This is the page for the latest news about new developments in the field, volunteer activities and "words of wisdom" from BK himself.
Please do not put contributions on this page. Use the Events page, the Reports page and even the Opinion page--whatever seems appropriate!
Annual celebration at Snehalaya on 23rd August sees launch of 2009 Souvenir and "light for education" to poor village children-
It's fast becoming a tradition at Snehalaya campus! 23rd Aug. was celebrated as "The Annual day" with our children, guests, many supporters and volunteers from India and overseas joining us for the occasion to mark the completion of three years of Snehalaya providing for disabled and destitute children of India. The first day's festivities included the launching of the 'Light for Education' programme(with support of Anna Sadana of USA). As electricity is hardly available in rural areas, this project involves poor school-going children being presented with a solar light for their use to facilitate their studies and work. The full colour Souvenir book for 2009 was also released to mark the occasion in the presence of Prof.Dr.PS Bisen, chief Guest, Vishwa Mohan Tiwari, Retd. Air Vice Marshal and Mr. Michael Binnie from Curch of Ockham in UK. The souvenir with all the pictures and updated information is available in PDF form here as a special download (you will need to have an Adobe "Acrobat" reader or equivalent to read PDF files on your computer). It coincided with Ganesh Chaturthee festivities continuing for eleven days.
"Annual Sports Day" was held on 24th Aug. when nearly 250 children with various disabilities from Gwalior and Chambal region participated in various sports. Prize distribution was done by Mr. Mishra, GM of Godrej and AVM (Retd) Tiwari followed by Ganesh Puja and Prasad with for all the participants, attendees and guests.
The work is going on smoothly. Now we have 63 children in Snehalaya. We do provide respite care facilities for the children rescued by Childline of Gwalior as well to the needy parents as required. The construction of school work is progressing satisfactorily targeted to complete by June 2010. All this has been possible with your support but much more remains to be done. Please consider and donate your thought, time, talent, cash and kind (gifts, movable or immovable property), kindness and care as much possible. Please contact us for any questions or further details, Many thanks,
BK
Volunteers day celebrated in Edinburgh on 27th June 09
We are happy to say that volunteers’ day and award ceremony was held on 27th June 07 in Edinburgh starting at 6.00 PM attended by about 65 volunteers and supporters from all over UK and also from france in presence of Mr. Srinivasan, Consul General of India for Scotland, our Patron Rev. John Bradley and many dignitories from Edingurgh, Scotland as organised by our outgoing Chairman Mr. Charles Drace-Francis, CMG. It turned out to be success on all fronts with tasty food, music, bollywood dances, Puppet show for special entertainment and successful fund raising. We could not hope for better.
The programme started with welcome by Andy Hunter through his pupette continuing into a beautiful pupette show lasting for about half an hour, this was the best pupette show that I had seen so far. Many thanks to Andy Hunter and his team. Tasty food was next on the plates followed by Bollywood dances by Indo Scottish Cultural Association. We thank Mr. and Mrs. Dhall with Shabina and group for presenting dances to the Bollywood rhythms and lovely music throughout the evening. We are obliged for Charles and Bonny with friends and family for organising it so well. For more photographs, visit our photo-gallery on www.box.net (contact us for password if interested)
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We congratulate Euan Naismith, Alina Serafin, Rohan Sikka, Lara Serafin, Rev. John Bradley, Robin Prentice, Georgia Gore-Langton, Sabastien Rabas, Peter Morey-Weale, Lee Rollo and Fiona Inglish, who received the honours as volunteers of the year in different categories honoured for their outstanding work helping GCHC this year for achieving its goals. We observed a silence for 30 seconds for three of our volunteers Mr. James Thomas (USA), Dr. RK Srivastava (India) and Mr, David Baker (Bristol, UK), who left for abode and are no more with us, honouring and remembering them posthumous (RIP). There are many more, who have been helping us but it is not possible to name and honour everyone, however we remain obliged for their support without which we could not have come this far.
Dr. Michael Manarkattu took the Mini by bidding £1100 for it in the auction as going on since last year. The lottery draw was held on 28th June (as it could not be held within the Cathedral on 27th evening). First prize of £500 has been won by Beryl Kilik, second prize of £250 by Fran Mariott, third prize of £100 by Eileen Whybrew, two fourth prizes each of £50 have been won by Ms. Bhawna Tiwari and B. Egau. Five fifth prizes of £10 each were won by A.Robinson, Shobha Kriplani, BK, Ms. J. Merritt and Muzzy. We congratulate all the winners and will like to thank all the participants to make it a success wishing the best of luck for next year. We are contacting all winners but we have no address or phone numbers for Beryl and Muzzy. We are obliged to Eileen, Bhawna, Shobha and BK having donated their winnings to GCHC for the children in Snehalaya. Please let the winners as well us know (if you recognise any of the winners) or if they can contact us to collect their winnings, though we are writting/contacting every one too.
