Sponsor's update from Trichur, India

Child sponsorship update from the SOS Children's Village Trichur, India from November 2008

Dear Friend,

We all from SOS Children’s Village, Trichur extend warm New Year Greetings to you and your dear ones. May this New Year bring you prosperity and happiness! We are now in the pride of completing 25 years in love and care for our beloved children with your kind support and valuable help. On this occasion we take the opportunity to convey our sincere thanks. We with pleasure present before you the latest developments and events that took place in SOS Children’s Village, Trichur during the year.

Children brought home
At present we have 208 children living under the caring and loving wings of 17 SOS mothers in 17 families. All of them are exploring new meanings, success and happiness in life leaving behind all their traumatic past. During this year 21 children found their home in SOS families and they are well adjusted to the new environment and people.

Achievements of children
Our children performed very well in academics as in the previous years. Out of 141 School going children 140 were promoted to the next class. All the 11 children appeared for the Class X board examination, qualified with high marks. In Class XII, 10 out of 11 successfully qualified with flying colours. We have five girls who receive the Dewan Foundation Scholarship for academic excellence. 36 girls are pursuing graduation and vocational diplomas like Costume and Fashion Designing, Bachelor of Electronics and Electrical Engineering B.Sc Nursing, General Nursing, Architecture etc.

One girl was selected to National Sub Junior Basketball Coaching Camp and another one got selection to Trichur District School Basketball team. One boy and one girl stood first in Senior and Junior categories respectively in a drawing competition organized by College of Forestry, Trichur. In the last school level Arts and sports competitions our children bagged 17 first prizes, eight second prizes and four third prizes in sports. Three got first prizes and two got second prizes in Arts competitions as well. One girl had the privelege to be the champion in sports at her school.

Marriages and jobs
During this year four of our boys started working. One is working as Air condition Mechanic in Abudabi, two are working as Cook in Dubai, Russia and another boy got job as a Diver in Muscat. Our Village was blessed to witness the marriages of 12 settled youth (10 girls and two boys).

Celebrations and activities

Silver jubilee celebration :The prime event in our Village was the Silver Jubilee celebrations. The celebrations were held on 13th of January 2008. In the morning a special Holy Mass was conducted in the Village Auditorium. In the evening special prayer was arranged at the nearest temple. All the special guests attended it. After the celebrations there was a community dinner. A Documentary depicting the 25 years of love and care screened at the occasion. At the end of the program there was a cultural extravaganza dance performance by our children. All settled and married children attended the function.

Summer holiday activities : The summer holiday programmes started on 9th of April with a four day long Souhradha (friendship) camp. The camp included various sessions Career guidance, sight seeing, Drama camp, Group games, creative writing, Public speech, Poster and Collage making for multifaceted development of children. A special six day outing was organised to a hill station in Wayanadu District. They enjoyed sight-seeing, boating, waterfalls, dam, beautiful island surrounded by river, historical places, museum, resort, beach, tea estate, beautiful lake and they also went for a cinema. During those days they used to stay in a school nearby; enjoyed the food cooked by them. They also attended various workshops on career guidance and personality development, group activities, games and performed cultural programmes.

A special medical awareness session on “optimum health” was organised for mothers and co-workers. The adult girls enjoyed a session on personal hygiene. Also a special workshop for mothers and co-workers on love and care was organized. Children above 12 years attended a full day session on Possitive Thinking and Self Motivation. They enjoyed a special trip to Athirapilly water falls.

Other facilities : the SOS Nursery School is functional in the village campus. This year the nursery school started English Medium level. 40 little kids from the local community attend the classes. They enjoyed an outing in February. There was a painting competition also. The Annual Day of Nursery School was celebrated with variety of cultural programmes by little kids on 19th of March. 30 children secured Scholarship. Besides regular study hours, play and rest, children enjoy drawing, clay modeling, computer lab and library.

The maintenance and painting work of all buildings was done in the month of January. The campus is kept clean and well maintained with lawns, flowerbeds, hedges, seasonal flowers and variety of trees which gives the Village a beautiful ambience. There is a well maintained office in the campus with various departments to help children and mothers. We have a well functional basketball court for regular practice of our children. The playground is maintained beautiful with different kinds of swings and slides, children love playing there. There is a well functional library and dispensary. A Village store is also functioning for the daily needs of children and mothers. A Computer Lab is functional in the Village, where children learn basics of computer and enjoy computer games.

Supporting the community at Trichur

Family Strengthening Programme
During the year we could reach out to 520 children from 286 women headed families through Family Strengthening Programme. We have arranged special training for the beneficiary mothers in paper carry bag making and computer. Special tuitions are going on at three centers exclusively for benefited children. One of our children got 97% in last Class X Board Examination. 95% of our beneficiary children got passed in the last annual examination. One month long summer vacation camp was organised for the benefited mothers and children. The camp included career guidance counseling, leadership and personality development, child psychiatry and counseling, lives skills, picnic, medical camp and health check up.

Youth Facility
There are 63 boys on the roll of youth facility. 37 are school going and 26 are pursuing higher studies. Six boys appeared for Class X Board examination and passed with flying colours. One boy passed Class XII Board Examination with high first class. Now, 16 boys are attending university and vocational courses. The summer vacation programme was organised for the boys in the month of April.. They visited tribal colony Attappadi. The boys who passed the Board examination enjoyed picnic to famous water amusement park Veegaland. The boys were sent for spoken English classes, personality development sessions, drama, drawing and music classes, career guidance and counseling sessions during vacation.

Through various activities, programmes and projects we are trying to reach to the possible maximum children who are in need. The valuable support and generous help are the strengthening and motivating factors for us to make efforts to fullfil our mission.

We all children, mothers and co-workers once again thank you from our deep heart and pray for all blessings to you in this hopeful occasion of Christmas and New Year.

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

With best wishes and warm regards,

Yours Sincerely,
Girijavallabhan. N.
Village Director