International stresses of sustainably feeding the future populations of 9 billion are causing new strategic ideas to emerge and current successes to be celebrated.  The recent Cornell University study implemented during January 2012 at Food for Life-Vrindavan seeks to achieve both objectives of providing additional ideas for improvement in addition to celebrating the incredible and successful operations changing the tide of child malnutrition in Northern India.

In January 2012, Cornell University master’s student, Amy Nichols, with a team of 12 students arrived from five different universities spanning the globe. Students implemented a food security model created after a FFLV analysis conducted in January 2011. The model first analyzes current nutrition levels in Food for Life students emphasizing Anemia. Second, students presented a 4-H Nutrition program including both Square Foot Gardening (which can be implemented in both rural and urban areas) and Nutrition courses that empowers youth to take responsibility for their health and actions (Program allows student to take an active role in their community and in their on health, project will set up opportunities to work with US students as well).  Finally, this model is using the soil analysis conducted by Amy Nichols in 2011, and providing recommendations for improving crop production on the successful organic farm at Food for Life-Vrindavan. 

The Project Leader Amy Nichols said, “The intent of the project is to provide additional programs to aid Food for Life students in total food security through improved nutrition in addition to celebrating the incredible success at Food for Life-Vrindavan and the number of lives changed for the better due to its amazing organization“.

2012 New Year Gift pack items

After days of packing and preparations, when the Food For Life Vrindavan team set out for the New Year gift distribution 2012 and entered the villages, thousands of cute little faces lit up seeing their gifts arrive. While some waited in anticipation to receive their gifts, many started chasing the vehicle that carried the gifts to be the first one in the row. Food for Life Vrindavan successfully carried out their 16^th year of Gift Distribution, this time distributing a total of 5,000 gift packs! It is hard to put to words how we felt to see little twinkling faces burrowed deep into their gift bags, counting their precious possessions, but some of our volunteers who participated in the distribution shared their experiences.

Here is what they had to say:

Julie Hawke: “I’m grateful for the opportunity that I had to experience Food for Life extend their hand in community development giving New Years packages to surrounding villages. I am continually impressed by the reach of their influence. The look on the faces of the kids as they pulled out their toothbrushes, beanies, and especially chocolate treats was priceless. My favorite part was watching the girls receive their gift covering their mouth with their hand to conceal the smile, but after walking past the adults, breaking into a run smiling from ear to ear to join their friends. Because these packages were only given to school children, I saw the longing for the other village kids and their parents to receive the same—the gift, but more importantly, an education. Touring the schools had already left me awe inspired at the number of children they can take care of, but the villages left me equally aware of how many more are in need and what I myself can do to help.”

Monique Mullenaux: “To see the most pure joy on children’s faces as they receive gifts that would not typically be expected or even hoped for, has been an unforgettable experience. In preparation to coming to this school for a short stay, a friend of mine had donated substantially to this New Years packages project. As I was able to hand out these gifts to the children, it was a rare opportunity to experience the connection between donating from home all the way to giving the kids these bags. It made me realize that ever little bit helps. As is often said, we cannot make a difference to everyone but we can make a difference to someone. Looking into the big brown eyes and huge smiles of these children, I was struck by their individuality and realized how true this is. I would repeat this experience a million times over and wish everyone could have lived this experience.”

Ciera Sypherd: “First day here in India and I am in love. These kids have so little and to see the pure joy and love in their eyes as they received these simple gifts was heart warming.  I had no idea what the children were saying but they continued to try to tell me things, with wide eyes and ear to ear grins! It was so cute! But even with the language barrier I knew they were expressing their gratitude and excitement from the New Year’s gifts.” 

Morgan Shaver: “Delivering the New Year’s gifts to local schools was a blessing in more ways than one. Of course, the most warming blessing of the experience was the priceless and numerous amounts of smiles that the children wore proudly. Another blessing of this experience was being able to be apart of the vast amount of giving that Food for Life does constantly. The final blessing that I observed during this experience was seeing how much one organization can do. Food for Life not only has built and maintained a fantastic program but selflessly gives to other schools that aren’t as fortunate as themselves.”

