| Shakti Project of Rajasthan |
| Shakti means power The aim of the Shakti Project of Rajasthan is to empower street children through education. |
|
Past newsletters
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.
12 June, 2009
Hello from Fiona,
I am your volunteer secretary, newsletter editor and web designer.
I want to start with a big apology...I dream of being able to share some of the joy of the Shakti
kids with you- they are such a great bunch of kids- so full of energy, fun, happiness and keeness
for learning, I feel so lucky to get a chance to work with them as often as I do.
Some of you have had the opportunity to meet them, others of you are kind hearted souls
involved with them from afar.
I would love to keep this site more up to date, tell more stories, post more pictures but the reality
is I get so swamped with other things [such as my day job!!- which I do love as well by the way...]
that sometimes I am a little slow.
So here is the latest news to enjoy, I will try to keep you as up to date as I can.
Just before I left Pushkar - off to work in April-- my husband Praveen and I organized a pool
party and good Aussie Bar-B-Q [vegetarian- of course!] for the children at our place.
we wanted to do this for a few reasons
1. fun!
2. making 'Australian' food was expanding their ideas of other cultures, so educational
3. we celebrated finishing exams- and so re-inforcing the importance of school.
4. visiting a hotel, pool and garden was a new experince for many of the children.
click for pool party pictures
What we have been thinking about,
what we are planning in the new school year...
Many of our children work well at school, many parents are grateful they get the opportunity and
the meal, but Shakti and school is a foreign thing for the parents, rarely do any of them go to
school for children's results, they wait for Ramsingh to bridge the gap... we think it is because
they are nervous, it is outside their experiences.
We want to try and bring a sense of involvement to them of Shakti and their children's education
so are thinking that come Divali, a major festival time for us, similar to Christams in western
culture, we have a small celebration of the season, performance and show parents some of the
children's work,
Please come along if you are in the neighbourhood.
Rounding up this year...
I am away working at the moment, but I know Ramsingh and the gang would all like to extend a
big hello and their thanks for your support
best wishes
nameste
Fiona
5 April, 2009
Shakti Newsletter #4- April, 2009.
Hello and how is everybody?
Ramsingh says “I miss everyone, when we are not all together it is like missing part of your body” Our Shakti
friends and family are spread all around the globe.
It is spring in Pushkar, many dust storms of late, the tress are starting to put on some leaves and the sky is a
sunny and temperatures are in the mid 30’s C.
6-17 April is the start of exam times again, last batch for this school year. This causes a lot of interruption to our
schedule at Shakti as children have to be at school at different times each day. Our doors are still open, we try
and fit in as much extra work in preparation for the exams as we can each day, as well as games and lunch.
When exams finish the fun part starts for Ramsingh, he has to go to school, and follow up on each child.
Their attendance, their results and report cards and discuss what class they will be in next year.
THIS IS VERY BIG NEWS as some of our oldest boys will hopefully be starting on HIGH SCHOOL next year.
A real Shakti milestone.
So everybody please pray and keep your fingers crossed for our children… they are moving along.
Building Fund
Thank you to all for the assistance sent along, our building fund is looking very healthy- we will start the upstairs
classroom in the summer break and plan to have it functional for the beginning of the next school year at the
beginning of July.
It will be one big room, with a toilet/washroom in the corner, the roof will be a flat roof, like our present one; if
finances stretch that far we will make a higher wall around it to be able to put a shade tent up.
Planned uses for our space-
The 2 smaller side rooms, downstairs will be for lessons/study, upstairs will be for games and our computer
will be set up.
The computer was donated Surendra and we think another one is coming from Australia –it is planned to use it
with the “Paint” and typing programmes- things to familiarise the children with keyboards [State School does not
offer Computer studies] and we would appreciate any education software you might have.
Some of you will be aware of all the paperwork we have been doing of late- it is quite a job to get registration
through the India paperwork system, simply because there are so many holidays, rest days, people sleeping on
desks and hands out waiting for a little ‘something’ to speed things up. We have been promised the final
signature on Monday 6 April….last time it did take to almost September to arrive but we are pushing a lot- oh
Ganesha, please remove the obstacles from our path….
