i-india project australia

TheJhag Children’s VillageMarch 2011

Ram Lakhan, 10 yrs

A home study and health programme was recently conducted for all of the Prem-Pathshala students by the

school’s newly appointed health worker and Prem Pathshala’s teachers. Sixteen children were identified as

being at risk of undernourishment and other related health problems.

Prem Pathshala’s and I-India management team decided to provide the children with a nutritious hot

meal during school breaks.

All children from the Jhag Shelter home, Prem-Pathshala’s day students and evening school

students have undergone the thorough health-check up by a medical team. Data related to their weight, height

etc. has been compiled for future follow ups and regular tracking.

The study aims to provide regular in-house health check-ups and referral to specialized health centres if

required. The data has been recorded in a digital format so that it may be updated on a regular basis. I-India will

now be able to track the overall growth and health issues of the children.

The health and welfare of Prem Pathshala’s students was a focus for I-India and Prem Pathshala’s management team during March

The health and welfare of Prem Pathshala’s students wasa focus for I-India and Prem Pathshala’s management teammanagement teamgduring Marchh

DEVELOPMENTS AT THE JHAG CHILDREN’S VILLAGE

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Official accreditation sought for Prem Pathshala

An application to seek accreditation for Prem-Pathsala was submitted to the Department of Education in the

State Government of Rajasthan.

Core members of I-India’s team presented information on Prem Pathshala to the government authorities,

providing the complete model of this much needed educational facility for children living in Jhag and

surrounding villages.

All required documents were submitted, including a list of teachers, a site survey report, a report on safety

measures, a blue print of the building and the bylaws of the charity.

Visit from the Ministry of Education, Singapore

Representatives from the Ministry of Education in Singapore visited Prem-Pathshala and the School on

Wheels project at Bagru, Jhag.

In addition to the Jhag Children’s Village, the delega-tion has visited several other projects in India so as to

learn more about education projects in India. They studied the management and operation of Prem

Pathshala and were very positive about the project and the support it receives.

Prem Pathshala’s office was equipped with a newly purchased photocopierA photocopier was very much needed at Prem Pathshala to prepare examination papers, worksheets, circulars, time-tables and other o�cial and school documents.

The closest copy centre is in Bagru, which is nearly 15 kilometres from the Jhag Children's Village, which meant that making copies of important documents was time consuming and costly.

The newly installed photocopier will enable manage-ment to accomplish tasks on time and without the extra hassle of travelling to Bagru. Some of the older children will learn to operate the machine as well as sta�.

All required documents were submitted, including a list

measures, a blue print of the building and the bylaws of

The closest copy centre is in Bagru, which is nearly 15

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An application to seek accreditation for Prem-Pathsala was submitted to the Department of Education in the

Core members of I-India’s team presented information

sta�.

Singapore visited Prem-Pathshala and the School on

In addition to the Jhag Children’s Village, the delegation has visited several other projects in India so as to

Pathshala and were very positive about the project and

sought for Prem Pathshala Prem Pathshala’s office Prem Pathshala’s office

An application to seek accreditation for Prem-Pathsala

Prem Pathshala’s office Prem Pathshala’s office

Gifts from Killara Uniting Church’s congregation

I-India’s new shelter home for boys has recently been awarded a ‘Fit Institution Certificate’ by the Rajasthan

Government’s Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.

This accreditation declares the home to be a fit place for children, and means that boys can now be directly

referred to the home by the Children’s Court, police, and other child welfare bodies. The selection committee found that the Jhag shelter home meets all require-ments, and provides all facilities needed for the care

and protection of disadvantaged children.

The shelter home is currently a place of refuge for approximately 50 male children who have been found

to be at risk. Many of these children have escaped from abuse, or a life on the streets.

The certification has been communicated to all relevant child welfare bodies, including the the judicary, the

police, the child welfare committee, Child Line, and the Juvenile Justice Board.

The Boys’ Shelter Home “Snehaanchal” was granted a ‘Fit Institution Certificate

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Prabhakar Goswami with the boys from “Snehaanchal”

Girls’ Shelter Home nearing completion

Meal time at “Snehaanchal”

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TTTTTTTTTTTThThThThhhThePreparation of meal at the boys’ home, “Snehaanchal”

The Boys’ Shelter“Snehaanchal” was granted a ‘Fit Institution Certificate

Girls’ Shelter Home nearing completi

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STREET CHILDPROJECT’SSHELTER HOMES

Hilary Bingham playing games with the Shelter Home’s boys

Ben and I were fortunate enough to visit the Jhag Children’s village in February 2011. We witnessed

first hand the hard work by the staff, teachers, cooks and the Australian office, the logistics of I-India

Project. We visited the school-on-wheels program first, which was very emotional. The education that the children receive is very valuable and they seem

so happy to be there. We then visited the Jhag Children’s Village and were greeted with open arms, smiles and a traditional greeting. These children are amazing, even though they have very little, in com-

parison to western children, they seem happier than any group of children I have met. The Principal,

teachers, cooks, driver and all the children, were so accommodating. They provided us with such a beautiful experience. I would recommend this

project to everyone. The learning experience from visiting the Project is one that we will be with us

forever. The children have experienced much hardship yet they seem so happy. We initially went to

visit the Project to help the children and teachers although after leaving, we’ve realised, they’ve helped us more, with their positive outlook, beautiful smiles

and hospitality.