We are obliged to all our volunteers and supporters, who travelled from far off places for making it a memorable day in our calendar. We very much remain thankful to all our volunteers and supporters for their contributions, donations, hard work and efforts helping us in this endeavour but could not join us.
We are pleased to inform that it has been a successful memorable day raising £4058.00 Pound Sterling with this event, which will go to provide for the children in Snehalaya.
I am extremely happy to inform that we have agreed to accept six more children as per our last mail and they will be joining us in Snehalaya soon, thanks to your support to make it possible. We will also like to inform that we have raised £61000.00 towards new School project and we have pledge of further £25000 by matching grant by Dr. Meena Sharma Memorial foundation. The construction of the school has started with target for its completion by June 2010. We are sure to raise further to meet the project costs of £125K ($250K) with continued support from all of you to help us complete this School and help us to take these works forward with donations, by fund raising, by sponsoring children in Snehalaya, by volunteering with your time and expertise and by publicising the needs of GCHC and its work (details on http://www.helpchildrenofindia.org.uk) we welcome every little help and same is much appreciated. We welcome volunteers from all walks of life including students and trainees to do their internship or work experience. Thanks again, with regards,
BK
Dr.B.K.Sharma,
Holi and Women’s day celebrated in Snehalaya-
Holi, the festival of colours, one of the biggest festivals in India, was celebrated in Snehalaya on 11th March 09.
Children and our volunteers enjoyed playing with colours and the music dancing in the lawns in Snehalaya. It was so joyful and fun that there are no words to describe it.
7th March was celebrated in Snehalaya as women’s day with many dignitaries of Gwalior having joined us. Our volunteers, teachers and children presented cultural programme with dances and music. Every one had a great day with feast and fun, thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Nigotia, the President of JCI, as it happened to be their marriage anniversary. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Nigotia and hope they have many more anniversaries like this. They joined us with their friends and family members sponsoring and joining for the lunch with our children.
Annual Get Together on 27th June 09, The saturday in Edinburgh, Scotland-
Please join us, details on events page. Also the raffle is on for year 2009.
Documentary by volunteers of Gwalior Childrens hospital Charity on youtube-
Sebastien Rabas has placed the documentary film made by few volunteers in early 2006 depicting the conditions in Mercy Home, the Govt. run Orphanage in Gwalior, the reason we decided to build our own 'Snehalaya- the home with love". Since then all surviving children have been shifted to Snehalaya. We plan to make Snehalaya a facility for 200 children with a hospital and School on site in few years time and we are sure that we can do so with your support as we had all the time, without which we could not come so far. Details on www.helpchildrenofindia.org.uk and if you will like to see the film, here is the link http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=N0mX0wtnuNs&feature=channel_page
26th Jan. Celebrated in snehalaya-
60th Republic Day of India was celebrated in Snehalaya on 26th Jan. in presence of guests, volunteers and our residents there. Various cultural activities and patriotic songs were played on the day. Fionna Inglis distributed hand knitted blankets to all the children as knitted by Fiona and her friends participating in Sewathlon, the fund raising event held in Edinburgh, Scotland on 1st Dec. 08.
Now we have an identity in Isle of Man too
I will like to inform you that GCHC is registered in Isle of Man for its benefits among local people there by Alan whybrew, our dedicated volunteer, supporter, advisor and representative there for long and here is what he says- ManASVI (Mann Aid and Support for Village India)is Isle of Man registered charity number 1023. There are over a thousand Manx registered charities! There will be certain tax advantages for me and other tax payers in Isle of Man, such as tax relief on charity donations of under £100 and tax relief upon travel costs to India. The purpose of ManASVI is to make people on the Island aware of the needs of the poor in the Gwalior region, especially the villages. A Manx registered charity will give a more direct connection between the Island and Gwalior’s villages. I believe this may be the key to creating more of an interest on the Island. It seems to work for other Manx charities. The Inland Revenue cannot give automatic tax relief (Gift Aid) to UK residents who make donations to a Manx registered charity and hence I shall not ask UK residents to donate to ManASVI, but continue GCHC only to them for their donations with available tax benefits”.