Registration is important to
-stabilize Shakti as an ongoing project for the children’s future [The project in it’s present form has been
standing alone for 2 years, we now qualify for a long term registration; up to now it has been year by year as the
Registration Office checked on the Project]
-registration protects us, somewhat, from the locals officials wanting unofficial payments
-It allows us to operate a bank account in the Shakti name and hence a Paypal account…and start working on
developing some work projects for the older children and their families.
“Does that all sound so easy? You would not believe what it is like trying to get it happening!! As a foreigner
some of the un-official sides to the Indian system are a shock.” - Fiona.
Next newsletter arrives just as we start the new school year. In it will be able to let you know our enrolments,
plans and budgets for the new school year.
Results will go up on the student pages of our website in May as we get them from school.
INVITATION- you are all welcome
We are having a pool party when exams are finished- a local hotel has offered us the use of their facilities.
A picnic on the lawn and a knee deep pool for all to splash in [Rajasthani people don’t swim so we are keeping
the water at a safe level].
Please join us!
Thank you to all the wonderful visitors and volunteers who have visited us, you make a big difference to our day.
Two of our volunteers were young Australians[one and ex-student of Fiona’s], this is what Larissa wrote “. I think
this country is full of love but more importantly full of hope. Shakti is an example of hope in spite of poverty and a
tough existence and I want to explore that aspect in my story. Seeing how kids can cope gives me confidence to
cope with my own life and I still have room to hope theirs improves. Sadly, sometimes that is all u can do in
India, its all people keep sustained on, is hope.”
nameste
and best wishes from Ramsingh on behalf of the Shakti Project.
Many pictures of Shakti life are on our website www.shakti-streetkids-pushkar.org
if you have any questions, please ask,
if you would prefer not to receive this newsletter just let me know
there are many things we have probably missed but am saving them up for the next newsletter and we are
always adding more pics to the website
23.1.09
More pics coming tonight...the newsletter was finally posted out today- yippee!!
5.1.09
Shakti Newsletter #3 January 2009
Happy New year to all our Shakti Friends.
A bit of news- how is this for a laugh?
Some of the younger siblings of our students have taken to following their brothers and sisters to school, and into the classroom
and demanding to be able to stay.
The teachers were telling Ramsingh they have never had children trying to break into school before- what are we doing with them
to encourage this enthusiasm?
Ramsingh has been trying to sweet talk the teachers to let them stay as they will be big enough to enrol in the new school year.
We have had a busy time since our last newsletter.
We have 63 children we take to school and about 15 little ones, not old enough to start school but visiting us each day. It would
be lovely to think of developing a nursery programme for them- oh to have dreams…
We also have so many enquiries about new children joining our project for the next school year.
This is very hard for us; first off Ramsingh needs to talk to parents/carers members to see how serious they are- we can get children
into school, give them enrichment classes after school, lunch and great games, but if parents/carers are not fully committed to
telling the child school is necessary then it is very difficult.
Nearly all of our parents can’t read or write, many work very long hours for very poor wages yet they have decided school is
important and are very grateful and appreciative of the chance for their children to go to school. That is the type of backing we
need for the children to flourish. [Ramsingh helping out by going by many houses each morning; waking the children for school
because the parents are already at work, quite a few drop by Shakti to change in to uniforms and have breakfast]
Taking on a new child means we have to feel that connection is there with the parents/carers of the children.
We are also reaching the limit of how many children we can accommodate in our premises- just being practical we need to have
space to sit down for lunch or play games!!
We have been blessed with many visitors- look on our website the are pictures to go with the stories.
• Aine from Ireland joined us for a day and stayed 10, she was a great help with English lessons and games.
• Peter and Yvonne from Holland have been helping at Shakti for four weeks in November/December 2008.
“We’ve travelled for more than one year now and we have been helping at a couple of local projects. In Pushkar we discovered
the Shakti Project that immediately appealed to us. Especially the way Ramsingh, who has taken care of all the children8 years,
be it with good meals or be it with helping with their homework.
The best thing about Shakti is that it does not want to change the Indian system, a system that is different from the Western
standards. Shakti supports the children to fit into the system that there is right now and helps them with their difficulties on their
way. Every morning Ramsingh wakes the kids up and gets them going to school. After school they bring their books, papers and
homework and he helps them with that too, stating how important school really is.
