No news is good news

No news is good news is is said. Seems to be spot on for our boarding school stars. Everything is going like a clockwork orange for all of them. They have all adjusted to their new environment and all the fears we all had at some point have vanished. It is with a smile that I remember the long treatise typed on stamped paper the school had made me sign when I got Utpal admitted way back 2006. I guess the school was apprehensive about opening its hallowed gates to a kid born in a slum and with a very dysfunctional family. I guess I too was fearful about how Utpal would be accepted. But it did not take time for both parties - the school and the anxious guardian - to see that all was well. So when the others joined Utpal there was no stamped paper or anxious pangs.

Today the merry 8 are well settled. There are some problems, but the kind all kids have: Yash's naughtiness, Meher's tears or Babli's health. These are tended to without any fuss. The kids are doing well in their studies, some hiccups for some but no cause for worry. Manisha, Yash and Vicky are good at yoga and have participated in many zonal competitions. Utpal participated in his first skating zonal and came 3rd!

In November they all came for their Diwali break and spent the festivities with their families. Then it was back to school with all their winter gear: new shoes - how quickly their feet grow -, their dry cleaned quilts, their warm clothes and bag of toiletries. December is exam time so everyone is back to the grind. We will see them on 31st December when they come for their winter break!

Miss them!

Term payments October to December 2012

The payments for the period October to December 2013. The next payments are due in January 2013.

 Aditya

 Babli

 Manisha

 Nikhil

 Vicky

Yash

Babli

Poor Babli! Just as we all thought she was over all her medical worries cam a bombshell. Her teacher called us to say that Babli seemed to have some spinal problem as she was leaning to one side. We    immediately took action. She was taken out of school and send for tests to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences where she had been operated upon many years ago to rectify a hole in her heart.  She underwent many tests and it was detected that  her rib cage had not been properly stapled during her cardiac surgery and that it had sort of collapsed. This had resulted in acute scoliosis. The remedy was wearing a brace - looks more like a torture implement - for all her waking hours.

The brace is very uncomfortable but Babli is a brave girl! We just hope that it sorts out all issues. Babli misses out on all the sports and dance activities she so loves. Hope things get right sooner than later.

PTM July 2012

There was a PTM last Sunday and as usual it was wonderful seeing the children. We were shown the first unit test results and all the kids did very well. Here are some pictures. Enjoy!

Taking on a new year

 

Our exceptional eight are back in school ready to take on a new year. New books, new classes, new projects, new dreams. Wow it all seems so exciting. Before they left they came by home to say goodbye and posed for the usual snapshot. Actually it was much easier to have them all at one place in my home. nornally one spends hours trying to sheperd them in one place during PTMs as there is always one missing. Anyway it was nice to see the excitement and big smiles rather than the wails of yore years

 

Meher is now in class II. As impish and feisty as ever. Her scars are well healed, her her cut in a swanky new style and determination writ all over her face.

 

Manisha is all grown up. She too enters class II ans we know she will excel as usual. Her quiet and almost grown up ways are quite endearing

Yash is his naughty self up always excels in class

Aditya is doing well and is now in class III

Vicky is also doing great and is now in class IV

Nikhil is a little slow but is making up

Babli is always one of the toppers of her class!

Utpal now in class V. He is doing great!

End of another school year

Our exceptional eight are back home after their final examinations. On April 2nd, they return to school and to a new class. The older ones will be in class V, just one class away from secondary school! Time has really flown.

The results will be given on the day they return to school. That will also be when new books will be bought and the children will get their summer uniforms. An exciting time for all.

Now they are spending some time with their families before taking on the new challenges that await them.

When I see these kids my heart fills with pride and love. I cannot but wonder what would have been their fate had we not stepped in. Would Babli be selling cold drinks and tobacco products on her father's cart? And Meher would she have been begging on a Delhi crossing holding out her maimed hand? The mere thought is chilling and yet the reality of so many children in India. I only wish we could do more, much more...

Long overdue

This post is long overdue. Mea Culpa. I have not been very present on this blog and the reasons are many: my not so great health, my worries about the future of not only project why but our exceptional eight towards whom we have a long time commitment, our regular funding that does not meet our needs and thus have to be added to every month requiring time and effort. And perhaps last but not the least the fact that our exceptional eight are so well settled in their school that one almost forgets to write about them! But that is a lame excuse for all those have made it possible for these children to have a bright future and who we depend on and are beholden to. I assure each and every one that I will not be found lagging again.

The new academic year started well for all our children as they had all surpassed themselves and made it to the next class with honours. Even Nikhil who was lagging a little made a tremendous effort and was back on course. After a month or so they broke for their summer holidays and with summer holidays came holiday home work. As their parents were not in a position to handle the task a teacher was appointed to help them and Nikhil, Aditya, Yash, Vicky and Babli came to the pwhy centre every day till all work and models were completed. Meher went to the village for some time and her home work was completed with the help of the women centre staff.

Utpal who was going through a terrible phase as his mother has vanished and whose guardianship has been given to me had to do with the rusty knowledge of his good old Maam'ji! We also needed the intervention of a child psychiatrist and medication to deal with his problem. Thank God things have fallen in place though he still has therapy sessions.

Holidays were soon over and it was back to school for the children in early July. Every one was thrilled to be back and find their friends. We met them again in August and September and found them happy and safe. The reports of their teachers were glowing and there was no complaint. In October the children came home for Diwali. It was aslo time to gear them for winters. So there was shopping for shoes and toiletries and the old duvets were aired and packed. They are now back in school and will be home again on 31/12 for their winter break.