Rattan Gould

Rattan and Ben Gould from Perth visited the

Jhag Children’s Village in February. Rattan

wrote this letter upon their return.

VISITORSANDVOLUNTEERSFROM AUSTRALIA

Ben and I were fortunate enough to visit the Jhag Children’s village in February 2011. We witnessed

st hand the hard work by the staff, teachers, cooks and the Australian office, the logistics of I-India

Project. We visited the school-on-wheels program rst, which was very emotional. The education that he chchildren receive is very valuable and they seem

oo hh appy to be there. We then visited the Jhag n’s’s VVillage and were greeted with open arms, aandd a traditional greeting. These children are

inng,,g even though they have very little, in com-isoon n toto western children, they seem happier than any y group of children I have met. The Principal,

eeaachers, cooks, driver and all the children, were so aca commodating. They provided us with such a bebeb autiful experience. I would recommend this

projjece t t tot everyone. The learning experience from visititingng ttheh Project is one that we will be with us

forevever. T The children have experienced much hardship yet thehey y seseem so happy. We initially went to

visit the Project t toto h help the children and teachersalthough after leaving, wew ’v’ve e realised, they’ve helped us more, with their positive ooutu lolookok, , beautiful smililes

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from Perth visited the Jhag Children’s Village

in February. Rattan wrote this letter upon

their return.

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The Holi Festival at the Jhag Children’s Village

was celebrated with visitors from Australia

Megan and Hilary Bingham from Sydney thoroughly enjoyed sharing the colourful festival

of Holi with the Jhag Children’s Village children.

Holi is celebrated on Phalgun Purnima which comes at the end of February or early in March. It has an

ancient origin, where the triumph of 'good' over 'bad' is celebrated. The festival bridges the social gap and

renews relationships. On this day, people hug and wish each other 'Happy Holi'.

The children of Prem-Pathsala and the Jhag Shelter Home had great fun with safe colors, songs and dances.

Prabhakar Goswami and Hilary BinghamHilary and Megan Bingham

Megan Bingham

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The Holi Festival at the Jhag Children’s Village

was celebrated with visitors from Au liaa

Megan and Hilary Bing from yyddndneey roughly enjoyed sharing t olourful ffeesesttitival f Holi with the Jhag Child ’s Village cchhihilldldren.

Holi is celebrated on P gun PuPurnimima which e end of February or ear in MMaMarcrchh. It has an

ancient origin, where the triumphh offof ' 'goggoood' over 'bad' is celebrated. The festival bri eess tthe social gap and

renews relationships. On th , opple hug and wish thhere 'Happy Holi'.

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children of Prem-Pathsala and the JhagHome had great fun with safe colors, songs and dan

Megan Bingham

HOLI FESTIVAL

Amy Lambert, a past student of Burwood Girls High School in Sydney, addressed the school’s annual Interna-tional Day Assembly about her recent visit to the Jhag Children’s Village. Celia Barnett spoke about the project and showed a short film featuring I-India’s School on Wheels.

Amy then related her story about what she had seen and how she felt about visiting the project that she’d intro-duced to the school during her final year.

All of the Burwood Girls students celebrated the school’s international focus by dressing in national costumes and participating in a multicultural food fair. All up, they donated $1500, bringing the total to an incredible $4300! Many thanks to all of the girls for their efforts. Our particular thanks go to Head Teacher of Social Sciences, Ms Patrice Simpson and Principal, Ms Mia Kumar.

BURWOOD GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL DAY

Amy Lambert, a pasof Burwood Girls HSchool in Sydney, adthe school’s annual tional Day Assemblyher recent visit to thChildren’s Village. Celia Barnett spoke about the projectshort film featuring I-India’s School on

Amy then related her story about whahow she felt about visiting the projectduced to the school during her final ye

All of the Burwood Girls students celeinternational focus by dressing in natiparticipating in a multicultural food fadonated $1500, bringing the total to aMany thanks to all of the girls for theirparticular thanks go to Head Teacher oMs Patrice Simpson and Principal, Ms

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Amy Lambert and Ms Patrice Simpson

Principal, Ms Mia Kumar (left) and teachers in international dress

Celia Barnett and Amy Lambert

p o box 204 five dock nsw 2046australia

tmew

abn 17 880 198 492

i-india project australia

+61 2 9713 9394+61 402 958 582mail@-indiaproject.org.auwww.i-indiaproject.org.au

p o box 204five dock nsw 2046australia

tmew

abna 17 880 198 492

i-india project australia

+61 2 9713 9394+61 402 958 582mail@-indiaproject.org.auwww.i-indiaproject.org.au

Front Cover About the Artist

Ram Lakhan is ten years old and an orphan. He ran away from

Allahabad and came to Jaipur, where he lived on a footpath. One day he

came into contact with a Child Line team member who brought him to I-India’s shelter

home for boys - Child Inn. There he started his new happy life.

6p o box 204five dock nsw 2046