Shakti provides structure for the kids with a great daily routine. This routine translates in motivated kids at school. One day we
had the chance of visiting the public school and we were happy to see the Shakti Kids sitting in front of the class and
concentrated on learning.
We have been helping to educate the children at their own level. Yvonne, as a primary school teacher, did all kinds of creative
classes. Peter has been making new wooden games. In Ajmer we bought educational books and construction toys, to stimulate the
children in another way as well.
We also liked playing with the children, because even while playing we were able to teach them math, English and social skills.
We hope many people will contribute to the project in the future!“
• Anil and Manda from the UK are still with us
• Our long time supporters Marina, Chris and Carolyn and Katia of France were here[Marina and Chris visit regularly]- happy
to see the increase in number of girls at Shakti.
They liked our new ideas about raising funds for Shakti and at the same time creating local jobs.
• A tour group visited bringing art materials, stationary and some clothes.
The stationary is kept and handed out carefully, the art materials were a real luxury and still being really enjoyed by the children
-We are now making a Shakti Indian Lime Marmalade – Chris took home a bagful to France.
-We are now taking orders for Shakti Cloth Bags, we have our first order of 250 bags to be delivered… We really support the idea of
saying No to plastic…any of you have visited India will understand why.
-Jewellery is the next project, based on an idea from David of England; local people will make it for us….knotted threads with
magnetic beads and coloured stones included. Keep an eye on our website for pics of the first bracelets being modelled by
Ramsingh
• Diana from Australia first visited Shakti a few years ago, since them she has been a regular supporter, we asked her to write
about what she does and why…
Instead of Secret Santa at our sewing groups Christmas Get together we give an envelope with a minimum of $5 [most put more
in] The group like to give to Shakti as we know ALL the money is used for the charity. Having a contact person who we know and
trust makes this a good choice for us.
When I returned from India after my first visit, I really wanted to do something to aid children to get an education and Shakti
seemed to be the way to go.
I decided to make covers for notebooks and sell them where I could. My donation was the books and the covers so all money from
the sale goes to Shakti. I put cards to that effect on the books and I think that worked well as people brought them to give as gifts
and liked the idea that they were helping someone in the process.
I have made and sold books for a couple of years now and enjoy trying out new designs. It is a good way for me to support the
Shakti Project and by me buying the notebooks and selling them the amount of money given ends up being greater than I could
give myself. And that makes me happy.
Finances
Thanks to the generosity of our Friends
We have no worries for the running costs for the rest of this school year, we have money donated by some friends to buy next years
school bags and school uniforms.
We are now focusing on rent for next year [whole year’s due 7 March, 2009. It is 40,000 Rp.
New school year admissions….
And we have a huge dream,
We are a little like “the Old Lady who lived in a Shoe” we don't know what to do for space...
At lunch time, these days it is difficult to find enough space for all the children to sit to eat, playing and school work is so cramped.
We have as much space again upstairs- a flat roof area, too hot to use most of the year.
The owner of our building has agreed we can make it into more class space. If we do this at our own cost, the amount will be paid
back to us from the rent each year. We have a quote of approximately 200,000 Rp [US$ 4,500, £2500 or €3350]for the building
extension, 40,000 would come off our rent each year for the next 5 years- this will be written into our lease agreement.
As you can imagine we are hoping for some kind soul to help us out. We would really appreciate a generous donation or even a
generous loan- we could pay it back from the rent we save for the next 5 years.
5.10.08
Newsletter #2- September, 2008
School has started back in India it is not arranged in semesters like many
countries as the Indian calendar is broken up with so many festivals.
School continues on around them with a 6 week break through the hottest
months of summer Mid- May and June.
It starts again in July.
This year was full of big changes for Shakti, we moved from the spacious old hotel we
had up on the hill back down closer to the market.
This was for a few reasons,
children were getting distracted and wandering back into their old ways of hanging
out on the streets
are right behind the market and we have a huge turn up of children.
amazing...it always tastes like the best thing you have ever eaten...perhaps that is the
satisfaction of having done all that school work!]
This year Shakti was pleased to be able to enrol 63 children in school, and the most
pleasing news is that nearly one third of them are girls.
This is a great triumph for Shakti and a sign that locals are understanding what they are
trying to achieve.