Here is the recent news and update with our best wishes for Christmas and New Year, From BK for GCHC and Snehalaya
__OUR LATEST BROCHURE__
LONDON SCHOOL PLEDGES 2 YEAR FUNDRAISING
We are very happy to say that Devonshire House School in London has accepted Gwalior Childrens Hospital as 'charity of the year' and has agreed to raise money for “Snehalaya” for the next two years. It is really a good news story in these difficult days. We are much obliged of Neil and Nicola, our long time supporters to have convinced the school authorities for sponsoring GCHC and Snehalaya. Neil and Nicola's children study in this school. Neil gave a talk to the school children informing them about GCHC, Snehalaya and its work. The school aims to raise 10000 pounds Sterling or even more to cater for all the requirements of all the children in Snehalaya for a year at least.
To begin their fund raising for Snehalaya, the children did Carol Singing and it was a good start raising 350 Pounds. We are much obliged of the children, all the staff and parents for their support to provide for the children of Snehalaya- our home with love. Thanks to every one.
Annual Function in Snehalaya - 23rd and 24th Aug.08
We are very happy to inform all our colleagues, volunteers, supporters and well wishers that Annual function was held in Snehalaya successfully with release of Souvenir for year 2008, 
laying down of the foundation stone for the new school building at the hands of our chief guest Mr. N.K. Tripathi,IPS (Transpor Commissioner of Madhya Pradesh)in presence of famous Kavi Kulwant Singh from Mumbai and many supporters, volunteers and local dignitories. Five more cottages have been opened to accommodate forty more children in Snehalaya making its capacity for 80 children.
11 girls from Mercy Home are being shifted to Snehalaya with total number of children in Snehalaya as 57 now. The Souvenir will be available on this website very soon through our Souvenir shop page, free to view and download.
Cultural programme happened to be a big attraction, where our children presented dances, skits and music entertaining all the attendees. Fashion show was specially liked by every one, where many of our children, staff members and volunteers participated making it succesful. Some pictures are given here, more are available on www.box.net
Next day on 24th Aug., annual sports competition was held for all the children with disabilities in this region. Nearly 200 children participated in various events followed by prize distribution. The function concluded with Kavi Sammelan whereby Kavi Kulwant Singh and Dr. S.D. Sharma entertained all the attendees and I do not think any one was there who did not enjoy or laugh.
During these two days people from surrounding villages joined in addition for The Akhand Ramayan and Keertan with A Bhandara Lunch for every one.
We are very much obliged for your support, without which this could have not been possible, but we need more to carry it forward. Now we have 57 children in Snehalaya with aims to make it a facility for 200 children with a school and hospital on site to provide for the residents here as well for the people from surrounding villages. We request you to kindly consider sponsoring a child in Snehalaya, details with hphotographs are available on sponsor a child page on http://www.gwalior.hospital.care4free.net
We hope to make the new school functional from June 09 with beginning of school session and will cater for girls who remain uneducated otherwise undergoing oppression all their lives. With education and vocational training, we aim to make them independent to be able to lead a life with dignity.
We welcome expert volunteers, students and trainees from all walks of life to work with us to train our staff and students as well provide their services to the community and or gain work experience as per their convenience for any duration in the field and area they are interested in. We appreciate any help from any source to achieve these goals and help us take these works forward. Donations can be sent by cheque made to "Gwalior Childrens Hospital Charity" or you can donate now while on line using your credit/debit or CAF cards through our secure on line donation link on www.gwalior.hospital.care4free.net/donation.html
Please write to us for any questions or further details or if you may want to help us in any way. Please pass on our message to every one on your address list. Thanks again, with regards and best wishes,
BK
Dr.B.K.Sharma,
For GwaliorChildrensHospital Charity (Regd. Charity No. 1063694), Snehalaya Trust & GHECT (India),
14,Magdalene Road, Walsall, West Midlands. WS1 3TA(U.K.)
Tel. +44(0)1922 629842 Fax. 01922 632942 Mobile. 00919425113822
Email: Gwalior.Hospital@care4free.net
Address in India-
"Akanksha", Gwalior Childrens Hospital Campus,
Opposite Jhansi Road Police Station,
Gwalior- 474 009 (M.P.), India
Tel. 0091 751 2435537 Mobile. 0091 9425113822
Independence day and Raksha Bandhan in Snehalaya
15th Aug was celebrated in Snehalaya as India's independence day with flag hoisting and singing of the national anthem followed by a cultural programme by all children and staff members of Snehalaya.
