News and Updates, 2011

October

• A grand celebration was held at the Mercy Home for Elder's Day, and also to inaugurated the new rooms for the sick elderly, and to celebrate Dany and Darshana's birthdays. It was a happy occasion. Be sure to watch the video clips on our blog »

September

• Judith and her neice, Shioban, arrived from Australia to volunteer at the Mercy Home. They are being such a help with the babies and toddlers. We also appreciate having extra English-speakers to work with the toddlers to enhance their learning of English.
• We are now starting work on the first toilets for one of the creches. Thank you Judith!
• Finally construction is starting on the RPI land where we are building a school for special needs children. This week, we start with the gate and fence. (To safe-guard building supplies.)

August

• The bathroom renovations for the Lil' Darlings is now complete. The older children in the group are too big to use potties any more so this is a helpful addition to their quarters.
• Thank you to Susee Group, Madurai, for their donation of wonderful educational items for the Creche Program. We have now been able to start working in one more creche, in Edyapatti.
• Thank you to Lincpen for their generous donation of lots of stationary supplies for the tuitions groups, creches and Lil' Darlings program.

July

• We have started working in two villages creches now. These creches had no educational program for the children and hardly any supplies at all. We have brought in story books, flash cards, educational puzzles and toys, and building blocks (duplo-type.) One of our staff members works for 3 hours each morning with the children, teaching nursery rhymes, basic knowledge, basic English, and lots of fun activities. We have seen the children come to life, and the mothers are soo thankful.
• New Tuitions Group. We have started a new tuitions group in the village of Edyapatti, near Uslimapatti.

May

• Excursion for summer students. SHE staff took the students who faithfully attended summer English classes on an excursion to the famous Vagai dam. Everyone had lots of fun.
• During the month of May, when schools are out for summer holidays, SHE staff organised daily English language classes and activities for the tuition students. Everyone had lots of fun and made a lot of progress in their English-speaking skills.

March

• Thanks to Minnna, Hilkka and friends for the new stainless steel dinner plates for the elderly, which replace the very battered old ones they were using.
• Our project proposal for the Creche Programme is almost complete. Then we can start in earnest approaching potential sponsors.
• We have been able to make a contact with a large baby bottle manufacter based in Madurai to buy baby bottles and nipples at cost price, which represents a large saving. Many thanks to 'Princy India' for their willingness to help. The first carton of 256 bottles has already been purchased, thanks to help from Samir in Australia.
• Another volunteer from Australia arrived, Karen, who also is a tremendous help in the nursery.

January and February

We've been a bit slow starting this new year page of progress. But already, a lot has been accomplished. Here are a few highlights from the past two months:

• Fun activities organised for tuition students on the occasion of Pongal.
• Toddler bedroom was completed. See photos
• Ecumen Habitat Solutions, architects from Bangalore, have come forward and offered to do the architectural plans for the new SHE centre for free, as their charity project for the year. A super big 'thank you' to them for this wonderful help.
• Sister Maria at the Mercy Home has started craft activities with the elderly.
• Heidi from Australia visited for almost one month to help in the nursery and was a tremendous help and blessing.

Read a summary of accomplishments and progress during 2010   More›