Child sponsorship update from Latur, India

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Latur, India from Winter 2008.

Dear Friend,

WARM GREETINGS from SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGE, LATUR !

Once again it is time to share the developments experiences of 2008 and wish you a very Happy & Prosperous New Year - 2009. Heavy rainfall late in the season has resulted in green campus. Dancing peacocks, singing birds, flowering trees and climbers added the colours to the children’s paradise.

Latur Children’s Village offers 12 family homes to 122 children, 45 boys & 77 girls. 17 new children were brought home during the year. Marriage of one girl was solemnized in April. The additional facilities of children’s village are Youth House and FSP. There are 28 youngsters in Youth Facilities and 1292 beneficiaries in Family Strengthening Programme.

Education:
Annual examination results were much encouraging. Among the 95% of the children passed out to next class, 40 % got first class. One of our girl completed Advance Diploma in Cosmetology and Health from Aurangabad. Four girls joined Medical Lab Technician course and another three are doing Nursing course and one is continuing Bachelor of Social Work. Among the three girls completed 3 ½ years of Nursing Course form SOS Nursing School Faridabad, two are employed in local Medical College at Latur and one at Pune .

Youth Facility:
Presently there are 28 youngsters in Youth Facility This year four youngsters shifted from the village to youth facility. The passing percentage youths during the academic year 2008 were 95 %. Four of them passed with first class. One of the boy has secured admission in BE computer Science & Engineering. Two of them are doing technical courses and one is doing professional course in Animation & Design.

Other than all the national & religious festivals & SOS functions youngsters also celebrated youth week. Many indoor & outdoor competitions were organised. Winners were awarded prizes. Boys participated in all the cultural programmes organized in the village on the occasions of SOS Day, Mothers Day & inauguration of newly built learning centre.

Events at Latur, India

Achievements:
During the year three youth settled through jobs and started living independently. One youth has completed nursing course of 3 ½ year duration & joined as Staff Nurse in a reputed hospital at Pune. Another two are working in Hotel and as Technician. Vikas Ladkat presently studying in II years of MBA from Business School, Pune. Through campus interview he has been selected as User Interface Trainee in USA based 2 wires IT organisation at Pune . He is getting an attractive salary. He has expressed that he is very much happy and thankful to SOS and proud to be a part of SOS Family. Another one of our former youth Satling after completion of PG Diploma in Hotel Management and Tourism has got selected in a Company in Kuwait.

A Learning Centre was constructed & equipped with a financial support of Life Insurance Corporation of India. It has a well-equipped Computer Lab., music room and a Library. The centre was inaugurated on 9th September. The President & Vice President of the City Council, General Manager, Marketing Manager of LIC, Executive Director of Local Medical College & Hospital, graced the occasion. Children and youth participated actively in inauguration ceremony cultural Programme.

Extracurricular activities & Sports:
One of our girl participated in inter college group dance. 18 children enjoyed summer camp with a variety of activities, 29 children visited Oil Mill to see how Oil is extracted from Oil seeds. 45 children participated in drawing & debating competition organized by Coca – Cola Company.

Five of our girls participated in State level Basketball Competitions. Two of them attended special coaching in Mumbai. One of them selected for National games held in Punjab. One of our differently abled girl was awarded first & second prizes in shot-put & running race in inter school competition.

“Ganesh” festival is one of the important festivals of Maharashtra. Worshiping of an idol of Lord Ganeshji in families is from ancient times. The purpose was to bring people together for root the important thoughts of Independence. This year we celebrated this festival both in Children’s Village and Youth facility with great zeal and pomp. A beautiful ‘Idols of Lord Ganeshji was brought from Artist and blessed through special ‘Poojas’ and established on elevated decorated dais for 12 days. Various competitions for mothers and children and youth were organized. Winners were awarded prizes. Each day one family lead the ‘Arti’ followed by distribution of ‘Prasad’. On the 12th day Satyanarayan Pooja was performed taken by procession to the nearest river for ‘Visarjan (immersion)’ while shouting the slogan “Ganpati Bappa Morya” & “Mangal Murti Morya Pudachya Varshi lovakar Ya” means Holy lord Ganeshji come soon next year again.

Supporting children and communities at Latur, India

Family Strengthening Programme:
Started in 2003 FSP is being run from SOS Social and Medical Centre and 08 Balwadis in earthquake affected villages . There are 1292 children form 456 vulnerable families under this programme. SOS Social & Medical Centre provides a package of services to the beneficiaries. Local Government & private medical college hospitals, private practitioners, Government agencies, NGO’s etc. are roped in for the purpose. Six awareness & enrichment sessions were organised for Self Help Groups formation, Self Reliance capacity building, income generation, parenting & entrepreneurship development. Tailoring and embroidery centre is running since 1999 is presently imparting training to 65 girls and ladies of vulnerable families for capacity building and developing livelihood.

Human Touch Story:
Aniket aged six years was born with both the feet clubbed. His parents are poor labourers. Dr. Arun Kumar, orthopedic surgeon from MIMSR agreed to operate upon both the feet of Aniket free of cost. SOS provided necessary medicines & supplementary diet. The operation was successful. Very soon Aniket will run, play & enjoy his child hood.

Health:
All the children have been immunised in our Medical Centre. A Medical camp was organised for dental check up and blood HB of all the children was tested and a few with low HB were put on special diet as per doctor’s advice. Mosquito eradication measures were taken in co-operation with local Government authorities. Water testing & purification was also organized. Thorough medical check up of all the newly brought children was done and necessary treatment & medicine given as per requirement.

Your support and our earnest efforts can surely change a lot in the life many children and other beneficiaries. We extend our heartfelt gratitude and profound thanks to you.

Children, mothers and co-workers join me in wishing you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS & A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR - 2009.
Yours sincerely,

(N. K. SHARMA)
Village Director