djmbclarke@blueyonder.co.uk David’s mobile: 07939 037339

www.keralapartnership.com

NEWSLETTER JULY, 2015

(Newsletter paid for by David and Jane)

Dear friends and supporters, in this newsletter we have set out some reports from the volunteer ‘leaders’ on how the 2014 projects have been going along and we have listed the schemes being funded for the period from April 1st 2015 to March 31st, 2016. All the schemes are proceeding but we have had to be careful with the funding sums as finance is ‘tight’. We say as always a big ‘thank you’ for your continuing financial support; without your help these initiatives simple would not happen. Allocations for the period 1/4/2015 to 31/3/2016: MGM Trust (Kundara and District) - total for the 12 months: Rs 2,16,000 (rupees; approx 100 rupees—Rs 100—for £1) which is £2160 Medication costs for people suffering with mental illness—help for 8 people—£660 Cancer support (mostly medication costs) - 11 people—£660 Education and general welfare—20 people—£660 Refreshments at the Forum meetings—40 is the average monthly attendance—

£180 For the three main types of scheme you can see the average funding per person is approx £1 per week. MGM receives no other external income / donations; Mr George subsidises some of the costs from his own savings. All beneficiaries are registered BPL (below-poverty-line) DMT Trust (Katakkada old Age Home, plus nursing service) - total: Rs 3,00,000 (£3000) Contribution of £200 per month toward the ‘running costs’ for the 20 residents.

DMT receives funding from one other charitable group based in Germany; also it generally raises about Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 each month as a result of Peter securing donations from local business people. Average monthly running costs are RS 75,000 (£750) KP donation is approx £2.50 per person per week.

Funding of the ‘district nursing service’ (Nurse Saumia attends bedridden patients living in their own homes in the locality, and treats the 20 old-Age-home residents) - Rs 60,000 per annum—£600 pa (£50 salary per month therefore).

All residents and nursing patients are BPL. (Please see website or earlier newsletter for BPL info)

NIDS (Neyyattinkara Integrated development Society): total of Rs 3,34,000 (£3340 for the year): 6 pension schemes—60 persons receiving £2 per month— £1440 One-off grants to purchase school items for poor children at the start of the aca-

demic year—10 children—£100 Cancer care—4 to 5 persons—£250 Pakal Veedu (Day Centre for mostly elderly people to operate on 2 days each week

for 10 months) - 30 people—£1200 Agri-project (a small scale project for one selected ‘model’ family involving a range

of agri-initiatives) - £250 Petty Business schemes (provision of grants to allow ‘business start-ups) - 4 to 5

schemes—£200. You can see that about 120 to 130 people will be the ‘beneficiaries’ of these NIDS schemes. Beneficiaries for all the schemes are BPL. It is expected that nearly 200 individuals will be supported during the year (many of these to receive support throughout the year) across all the projects to be operated

by MGM, DMT, and NIDS, We receive regular reports and news from George (MGM), Peter (DMT) and the NIDS Coordinator of Volunteers and we have the names of those who are receiving grants / aid as listed above. We thought you would be interested to read some of the recent news received and

to see some of the photos linked to the schemes—here they are! ——————————————————

DMT As a result of an earlier request from Peter that he wanted to purchase another sewing machine so that a lady could start a small business and become independent, we received a donation from one of you; thank you! Here are Peter’s words about what happened and a photo. ‘....Machine given to Mrs Soumya 27 years old . She has 4 years old a girl child. Her husband drunken man. 3 years before he left his wife.

Soumya father and mother was died. She and her child is living grand mother. So we have given most deserving person. Soumya church members are attended blessing ceremany....’ (NOTE from David—I received two photos of this ‘machine blessing’ and this is a rare one—all are smiling; very unusual as most times all on a photo look so serious!) Peter has sent me some information on the residents and their backgrounds; this was the position in April: 1. Mrs. Devaki Amma Devaki Amma , 68 years from Bharathannoor village around 50 kilometer from our home now resides in our Home since last month. Her husband Sivasankara Pilla(82 years) also

resides in our Home. We happy to report that this is the first a couples take shelter together in our Home. Devaki Amma was hospitalised (to the Government eye hospital Thiruvananthapuram) six months before. (It was before that she took shelter in our Home.) for her cataract operation. Unfortunately, the operation was a failure causing loss of her eye sight. Now we continue her treatment at the CSI medical College Hospital, at Karakkonam. 2. Mr. Sivasankara Pilla (82 years) Sivasankara Pilla is the Devaki Amma’s Husband. He is suffering from asthmatic disease, breathing problem. His son is mentally diseased.

