| Shakti Project of Rajasthan |
| Shakti means power The aim of the Shakti Project of Rajasthan is to empower streetchildren through education. |
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Shakti Project Newsletter
Happy Diwali!!
This is the most special time of year in India, especially for Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Buddhist
peoples and being India everyone else joins in as well.
It is a time of celebration of Good triumphing over evil, or Light overcoming Darkness. As
you can imagine that would make it extra special at Shakti as the opportunity education
certainly comes into this category of bringing Light.
It is also the time of making Puja for the Goddess Lakshmi and God Ganesha. Lakshmi
represents that part of the God force that is the bringer of Abundance and Prosperity,
Ganesha is the remover of obstacles and bringer of Good Luck- all things necessary in day
to day life, in getting an education and in running a small project like Shakti.
During the ceremony we also thought of all our friends everywhere and hoped they too
would receive generous notice from these Gods in the year to come.
We wish you all the best this Diwali and for the year to come, we give thanks for your
friendship and generosity, do hope to have you visit us again and on the website are newly
loaded pictures of the Project and children, have a look.
The building is progressing on the upstairs extension in true Indian style [happens in fits and
starts growing between festivals]. Just recently the roof was poured, it still has the
scaffolding supports us until after the holiday season, when they come down we have a
large covered space we can start using.
I think for the moment that is as far as the budget is stretching, we will go further as the
budget allows. It is looking fabulous!!
Please send your prays and well wishes for Mukesh, he was an early child at the project
many years ago and has remained actively involved ever since, whenever he is free he is
there to cook lunch, look after children [ or should I say tease- he often gets told he is a
bigger kid than the rest combined!!].
Mukesh was travelling in a car to his wedding when it ran off the road and rolled- luckily no
one was killed but he ended up with a cracked bone in his neck, he had no movement in his
left arm and leg. Yesterday on Diwali he was released from hospital and is now resting at
his parent's home, a slight bit of movement has returned but is still uncertain how much of
an improvement there will be. Say a prayer, send your positive thoughts for this great young
man.Update 20.10.09 Unfortunately Mukesh was not released from Hospital,
and he only has sensation in his arm and leg not movement, Our friend Chris
from France is here and meeting with Doctors today to get a clearer
understanding of what is happening and what is expected to happen
Best wishes from everyone at Shakti Project and all the children
Happy Diwali, may your coming year bring all that you hope.
PS...
each morning went to the affested children's home to dose them up, some
recovered quickly a few were really hit by it- all are fine now
school buildings for accomodation.
else from our bank- we have ordered it and in true Indian style the bank will
have it ready soon.... all money sent through Paypal is safe...
it is just not operational again...what to do?
attend yesterday's Diwali festival as they were either cooking dinner or helping with other family work
What I am seeing in many cases is that the family is valuing the chance for education enough- they
are sending the children to school and then after, no lunch at Shakti rather onto jobs.
Our biggest boy Mukesh is often looking after his families fruit cart in the afternoon with his school
books in hand between customers. This is real progrss I think, in the value families are starting to
place on education- Fiona's comments.
ultimately the choice of the family.
Past newsletters
Shakti Project Newsletter
Happy Diwali!!
This is the most special time of year in India, especially for Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Buddhist
peoples and being India everyone else joins in as well.
It is a time of celebration of Good triumphing over evil, or Light overcoming Darkness. As
you can imagine that would make it extra special at Shakti as the opportunity education
certainly comes into this category of bringing Light.
It is also the time of making Puja for the Goddess Lakshmi and God Ganesha. Lakshmi
represents that part of the God force that is the bringer of Abundance and Prosperity,
Ganesha is the remover of obstacles and bringer of Good Luck- all things necessary in day
to day life, in getting an education and in running a small project like Shakti.
During the ceremony we also thought of all our friends everywhere and hoped they too
would receive generous notice from these Gods in the year to come.
We wish you all the best this Diwali and for the year to come, we give thanks for your
friendship and generosity, do hope to have you visit us again and on the website are newly
loaded pictures of the Project and children, have a look.
The building is progressing on the upstairs extension in true Indian style [happens in fits and
starts growing between festivals]. Just recently the roof was poured, it still has the
scaffolding supports us until after the holiday season, when they come down we have a
large covered space we can start using.
I think for the moment that is as far as the budget is stretching, we will go further as the
budget allows. It is looking fabulous!!
Please send your prays and well wishes for Mukesh, he was an early child at the project
many years ago and has remained actively involved ever since, whenever he is free he is
there to cook lunch, look after children [ or should I say tease- he often gets told he is a
bigger kid than the rest combined!!].
Mukesh was travelling in a car to his wedding when it ran off the road and rolled- luckily no
one was killed but he ended up with a cracked bone in his neck, he had no movement in his
left arm and leg. Yesterday on Diwali he was released from hospital and is now resting at
his parent's home, a slight bit of movement has returned but is still uncertain how much of
an improvement there will be. Say a prayer, send your positive thoughts for this great young
man.Update 20.10.09 Unfortunately Mukesh was not released from Hospital,
and he only has sensation in his arm and leg not movement, Our friend Chris
from France is here and meeting with Doctors today to get a clearer
understanding of what is happening and what is expected to happen
Best wishes from everyone at Shakti Project and all the children
Happy Diwali, may your coming year bring all that you hope.
PS...
- we had a bought of Tummy flu go through the area- really high
each morning went to the affested children's home to dose them up, some
recovered quickly a few were really hit by it- all are fine now
- with Diwali and the Pushkar Camel Fair all local schools are closed for
school buildings for accomodation.
- Paypal is still an ongoing saga- they opened it up for use so I thought
else from our bank- we have ordered it and in true Indian style the bank will
have it ready soon.... all money sent through Paypal is safe...
it is just not operational again...what to do?
- as the children get older, we do tend to get a bit nervous will there
attend yesterday's Diwali festival as they were either cooking dinner or helping with other family work
What I am seeing in many cases is that the family is valuing the chance for education enough- they
are sending the children to school and then after, no lunch at Shakti rather onto jobs.
Our biggest boy Mukesh is often looking after his families fruit cart in the afternoon with his school
books in hand between customers. This is real progrss I think, in the value families are starting to
place on education- Fiona's comments.
- Not all is so positive- Shahruk no longer goes to school he hangs around locally and works a
little a one of the dye workshops- his Mum does not see it as that important he stays at
school- he has 7 younger brothers and she seems content as well to just let them hang out
on thestreets rather than go to school and get a meal. We have had to be tough there and
say no school, no play at Shakti and lunch. Hard for us but important to have expectations
and stand by them. This has been an ongoing struggle with this familky for the last few years,
their eldest brother drifted off in the same way but we hoped we would be able to retain the
rest....that is how it goes sometimes
ultimately the choice of the family.
Past newsletters
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Thank you, this is what you have
made possible, upstairs is
becoming a reality!!
made possible, upstairs is
becoming a reality!!
| Here is our Mukesh, under a pile of children as usual!! Send him your best thoughts for recovery. |