Sponsor's update Bhubaneswar, India

Child sponsorship update from the SOS Children's Village Bhubaneswar, India from Winter 2008.

Dear Friends,

Greetings from SOS Family, Bhubaneswar and warm wishes for “A Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year 2009.”

Here is a time of celebration. Let us join together and rejoice. As we are in the concluding phase of the year, we take this opportunity to throw lights on our achievements and share the same with you.

CHILDREN
The village has been a home for 264 (119 boys and 145 girls) children for last 18 years of whom 199 (54 boys and 145 girls) are under the care of SOS Children’s Village and 65 youth boys are under our two youth projects. 9 children were brought home during this year and they were placed in different family houses where they were not only received warmly, but also were extended traditional welcome.

NURSERY SCHOOL
Our nursery school has 16 kids, 6 from village and 10 from the community is a magnificent place of learning centre through play-way method. Kid smart computer, attractive, colourful, lively toys and posters fascinate the kids to hunt around for improving their creativity.

ACADEMICS
All the way, with your encouragement and enthusiastic support, we have continued working hard in nurturing our children with quality education. In the academic session 2007-2008, ten of our girls cleared Class X board examination and were admitted in colleges. After completion of Class XII one girl got admission in Degree course and other one was admitted in General Nursing and Midwifery course. The results of other school going children were good. In the professional courses, one girl was admitted in diploma in computer science and engineering where as other girl joined in degree course in same branch.

EMPLOYMENT YOUTHS
During this year, three of our girls joined at SUM Hospital as a Patient’s Assistance after completion of their course. One girl joined as a Multi Purpose Health Worker. Besides these, seven girls are employed in nursing and beauty culture.

Events at Bhubaneswar, India

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES
The year was packed with meaningful and fruitful activities for our children. They participated in debate, paragraph writing, handwriting, table, quiz, rhymes and song competition organized in the village on various occasions. Sports and fun activities were conducted though out the year periodically. Exposure visits and outings were arranged to the places of historical and religious importance. They had great fun while learning and acquiring new skills that added to their knowledge and pleasure. During the summer vacation, our children attended workshops in Embroidery, appliqué work, Yoga classes, painting, Cooking and Mushroom Cultivation. Danial represented Orissa in Learn to live together camp at Dehradoon. He also received prizes in Debate and quiz competition.

MOTHER’S ACTIVITIES
Some of our mothers conducted classes for the grown up children in preparing different delicious food, appliqué and tailoring work in the vacation. Three mothers participated in Child protection policy workshop organized in Eastern zone at Kolkatta. Besides, these mothers visited time to time their children staying in hostel.

VILLAGE ACTIVITIES
Varieties of flowers adorned the garden, all through the year. The fruits trees like black berry, Mangoes, Papaya, Banana, Pine apple, jackfruits and Guava satisfied the taste of our children. Well-maintained green lawns attracted number of visitors. Kitchen gardens partially met the requirements of the family houses. Birds’ shelter housed colored birds and volunteers cared them well.

All the National and local festivals were celebrated with lots of joy and fun. One among them was the famous and unique Car festival, more popularly known as Chariot festival of Lord Jagannatha. Children, Mothers and Co-workers visited Puri to participate in Car festival with lots of enthusiasm. Orrisa comes alive in the month of June and July when the World famous Car festival takes place in Puri. People from all parts of Orrisa and India as well as abroad come to take part in this auspicious occasion. Lord Jagannath pays a visit with elder brother Balabhadra and younger sister Goddess Subhadra to Gundicha Temple from Main Temple with huge decorated Chariots. Huge chariots are pulled by mass to achieve the path of divine life as believe. The deities stay nine days at Gundicha temple main temple. The legends say that Car festival is in existence as per the wishes of Lord, so that people from all sections of society get the opportunity to meet HIM in the Chariot once in a year.

Regularly children attended the computer classes organised in the computer lab with the help of professionals. In the vacation, children utilised our village library excellently, where they spent maximum time to read different storybooks. They also shared the story in the evening prayer classes. We received books from one of the well wishers for Village library.

This year Indian Naval Hospital Ship, Nivarini under INS, Chilka, came forward to help us in health front. They held a medical camp in our Village premise for our children and mothers. Follow up treatment was carried out for dental and eye diseases. Ambulance team from INHS, Nivarini organised administration of Hepatitis B injection and Vitamin A at our village.

Projects supporting children and the community at Bhubaneswar, India

YOUTH HOUSE
65 young adults are on the roll of two SOS Youth facilities which aim at preparing young boys to face challenges of life in a positive manner by assisting them to choose a suitable career for themselves according to their skill, potential and choice. Their roots are still in their family. At present, 19 boys are studying in and outside Bhubaneswar. 5 boys are pursuing Bachelor degree and one boy is doing master degree. 33 boys are in vocational course. Eight boys are employed as on date in the areas like, Hotel management, engineering and para medical.
Ample chances were offered to the youth for developing themselves to fit into the changing environment by learning to share responsibilities, learning to live together and taking their own decisions.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME.
The Family Strengthening Programme started in the year August 2003 with a view to support the children who are at the risk of falling out of a caring natural family environment in the community. It is working within the periphery of 20 kms radius from village. Presently, 221 families are getting support for their 539 children (278 boys and 261 girls). So far, 4 SHGs (Self Help Group) have been formed and support has been extended for 2 IGPs (Income Generating Programme). In addition, 25 scholarships have been awarded to meritorious students pursuing Diploma in government institutions. 16 families have been helped to find out employment for them.

Dear Friend, with your love, encouragement and generous support, we have been able to achieve our target which is distinctly visible in the faces of the children under our care and also the environment through prevailing upon here. Your faith on us and your understanding of our work will go a long way for bringing cheer and joy in the lives of many more children to come under our fold.

Once again we wish you A Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year 2009

With warm regards,
Yours Sincerely

Ranjan Kumar Patra