FFLV New Year Gift Festival has been going on for the last 15 years. Thousands of very poor children every year on the first of January receive a gift pack from us. Last year we did 4,800 gift packs, and that was a very difficult year, this year we hope we can do better.

It cost US$ 5 for a gift pack, which includes school bag, pencil box, toothbrush and toothpaste, a toy or ball, chocolate, toffees and biscuit, a woolly hat for the coming winter and some hope…

It is this time of the year again when we call upon you to help us gift smiles to Vrindavan’s poorest children.

During this festive period, giving is on everyone’s mind, making someone happy is a treasure to share. Yes times are tough, a little extra sacrifice towards our fellow man will bring auspiciousness in our lives, remember giving is receiving, specially when your recipient is a poor Brajasi girl. It is only five Dollars per gift pack.

Send in your contribution today and please forward this message to your near and dear ones. We are confident we can do it again this year.

December 29^th, we began distribution of New Year Gifts to Vrindavan children.

December 30^th.
We continue distribution of New Year Gifts. Today we went out to distribute gifts to students of the village schools around Vrindavan.

The final stage of the 2012 New Year Gift Festival – distribution of gift packs to Sandipani Muni School Students took place on the last day of the year – December 31^st.

Please, click here to see photos from gifts distribution…

2012 New Year Gift pack items

Just remember these children have never seen a gift in their lives. You could be the fortunate soul to gift them a big smile. We will also be posting updates on progress and way for donating. On behalf of Vrindavan’s children we wish you a wonderful end of year 2011 and may the Lord give you strength and endurance to leap forward in 2012.

Please download the slide show now and forward to your friends, we still have a long way to go and little time left.

Your Servant
Rupa Raghunath Das

From the left Nikitta Thacker(Student), Connor Franklin(Student), Anoop Watts(Project Leader, The Discovery Academy), Rupa Raghunath Das(International Coordinator FFLV), Jayne Hewitt(Teacher, The Discovery Academy) and Colette Edwards(Student)

On December 8^th 2011, the partnership between The Discovery Academy and Sandipani Muni School took another step ahead when three students and two teachers arrived in Vrindavan. They attended the morning program next day have just begun their exploration. On July the 13^th, 2011, four students and three members of the staff had visited the schools in the UK. This twinning project began during the summer of 2008 and has gone from strength to strength over the past three years. The purpose of starting this project was to give students from both schools the opportunity to learn about globalization and diversity.

During the visits teachers and students from both schools have had the opportunity to experience life in the UK and India.

Colette Edwards

 “This is my second time in India and I love it more and more every minute that I am here. When visiting Sandipani Muni School, I really enjoy watching all of the children and seeing how happy they are even though materially they do not have much. These children are a true inspiration  and make me realize how lucky I really am” : Colette Edwards, Student, The Discovery Academy.

In the year 2012, two teachers and three students from SMS will again have a chance to visit the school in the UK. The names of the students and teachers are yet to be finalized.

A systematic introduction to the practice of Yoga, a step by step approach for developing strength, flexibility, good breathing habits, concentration and relaxation. Yoga postures (Asanas), breathing exercises (Pranayama), relaxation exercises, introduction to proper diet, positive thinking and meditation.

Classes are held from 9:30 to 10:30 am at Sandipani Muni School, Burja Road, Chaitanya Vihar, Vrindavan.

In any questions, please dial +91 789 500 2907.

And she did it!.  This is a success story of our girl Sunita, who won a Silver in an international Karate Championship, where five different countries participated.

“If I was not at FFLV, I would have got married by now.” – Sunita

Thank you to you all friends and supporters of FFLV who made this happen for her. Now it is time to give a chance to other girls who will, otherwise, never get a chance to tap their talents. These girls have so much potential!

FFLV is always finding new ways to benefit these girls. Our current plan is the Global Giving Competition that we are participating in. We can win this competition if we have maximum number of donors. We just ask you to donate $10.00 and encourage your friends to do the same. We will be automatic winners if we are in the top 6 organizations. We will get a share in the $80,000, which is the prize money and also a chance to be displayed on the Girl effect website for one complete year!