3. Mrs. Mariyamma

Mariyamma’s native place is at Kattakkode, a village 10 K M from our Home. Her

husband passed away forty years ago. Among the two sons, one passed away. She is

suffering from asthmatic – breathing difficulties. 68 years. She uses inhaler, tablets and injunctions.** 4. Mr. Ambrose Babu Ambrose is 68 years old now. Thoonganpara is his native village, 8 KM away from our Home. He is suffering from severe skin disease.and wounds. Taking medicines from Medical college hospital. 5. Mr. Vasudevan Vasudevan is 88 years old. Perumkulam is his native village. He is not married. He takes medicine for various diseases. 6. Mrs. Ammu Kutty Ammukutty is 68 years old. Her native place is

Kattakada. Husband is no more. Her two children are financially unable to look after her. Ammukkuty has lost her left leg at knee.Suffering from B P and taking tablets. She suffers asthmatic problem. 7. Mrs. Chinnamma Chinnamma’s native place is at Kottayam. She is residing in our home since November, 2014. Now she is 79. Her husband passed away. She has no children. 8. Mr. Sukumaran Sukumaran is 68 years old. Aryanad is his native place. Wife has separated. 9. Mr. Stephenson Stephenson is bachelor and now 60. Paruthiyani is his native village. Mentally he is diseased. He is physically handicapped also. He resides in our Home since 2013. 10. Ms. Logolia Ligolia resides in our Home since 2007. She is spinster. Native place is at Puthukurichy, around 50 K M from our Home. It was by an order from the Court that she was admitted here after the dismissal of another Orphanage where she took refuge for years. She has serious wounds in legs, B P , diabetic. She is now just somewhat a bedridden patient. 11. Ms. Seethaji Seethaji was admitted in our Home in 2007. She was brought her by the officials of the Government Rehabilitation centre – Athany. Reportedly she was a wandering beggar, mentally diseased. She speaks only in the Hindi language indicating that her native place is somewhere in north part of India. 12. Ms.Narayani Recently admitted, mental patient. Narayani was a wandering beggar. She is 75 years old. We got her at the bus station at Kuttichal. The local self government authority brought her to here. 13. Mrs. Sarojini Amma Sarojini Amma is 85 now. Husband passed away. She is suffering from blood pressure.

She takes medicines regularly. 14. MS.Selin Selin resides in our Home since 2007. She is a sugar patient. Her husband passed

away. We bring her to the Karakkonam Medical College Hospital for treatment. 15. Ms. Sarojini Malayam Sarojini Malayam is a 74 years old mental patient. She is also suffering from diabetic and blood pressure problems. She is taking medicines for various health problems. 16. Ms. Valli Ammal

Valli Ammal is 82 years old. She is deaf and dumb and also blind. She is fully bed ridden. 17. Mr. Sree kumar Sree Kumar is mental retarded. 58years. He is taking treatment from the Karakkonam Medical College Hospital. 18. Mr. Gopalan Kottyam Gopalan’s native place is at Kottyam 170 K M from Our Home. He is mentally diseased. Taking treatment and medicines for various illness. 19. Ms. Jayalakshmi Jayalakshmi is now79. She is unmarried, Taking medicines for various health prob-lems. She is fully bed ridden.

* *(...’injections’ I think—David) Left—Peter tells us that a new washing machine has been purchased, again as a result of one of you giving an ‘extra Christmas gift’. You will have read above that more of the residents in the home are bedridden and some of these are incontinent. Changing the bedclothes and night dresses needs to be more frequent and the old machine was becoming costly due to increasing breakdowns.