We currently have 5 in private school, they are dedicated students…watching the
regularity of school attendance and dedication of other students we have another 4 or 5
boys who are ready and could benefit and also would repay the investment in Rupees
via a supportive family and being able to utilise a better level of education.
It is looking like a number of our girls will fall into this category this year, they have
started their school career with great enthusiasm and dedication to their studies.
Currently one year at private school [inclusive of costs] is approximately 5500Rp
[Au$175]
Festival of Navatra
Which celebrates Durga- mata, the mother goddess.
For 9 days there is fasting in the daytime, in the evening make puja [either in the
temple of the home] prays or speaking a mantra are offered to the gods and a
ceremony where a thali [plate] is arranged with flowers red roses or orange marigolds,
a coocnut, incense, rice and kukum [ a red paste that the priest will put on the brow
with rice once the blessing is completed]
And then there is Dandia dancing .
This festival leads up to Diwali…Celebrating the triumph of the Light within over
Darkness.
17.5.08
Monica Davidson of Freelance Success http://freelancesuccess.com/ is
supplying a training package for the older youth, introducing them to small
business basics, helping prepare them for life after school.
11.5.08
reports are in from school!
Have a look in the student pages- there are some pics of
children showing off their report cards. students
Yes the children are on display- but they feel pretty flash
showing off their achievements, and we hope it spurs them
onto great efforts next school year.
It is School fee time again- we really could do with a helping
hand we have 30 children for government school [cost per year
1000Rp=approx $30] and 5 for private [cost per year 5000
Rp=$160]. This pays for all fees, uniforms and school equipment.
Help, please.
[update by Fiona]
18 April, 2008 from Ramsingh
!sorry i am very busy
! this time exams are going on and finish 19/4/08 and after a month
results will be declared.
9 April, 2008- Our new website!
School year has drawn to a close, through the heat of summer some families pack
up their carts to visit distant relatives.
Here at Shakti we are working on the upstairs area to have more space for afternoon
classes, craft classes and play. Fiona
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.
12 June, 2009
Hello from Fiona,
I am your volunteer secretary, newsletter editor and web designer.
I want to start with a big apology...I dream of being able to share some of the joy of the Shakti
kids with you- they are such a great bunch of kids- so full of energy, fun, happiness and keeness
for learning, I feel so lucky to get a chance to work with them as often as I do.
Some of you have had the opportunity to meet them, others of you are kind hearted souls
involved with them from afar.
I would love to keep this site more up to date, tell more stories, post more pictures but the reality
is I get so swamped with other things [such as my day job!!- which I do love as well by the way...]
that sometimes I am a little slow.
So here is the latest news to enjoy, I will try to keep you as up to date as I can.
Just before I left Pushkar - off to work in April-- my husband Praveen and I organized a pool
party and good Aussie Bar-B-Q [vegetarian- of course!] for the children at our place.
we wanted to do this for a few reasons
1. fun!
2. making 'Australian' food was expanding their ideas of other cultures, so educational
3. we celebrated finishing exams- and so re-inforcing the importance of school.
4. visiting a hotel, pool and garden was a new experince for many of the children.
click for pool party pictures
What we have been thinking about,
what we are planning in the new school year...
Many of our children work well at school, many parents are grateful they get the opportunity and
the meal, but Shakti and school is a foreign thing for the parents, rarely do any of them go to
school for children's results, they wait for Ramsingh to bridge the gap... we think it is because
they are nervous, it is outside their experiences.
We want to try and bring a sense of involvement to them of Shakti and their children's education
so are thinking that come Divali, a major festival time for us, similar to Christams in western
culture, we have a small celebration of the season, performance and show parents some of the
children's work,
Please come along if you are in the neighbourhood.
Rounding up this year...
- school results- the younger ones don't get graded and some of the little ones are not
officially at school yet at all. - Building is starting now, thank you to so many who have contributed, we will have so much
more space for the next school year, and many plans about using it. Promise you pictures
as soon as I return to Pushkar- Fiona - one of our visitors Gemma took these lovely photos http://www.gemmalaming.com.
au/gallery/shakti_kids/index.html
I am away working at the moment, but I know Ramsingh and the gang would all like to extend a
big hello and their thanks for your support
best wishes
nameste
Fiona
5 April, 2009
Shakti Newsletter #4- April, 2009.
Hello and how is everybody?