Donating is very easy. You can pay by paypal, cheque, credit card, or a gift card on the following page : http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/prevent-child-marriage-send-75-girls-to-school-in-india/

If you are a USA citizen you can also donate by sending a simple text from your mobile phone. Simply type GIVE 8803 to 80088 to donate $10 to Prevent Child Marriage, Educate 75 Girls in India. Message and data rates may apply. Only works for US mobile phones.*

*Please visit this link to read all the details: http://www.mgivefoundation.org/terms-of-service.aspx

To keep yourself updated on where we are, please follow this link:

http://www.globalgiving.org/leaderboards/girl-effect-challenge/

On Monday, the 25th of October, our school was treated to the melodious sounds of Blue Indigo, a traveling music group from the island of Hawaii. The concert was a beautiful infusion of east meets west. The band consists of six members, of which Brihan dasi is the lead vocalist and plays the harmonium and harp. The remainder of the group play the bansuri flute, violin, clarinet, tabla, drums and sitar. The mixture of these instruments produced enchanting sounds which had the audience captured in rapt attention. The group began their performance with traditional Indian bhajans, which the children enthusiastically sang and clapped along to. The bhajans were followed by Celtic tunes and the show ended with mesmerizing  western classical music.

The group are on a tour of India until November the 5th. Other places where they will be performing include Rishikesh, Almers officers club, Maduban, Vrinda kunj and Gangi ghat kunj.

I’m writing to ask for your help with a great opportunity for our girls!

FFLV has been chosen to compete in Global Giving’s Girl Effect Challenge. Funded by the Nike Foundation and many other large well-known donors, The Girl Effect (www.girleffect.org) has been raising awareness around the world over the past two years about the importance of investing in girl’s education and the potential this has to change the developing world.   It has attracted thousands of followers.

From today until November 15th, FFLV will be appealing to donors, supporters and friends to make a small donation to our project through the Girl Effect Challenge web page on Global Giving.  We will be competing  with 59 other girl-focused projects  (http://www.globalgiving.org/leaderboards/girl-effect-challenge/) to attract the highest number of individual donors to support our project.  The six that have the most donors by November 15 will be featured on the Girl Effect Fund’s Global Giving fundraising page for all of 2012 and will get a grant of about $80,000 from the fund next year.

I know our work is important to you so please help us become one of the winners!  You can do so by going to our project page and making a small donation ($17 minimum) https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/prevent-child-marriage-send-75-girls-to-school-in-india/ and then telling ten of your friends about it and asking them to do the same!

When you donate, you are helping the school in more than one way: Your donation will help us financially and counts as a vote for FFLV in the challenge.  The publicity and funds we’ll receive if we win will enable us  to help even more girls next year (and beyond!).

If you want to follow the competition and track our progress, please join our Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/119706924780942/

We’re excited to be participating in the Challenge. With the help of friends like you, we can win it for our girls in Vrindavan!

Yours faithfully

Rupa Raghunath Das
FFLV International Coordinator
rupa@fflvrindavan.org

Our school held a hugely successful three day-cultural program from the 10th to the 12th of October to mark the Kartik festival. During the function, MLA from Mathura, Pradeep Mathur and chief development officer (CDO), Mathura S Muthu Shalini, inaugurated the event by lighting the traditional lamp. The cultural extravaganza began with kirtan of Radhey Krishna, and students presented the songs ‘Makhan chor Namd Lal…’.

Girls presented Ganesh vandana through the Odissi dance. A dance to appease Goddess Durga was also a part of the event, along with speeches delivered on different topics by the students. The audience was enthralled to see the folk dance of Braj while the nursery kids sang the song ‘Diwana hoon tere Kanha…’. A presentation of martial arts excited the viewers, and they were also treated to the drama ‘Nakh pe dhar liyo giriraj’.

The director of our school, Rupa Raghunath Das, was also present and encouraged the efforts of the students.

 
He said the following about the event: ‘Students of Sandipani Muni School are mostly orphans and under privileged children and through this three-day event, we gave them an opportunity to showcase their creativity and talent.’ Festivals like these are a wonderful platform for the children to express themselves as well as astound and entertain audiences.