar.

Oh! By the way, did I mention that I wasn’t present at the conference in person; I was logged in remotely via the web, sitting at my home computer 2500 miles away. So, if this is how I felt…can you imagine what impact it must have had on those present in the room? Just goes to show that a little goes a long way….literally.

Yes, I lost connection a few times, had some start up issues, the refresh button on my browser and the mouse cursor became thick pals, the music on the bridge kept me entertained for lengthy periods….and I got to see bright summary T-shirts and designer jean pockets from time to time….but who cares….these are minor things that can be improved. What is important to note here is that in spite of any technological challenge, I firmly believe now more than ever before that I am Vibha and Vibha begins with me!!!

Great job everyone who was involved in organizing this event! Vibha is a strong and determined movement that impresses me more each time. Volunteering for Vibha is something I am proud of. I will be sure to attend the event in person next year and must insist that you do too. Your take-a-ways are too many to list and you only have everything to gain!
Vibha Blog

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) is the largest school district in the state of Wisconsin. Milwaukee Public Schools created the (HEP) Homeless Education Program to help support families with children that are homeless, or are soon to face homelessness. The program is supported by and run under federal law and regulations that all public schools must provide services to all students, including homeless children.

According to the McKinney-Vento Act, homeless is described as someone that is living doubled up with another family or person because they have no choice, someone that is staying in a shelter (including a domestic abuse shelters), a child awaiting for foster family placement, someone staying in places such as motels, hotels, cars, parks, or an abandoned building. Families that face homelessness are encouraged to seek out assistance through MPS for services offered to their kids. Children that are homeless may receive free breakfast, lunch, and waived school fees. Homeless children that face moving from locations to different locations are serviced with transportation so that the child does not face moving from school to school. The children under this program also receive school supplies, backpacks and other services such as clothes. Additional to school supplies, food, and clothes HEP also assists in medical needs such as immunizations and the retrievals of medical records. They help and assist homeless families get the medical attention that they need to keep the child healthy and ready to learn. HEP also has tutoring programs, before and after school programs, arranging of book supplies to families that may not have access to have books for their kids at home, translation and interpreting services, referral to social services in the community, and also assistance to have an appeal in court if their services in the community or school has not been met or if it has been denied.

In the beginning of 2008, Vibha Milwaukee Action Center team decided to partner with and support the cause of Homeless Education Program. Vibha Milwaukee volunteers met with the HEP Coordinator, Janis Shogren, and discussed in length about the HEP program, the needs, concerns, problems and how volunteers at Vibha can contribute. Janis gave a tour of the offices and storage rooms, and detailed about the process of admitting families into the program. She was excited to hear about Vibha Milwaukee, and in knowing what Vibha is all about. It was then decided that partial proceeds from the fundraisers done at Milwaukee will be contributed to support the program. It gave us an opportunity to connect the two organizations and to show them our support.

Marie Yang, Vibha Volunteer with Janis Shogren, MPS HEP Coordinator

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Together, we can do much more!

Dream a Little! Do a Little!

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Phone: 408-997-9992 | Fax: 775-593-1061

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Vibha is a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit, non-religious, non-political organization that seeks to restore; underprivileged children, their basic rights to food, shelter, health and education - in short, a future. All donations to Vibha are tax exempt in the US.