Ramsingh says “I miss everyone, when we are not all together it is like missing part of your body” Our Shakti
friends and family are spread all around the globe.
It is spring in Pushkar, many dust storms of late, the tress are starting to put on some leaves and the sky is a
sunny and temperatures are in the mid 30’s C.
6-17 April is the start of exam times again, last batch for this school year. This causes a lot of interruption to our
schedule at Shakti as children have to be at school at different times each day. Our doors are still open, we try
and fit in as much extra work in preparation for the exams as we can each day, as well as games and lunch.
When exams finish the fun part starts for Ramsingh, he has to go to school, and follow up on each child.
Their attendance, their results and report cards and discuss what class they will be in next year.
THIS IS VERY BIG NEWS as some of our oldest boys will hopefully be starting on HIGH SCHOOL next year.
A real Shakti milestone.
So everybody please pray and keep your fingers crossed for our children… they are moving along.
Building Fund
Thank you to all for the assistance sent along, our building fund is looking very healthy- we will start the upstairs
classroom in the summer break and plan to have it functional for the beginning of the next school year at the
beginning of July.
It will be one big room, with a toilet/washroom in the corner, the roof will be a flat roof, like our present one; if
finances stretch that far we will make a higher wall around it to be able to put a shade tent up.
Planned uses for our space-
The 2 smaller side rooms, downstairs will be for lessons/study, upstairs will be for games and our computer
will be set up.
The computer was donated Surendra and we think another one is coming from Australia –it is planned to use it
with the “Paint” and typing programmes- things to familiarise the children with keyboards [State School does not
offer Computer studies] and we would appreciate any education software you might have.
Some of you will be aware of all the paperwork we have been doing of late- it is quite a job to get registration
through the India paperwork system, simply because there are so many holidays, rest days, people sleeping on
desks and hands out waiting for a little ‘something’ to speed things up. We have been promised the final
signature on Monday 6 April….last time it did take to almost September to arrive but we are pushing a lot- oh
Ganesha, please remove the obstacles from our path….
Registration is important to
-stabilize Shakti as an ongoing project for the children’s future [The project in it’s present form has been
standing alone for 2 years, we now qualify for a long term registration; up to now it has been year by year as the
Registration Office checked on the Project]
-registration protects us, somewhat, from the locals officials wanting unofficial payments
-It allows us to operate a bank account in the Shakti name and hence a Paypal account…and start working on
developing some work projects for the older children and their families.
“Does that all sound so easy? You would not believe what it is like trying to get it happening!! As a foreigner
some of the un-official sides to the Indian system are a shock.” - Fiona.
Next newsletter arrives just as we start the new school year. In it will be able to let you know our enrolments,
plans and budgets for the new school year.
Results will go up on the student pages of our website in May as we get them from school.
INVITATION- you are all welcome
We are having a pool party when exams are finished- a local hotel has offered us the use of their facilities.
A picnic on the lawn and a knee deep pool for all to splash in [Rajasthani people don’t swim so we are keeping
the water at a safe level].
Please join us!
Thank you to all the wonderful visitors and volunteers who have visited us, you make a big difference to our day.
Two of our volunteers were young Australians[one and ex-student of Fiona’s], this is what Larissa wrote “. I think
this country is full of love but more importantly full of hope. Shakti is an example of hope in spite of poverty and a
tough existence and I want to explore that aspect in my story. Seeing how kids can cope gives me confidence to
cope with my own life and I still have room to hope theirs improves. Sadly, sometimes that is all u can do in
India, its all people keep sustained on, is hope.”
nameste
and best wishes from Ramsingh on behalf of the Shakti Project.
Many pictures of Shakti life are on our website www.shakti-streetkids-pushkar.org
if you have any questions, please ask,
if you would prefer not to receive this newsletter just let me know
there are many things we have probably missed but am saving them up for the next newsletter and we are
always adding more pics to the website
23.1.09
More pics coming tonight...the newsletter was finally posted out today- yippee!!
5.1.09
Shakti Newsletter #3 January 2009
Happy New year to all our Shakti Friends.
A bit of news- how is this for a laugh?
Some of the younger siblings of our students have taken to following their brothers and sisters to school, and into the classroom
and demanding to be able to stay.
The teachers were telling Ramsingh they have never had children trying to break into school before- what are we doing with them
to encourage this enthusiasm?