In continuity, 16th Aug. happened to be Raksha Bandhan which was celebrated in an innovative manner. All children tied Rakhi around trees taking vows to protect environment and pollution. Big FM of Gwalior joined us on this occasion for these celebrations too and their artists and other colleagues entrtained our children with their performances as well tasty cake, fruits and toffies.
Volunteers day, 21st June 08, a memorable evening
We are happy to say that volunteers’ day and award ceremony with raffle and lottery draw was held on 21st June 07 in London starting at 6.30 PM attended by about 70 volunteers and supporters from all over UK. It turned out to be success on all fronts with tasty food, music, dance, entertainment and successful fund raising. We could not hope for better.
The programme started with welcome by Veena followed by drinks, food, music and entertainment. We thank Preritha and Anupriya for presenting dance to the Bollywood rhythms to begin the programme as well DJ with lovely music throughout the evening. We are obliged for Veena and Anantha with friends and family for organising it so well. For beautiful photographs, thanks to Karam Jit, click this album here http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/I.jsp?c=1kzev9bah.28i9c7pex&x=0&y=-q83vkd and more in our photograph gallery on www.box.net contact us for password if interested.
We congratulate Seniz Fareida Ibrahim, Lara Sikka, Peggy Halloran and Zora Casttling, who received the honour as fundraiser, youngest, senior most and event organiser volunteer of the year respectively. Richard Worral, Ex- Mayor of walsall, won the award for innovative fund raising and publicising the GCHC by doing the tour by bus travelling for more than 1000 miles all over England within ten days. Robert Pugin, Gillian Ely, Olivia Hunt, Linda Nevin-Drummond, Olivia Hoare, Fiona Inglis and Katherine Begbie from Australia are other volunteers honoured for their outstanding work helping GCHC this year for achieving its goals. There are many more, who have been helping us but it is not possible to name and honour every one, however we remain obliged for their support without which we could not have come this far.
Mrs. Shashi Desikan from London won the Mini in the raffle draw but donated the mini to the charity for £500 in lieu. It has been decided to place the Mini for auction to add to the funds as required for the School in Snehalaya, a target to complete for this year. First prize of £250 was won by M. Holcombe, second prize of £100 by Nicola Mcfadden, two third prizes of £50 each have been won by Mrs. H. Hockley and R. Chew. Five fourth prizes of £10 each were won by G.Duxbury, Derren Nathan, Majic, Andrew B and Mrs. M. Gash. We congratulate all the winners and will like to thank all the participants to make it a success wishing the best of luck for next year.
We are obliged to all our volunteers and supporters, who travelled from far off places for making it a memorable day in our calendar. We very much remain thankful to all our volunteers and supporters for their contributions, donations, hard work and efforts helping us in this endeavour but could not join us.
We are pleased to inform that it has been a successful memorable day raising £5342.00 Pound Sterling with this event, which will go to start the school with vocational training facilities for the girls from villages surrounding Snehalaya, who remain uneducated otherwise helping them to become independent and lead a life with dignity rather than being opressed all their lives as happens now. The plans are in place, construction is being started to complete as a target for this year. We are sure that we should be able to start this school for the beginning of the session in year 2009 as planned. We have raised £48700.00 towards this new School project so far, and we still need to raise further to meet the project costs of £125K ($250K). We are sure for continued support from all of you to help us complete this School and help us to take these works forward with donations, by fund raising and by publicising the needs of GCHC and its work details on our website http://www.helpchildrenofindia.org.uk Thanks again, with regards,
BK
Dr.B.K.Sharma,
VISITORS In SNEHALAYA and their opinion
It is a proud moment for me and our team to mention opinion of two dignitories following their visit to Snehalaya as given below-
Words of Director, National Trust for children with disabilities in India following his visit of Snehalaya on 3rd May, 08
"Quite innovative project different from normal work in India. It is a learning experience to visit this place", these are the words of Mr. Rajneesh Sharma, Director, for Snehalaya, who must have seen so many other organisations in India and abroad. We are proud of our team to bring such an accolade for Snehalaya from a such an skilled, qualified and experienced person in this field, BK
Letter from Dr. Subhas Saxena of Ireland for Snehalaya
subhashsx@yahoo.com
Dear Dr. Sharma,
I came back to Ireland on 21st April and below I am giving you my impressions about Gwalior project-
Snehalaya - I am yet to see so well managed home for special needs children in India. In a way I was proud as an Indian to see that we too can manage such specialised and difficult ventures so skilfully. It obviously is your vision and selection of staff of that calibre. You deserve the credit of putting such humanitarian ideas into practice. The other aspect of this centre which hugely impressed me , was the work force of dedicated young boys and girls . These young persons are showing not only the will to serve the most vulnerable section of society, they are giving people of our age a hope for the future of our country.
