The November Happenings
The song of love - Ellie Vertley a volunteer from Holland
As the music of hearts play on,
Words remain silent!
Love does transcend all barriers. She was a foreigner, unaware of the native language and customs. He was a special child, who could not speak or run around like other little ones. Yet our wild flower befriended the charming red rose. Together their fragrance fills our garden. As she renders a Dutch song for him, he smiles back gleefully at her. He knew not the meaning of her song, but the love in her eyes could speak without words.
Many a good - hearted person visit ‘Udavum Karangal’ our home for destitute. They talk and play with our bubbly little children. But our kutti papaas (our home for the mentally challenged children) have no such visitors. Who would want to touch and love a child with a broken mind? Ellie Vertley came as a healing breeze on these wounded flowers. She is a pediatric physiotherapist from Holland. She chose to lend a helping hand to Udavum Karangal. More than her profession, it was her passion to care that mended many a desolate heart.
Our dedicated volunteers here have with a sense of duty, fed and cleaned these less fortunate children. They enlightened Ellie of our customs and way of living. She in turn revealed to them the miracles that a touch of love could bestow on these desolate little hearts. She would lovingly pick every little flower, taking pains not to crush their petals. Our children, in turn would blossom at her very touch or sound. As their laughter lends music to her song, we wish this bliss lasts forever.
Evil of dowry - A poem
With jewels heavy on my lithe self,
I took shy steps unto the gallows.
There stood my groom to be,
And me, with my dreams and smiles.
As greed possessed their dark souls,
My little joys were strangled to death.
They sought gold in my charred flesh,
Like vultures that crave the decaying blood.
Those scars deter not the smile,
That hope brings to my eyes.
Someday, my little one shall behold him,
Who seeks not treasures but her heart.
Mr.Vidyaakar was given Indira Gandhi Sadbhavan Award
They just did it!
There had been tears, agony, pain and many struggles, but ten students beat the odds to come out successfully inspite of growing up in an orphanage.
Nithyakalyani(24), a gold medalist in social work from Bharathi Dasan University, this year, Rajan(20), Devi(23), Sophia(16), Rajalakshmi(16), Arunkumar(17), Ahmed Ali(17), Dhanasekar(18), Kamal(19) and Rajesh(23) are different not only in academics but also in the upbringing. Having grown up in the orphanage Udavum Karangal, they are studying in various city colleges and schools. With good marks to their credit, all of them are in these institutions by sheer merit. In fact their struggles and loneliness only egged these kids on to study well so that they could come up well and achieve much in life.
Nithyakalyani, who was admitted to Udavum Karangal when she was one year old, said that being alone without a family in an orphanage turned out to be a trigger to study well, a topper from standard I, Nithyakalyani learnt to love education at an young age.
Ahmed Ali was felt embarrased when the teacher asked for his community certificate or conveyne a parents meeting in the school. But these woes did not distract him from the studies. He scored good marks in Std X and was able to choose his favourite subject in Std XI.
For these youngsters, getting an admission in the college had not been easy as they had to compete for seats in the merit category. Indeed growing up in an institution had taught them many things. All of them would start their day at 4 am and have a fixed time for every activity. Though there had been distractions, these youngsters say they had realised education alone could make a difference in their life.
However, beyond all these, the biggest challenge had been maintaining an emotional balance with no family to support them." I do not mix my academics with emotions", said Nithya. Instead of lamenting about what was not there, they have learnt to see the best in everything. "We have earned experience along with education," said Kamal, who is pursuing a degree in catering technology and dreams of becoming a hotelier in the future.
Rotary International felicitates Mr Vidyaakar
Major Events of November
1st Nov 2007
Marion a volunteer from Holland came in here for a volunteer service. She intends to be with us for 6 weeks.
3rd Nov 2007
10 students from M.C.T.M. Chidambaram. Chettiyar .Senior. Sec .School, came in here for a general visit. They contributed cash and in kind.
4th Nov 2007
25 staffs from Tata Consultancy Service came in here for a general visit. They interacted with our children and also they gifted some new dresses, fancy items, crackers, playing things for the diwali.
6th Nov 2007
45 students and staffs from Alpha .Mat. Hr. Sec. School came in here for a observation visit. Students distributed sweets to our children’s on the feeding. They contributed clothes, stationary items, sweets, chocolates, crackers. Also, they donate some amount for feeding on Nov 14th 2007 in the name of Interact club.
14th Nov 2007
25 students from Chinmaya.Vidyalaya. Mat. School. from Virugambakkam came in here for general visit. They also made some contributions.
17th & 18th Nov 2007
60 residents from our unit went for ‘Vel’ movie in Satyam Theatre, Sponsored by our donor Ms.Sasirekha and her Friends.
19th Nov 2007
50 Students & Staffs from Singapore, came in here for Observation visit. They distributed Sweets and Ice creams to all the childrens. They interacted with all Kids and also Pappa. They also gave away necessary stationery items, clothes, eatables and made some contributions.
19th Nov 2007
Actor. Arun Vijay and his Wife, came in here for feeding today. They sponsored breakfast for his birthday to all the residents here. They were happy and very satisfied with all the feeding arrangements.
22nd Nov 2007
35 students from Omayal Aachi College of Nursing, came in here for Observational visit.They contributed cash.
24th Nov 2007
20 students from JRK .Mat.Hr.Sec. School, came in here for general visit.
26th Nov 2007
Mrs.Tharani Naganayagam from Australia, came in here for volunteer service. Tharani and her Friends contributed Toys, Dress, Books, Computer Items. She took up her volunteer service in Pasamalargal and Sishubhavan.
29th Nov 2007
Mr. Mayard and his family from South Africa, came in here for visit our unit. They met Pappa and made some contributions.