Ramsingh has been trying to sweet talk the teachers to let them stay as they will be big enough to enrol in the new school year.
We have had a busy time since our last newsletter.
We have 63 children we take to school and about 15 little ones, not old enough to start school but visiting us each day. It would
be lovely to think of developing a nursery programme for them- oh to have dreams…
We also have so many enquiries about new children joining our project for the next school year.
This is very hard for us; first off Ramsingh needs to talk to parents/carers members to see how serious they are- we can get children
into school, give them enrichment classes after school, lunch and great games, but if parents/carers are not fully committed to
telling the child school is necessary then it is very difficult.
Nearly all of our parents can’t read or write, many work very long hours for very poor wages yet they have decided school is
important and are very grateful and appreciative of the chance for their children to go to school. That is the type of backing we
need for the children to flourish. [Ramsingh helping out by going by many houses each morning; waking the children for school
because the parents are already at work, quite a few drop by Shakti to change in to uniforms and have breakfast]
Taking on a new child means we have to feel that connection is there with the parents/carers of the children.
We are also reaching the limit of how many children we can accommodate in our premises- just being practical we need to have
space to sit down for lunch or play games!!
We have been blessed with many visitors- look on our website the are pictures to go with the stories.
• Aine from Ireland joined us for a day and stayed 10, she was a great help with English lessons and games.
• Peter and Yvonne from Holland have been helping at Shakti for four weeks in November/December 2008.
“We’ve travelled for more than one year now and we have been helping at a couple of local projects. In Pushkar we discovered
the Shakti Project that immediately appealed to us. Especially the way Ramsingh, who has taken care of all the children8 years,
be it with good meals or be it with helping with their homework.
The best thing about Shakti is that it does not want to change the Indian system, a system that is different from the Western
standards. Shakti supports the children to fit into the system that there is right now and helps them with their difficulties on their
way. Every morning Ramsingh wakes the kids up and gets them going to school. After school they bring their books, papers and
homework and he helps them with that too, stating how important school really is.
Shakti provides structure for the kids with a great daily routine. This routine translates in motivated kids at school. One day we
had the chance of visiting the public school and we were happy to see the Shakti Kids sitting in front of the class and
concentrated on learning.
We have been helping to educate the children at their own level. Yvonne, as a primary school teacher, did all kinds of creative
classes. Peter has been making new wooden games. In Ajmer we bought educational books and construction toys, to stimulate the
children in another way as well.
We also liked playing with the children, because even while playing we were able to teach them math, English and social skills.
We hope many people will contribute to the project in the future!“
• Anil and Manda from the UK are still with us
• Our long time supporters Marina, Chris and Carolyn and Katia of France were here[Marina and Chris visit regularly]- happy
to see the increase in number of girls at Shakti.
They liked our new ideas about raising funds for Shakti and at the same time creating local jobs.
• A tour group visited bringing art materials, stationary and some clothes.
The stationary is kept and handed out carefully, the art materials were a real luxury and still being really enjoyed by the children
-We are now making a Shakti Indian Lime Marmalade – Chris took home a bagful to France.
-We are now taking orders for Shakti Cloth Bags, we have our first order of 250 bags to be delivered… We really support the idea of
saying No to plastic…any of you have visited India will understand why.
-Jewellery is the next project, based on an idea from David of England; local people will make it for us….knotted threads with
magnetic beads and coloured stones included. Keep an eye on our website for pics of the first bracelets being modelled by
Ramsingh
• Diana from Australia first visited Shakti a few years ago, since them she has been a regular supporter, we asked her to write
about what she does and why…
Instead of Secret Santa at our sewing groups Christmas Get together we give an envelope with a minimum of $5 [most put more
in] The group like to give to Shakti as we know ALL the money is used for the charity. Having a contact person who we know and
trust makes this a good choice for us.
When I returned from India after my first visit, I really wanted to do something to aid children to get an education and Shakti
seemed to be the way to go.
I decided to make covers for notebooks and sell them where I could. My donation was the books and the covers so all money from
the sale goes to Shakti. I put cards to that effect on the books and I think that worked well as people brought them to give as gifts
and liked the idea that they were helping someone in the process.