Rural Hospital - It is again a great idea not only to treat the people through mobile clinics, more impressive work of this unit was the doing difficult task of health education of people in the country side. With best wishes and regards, Subhas
International conference on HIV/AIDS
We proudly anounce that we are participating as a hub in Central India to make available the live proceedings of this conference being held from 3rd Aug. to 8th Aug. through our ICTC at Gwalior. The attendees will be able to join and participate in the discussion through our video conferencing facilities. All are welcome. Most sessions will be available in English and Spanish. As we are aware that those might not be your main language, we are putting in place interpretation services: some sessions will be interpreted into the most asked for languages.
We shall arrange for interpretation in Hindi locally for local people. Contact 0091 751 2435537 for details or write to gwalior.hospital@care4free.net
18th May 08- International Aids candle Light Day
We organised a get together of children, HIV positive people and other citizens of Gwalior including members of press and media, on the day in our ICTC lighting the candles and holding one minute silence in the memory of victims of HIV/AIDS. Thereafter a discussion was held aiming to create awareness For HIV/AIDS including its preventive aspects and available support through our help line and ICTC in Gwalior, Chambal region. The event was well covered by all the news papers and TV informing whole of general public of Gwalior and Chambal region.
Holi celebrations in Snehalaya
We are happy to say that Holi was celebrated in Snehalaya campus and every one including volunteers and children enjoyed the day with feast, colours and entrtainment. Our hydrotherapy tank/waterfall tank became the large pot of coloured water, where every one enjoyed playing with coloured water as well had a dip in it. Here are some photographs. However in UK it turned out to be a white easter, coincidently falling on same day, with snow all over, something new for this time of the year here.
Opening of help line and ICTC on 1st Dec. 07, the World Aids day
The World Aids day was celebrated on 1st Dec. in Gwalior Childrens Hospital Campus with opening of help line available 24 hours a day , Integrated Counselling and Treatment Centre (ICTC) with video conference facilities and launching of Gwalior network of positive people led and organised by Mr. Snehansu Bhaduri, our volunteer incharge for HIV/AIDS cell. Magdalene from Chennai, Nili from Calcutta, Eric from New York joined us on the occasion through video conferencing while Dr. Chaturvedi from California in USA, Sarah and Daniel from England and Emma from Scotland were present in Gwalior along with many local dignitories, positive people, students and local community including local media and TV channels. BK happily added that this was a new service being added by Gwalior Childrens hospital Charity to benefit the local community whereby they can avail counselling, consultations and advise for treatment related to any health issues or medical problems from our volunteer experts from any where in India or abroad. We have about 450 experts belonging to various disciplines available by appointment through video conference facilities all 24 hours a day. Most of our experts belong to United Kingdom, USA, Australia, Canada, Germany, France and from various places in India. Now people of Gwalior can avail services by experts from any where in the World sitting in their own town through this service provided by GCHC, perhaps first in India. In fact any one can avail these services from any where in India or abroad sitting from their own place, if they have computer with web cam and internet service. We have more than 450 experts from India and abroad belonging to various disciplines to provide their time and expertise using skype programme including my self for this service.Various issues related to HIV and AIDS for its awareness, to remove stigma and discrimination were discussed by these experts through video conference facilities.
On this occasion a medical camp was organised attended by nearly 200 people. Free counselling and consultations were provided and blood group and HIV tests were carried out for those who wanted these voluntarily free of any costs.
BK
Lara runs a charity shop to raise funds for GCHC
6 years old Lara from Devonshire house school in hampstead, London arranged for jumble sale of various things to raise funds for Gwalior Childrens hospital Charity to provide for poor and underprivileged children in india. She successfully raised £150.00. Congratulations to Lara for successful fund raising, such considerations and thoughts at such an young age and to her parents too to instill such views. Lara has also recommended to her school committee to adopt GCHC for schools's preferred charity for next year. We are happy to anounce that Lara stands nominated for being the youngest fund raiser of the year for this year and will be honoured on volunteers day in year 2008. We wish we had many more similar fund raisers to help us carry this work forward. With best wishes, BK
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