I have made and sold books for a couple of years now and enjoy trying out new designs. It is a good way for me to support the
Shakti Project and by me buying the notebooks and selling them the amount of money given ends up being greater than I could
give myself. And that makes me happy.
Finances
Thanks to the generosity of our Friends
We have no worries for the running costs for the rest of this school year, we have money donated by some friends to buy next years
school bags and school uniforms.
We are now focusing on rent for next year [whole year’s due 7 March, 2009. It is 40,000 Rp.
New school year admissions….
And we have a huge dream,
We are a little like “the Old Lady who lived in a Shoe” we don't know what to do for space...
At lunch time, these days it is difficult to find enough space for all the children to sit to eat, playing and school work is so cramped.
We have as much space again upstairs- a flat roof area, too hot to use most of the year.
The owner of our building has agreed we can make it into more class space. If we do this at our own cost, the amount will be paid
back to us from the rent each year. We have a quote of approximately 200,000 Rp [US$ 4,500, £2500 or €3350]for the building
extension, 40,000 would come off our rent each year for the next 5 years- this will be written into our lease agreement.
As you can imagine we are hoping for some kind soul to help us out. We would really appreciate a generous donation or even a
generous loan- we could pay it back from the rent we save for the next 5 years.
5.10.08
Newsletter #2- September, 2008
School has started back in India it is not arranged in semesters like many
countries as the Indian calendar is broken up with so many festivals.
School continues on around them with a 6 week break through the hottest
months of summer Mid- May and June.
It starts again in July.
This year was full of big changes for Shakti, we moved from the spacious old hotel we
had up on the hill back down closer to the market.
This was for a few reasons,
- cost
- accessibility for the maximum number of students. Whilst the old hotel with its
children were getting distracted and wandering back into their old ways of hanging
out on the streets
- parents did not like daughters so far from home [an extra few hundred yards up the hill]
are right behind the market and we have a huge turn up of children.
- we know where they are,
- we have the opportunity to do extra lessons with them each day
- we make sure they get a nutritious lunch each day [generally it is dal [protein rich
amazing...it always tastes like the best thing you have ever eaten...perhaps that is the
satisfaction of having done all that school work!]
This year Shakti was pleased to be able to enrol 63 children in school, and the most
pleasing news is that nearly one third of them are girls.
This is a great triumph for Shakti and a sign that locals are understanding what they are
trying to achieve.
We currently have 5 in private school, they are dedicated students…watching the
regularity of school attendance and dedication of other students we have another 4 or 5
boys who are ready and could benefit and also would repay the investment in Rupees
via a supportive family and being able to utilise a better level of education.
It is looking like a number of our girls will fall into this category this year, they have
started their school career with great enthusiasm and dedication to their studies.
Currently one year at private school [inclusive of costs] is approximately 5500Rp
[Au$175]
Festival of Navatra
Which celebrates Durga- mata, the mother goddess.
For 9 days there is fasting in the daytime, in the evening make puja [either in the
temple of the home] prays or speaking a mantra are offered to the gods and a
ceremony where a thali [plate] is arranged with flowers red roses or orange marigolds,
a coocnut, incense, rice and kukum [ a red paste that the priest will put on the brow
with rice once the blessing is completed]
And then there is Dandia dancing .
This festival leads up to Diwali…Celebrating the triumph of the Light within over
Darkness.
17.5.08
Monica Davidson of Freelance Success http://freelancesuccess.com/ is
supplying a training package for the older youth, introducing them to small
business basics, helping prepare them for life after school.
11.5.08
reports are in from school!
Have a look in the student pages- there are some pics of
children showing off their report cards. students
Yes the children are on display- but they feel pretty flash
showing off their achievements, and we hope it spurs them
onto great efforts next school year.
It is School fee time again- we really could do with a helping
hand we have 30 children for government school [cost per year
1000Rp=approx $30] and 5 for private [cost per year 5000
Rp=$160]. This pays for all fees, uniforms and school equipment.
Help, please.
[update by Fiona]
18 April, 2008 from Ramsingh
!sorry i am very busy
! this time exams are going on and finish 19/4/08 and after a month
results will be declared.
9 April, 2008- Our new website!
School year has drawn to a close, through the heat of summer some families pack
up their carts to visit distant relatives.
Here at Shakti we are working on the upstairs area to have more space for afternoon
classes, craft classes and play. Fiona
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