Right—wife and husband: Mrs. Devaki Amma and Mr. Sivasankara Pilla

———————————————————————————————— NEYYATTINKARA

First of all, a brief letter about two of the schemes that are being funded for the year ahead and there is an update about the ‘model family’ project on page 7: .’….As I had mentioned in my previous letter the project will be implemented as per your suggestion. For the formation of a model family we have selected a poor family and this project will be closely monitored by the local unit of the Women Association. Similarly for the educational assistance we have selected 10 poor children who are very deserving from another village. These poor children will be assisted with Rs.1,000/- each as lump sum for their educational needs…’

‘...The Pakalveed programme will be revised and will continue. Accordingly 15 elderly person will be eared for 10 months and service of a paid doctor will be stopped to reduce the cost. However, we will try to identify a doctor who can provide free service. Honororium to the cook, the sisters and the news paper will be provided as in the previous year. The pension scheme and the assistance to the cancer patients will be continued as in the past…’ Now, some information on last year’s schemes:

Phase 1 Projects Support for food for 10 old persons at Kurisumala We have been supporting 10 old persons for food @ Rs.200/- per month. This is a very good help to these aged ones. During this January and February one person each expired. Instead of these two we selected another two old deserving person is this scheme. This scheme is going on well and the beneficiaries are very happy. This amount is distributed on the 10th of every month. Medical Assistance to 10 aged persons at Konniyoor We had selected 10 aged persons who are sick for Medical assistance. These old people are very poor and without anybody to support. Therefore, this assistance is a great help and meaningful to their life. They are very happy with this support. Unfortunately one of them died during this year. In his place we selected another deserving person for medical assistance. The smiles on their face is their expression of gratitude. Goat rearing at Thachancode We had distributed 12 goats to 12 poor deserving families as an income generation programme. Last year they had returned 5 young ones of six months old and this year they returned 3 youngergs. Thus the total 8 more poor families are having goats now. According to the scheme each family who get a goat return an offspring and it is given to another poor families. This is an on going process and may more families will be benefitted in the long run. Goat rearing at Idanji Here we selected 12 poor families and gave them each a goat for rearing. These 12 families are making an income from goat rearing. All the families who received a goat should return a 6 month old young one according to this scheme. So far these families returned 6 young ones, two in the previous year and four in this year. These six goats are given to six new families who are poor and deserving. Now the total number of beneficiaries are 18 at this place. All of them are very happy and cheerful. NB1 Three Poultry farms at Keezharoor We selected three poor and deserving families and started poultry farms at the village Keezharoor. One family got 30 chickens, another got 20 and another got 10 chickens. The families who got 30 chickens are getting an average of 20 to 25 eggs a day and 15 to 17 for the other family. The family who got 10 chickens were getting 6 to 8 eggs a day. The cost of an egg is Rs.5/-. Thus they make and extra income which is a great support to these poor families. The head of the family who received 10 chicken died. The other two families are very happy became they are able to make an additional income for their families needs.

Phase II Projects Help to the aged at Puliyarakonam Puliyarakonam is a remote village inhabited mostly by poor people. From here we selected 10 aged people who are deserving support. We are assisting these 10 aged with Rs. 200/- per month. We give the amount on the 5th of every month to the concerned beneficiaries.

Help to the poor at Pandiyampara Pandiyampara is a poor and backward village. Here we selected very poor ten person and giving them a monthly assistance of Rs.200/- per person. The amount is given to them every month on the 5th. These poor persons are very grateful and happy for this support. Poultry for a poor family We supported a very poor family at Neyyattinkara to start a poultry as an income generation programme. A poor women and her bedridden son are the members of this family. The son Unnikrishnan is chronically ill and bedridden for the last 6 years. There is nobody to take care of them. He died yesterday in a hospital. Now they are having 30 chickens. Now they collect an average of 20 to 25 eggs a day and with this income they partially manage their needs. This family is very happy with is support during the days of poverty and illness. They are very grateful to this support. NB2 Petty Business to the poor at Manikkapuram We supported very poor families with Rs. 5000/- each to start petty business as income generation programme. All these nine families are poor and deserving. Leela : Leela is s very poor women who live with her husband and two children. With our support she started fish and vegetable business. She buy fish and vegetables from the wholesale market and sell it in her village and make profit to manage her family. Dasamma : Dasamma’s family was a 3 member family with her husband and son. Her husband is a chronically ill person. Her son committed suicide. The family responsibility is on Dasamma’s shoulders. Therefore, we supported this family with Rs. 5000/-. She started a petty business with this amount. She is collecting fish and vegetables from wholesale markets sell it locally and making an income to maintain her family. Theresa : She is a very poor women, who is living with her husband. They have 5 children, 2 sons and 3 daughters. All of them are married and live separately and the old parents are left alone. In this situation we supported her. She is collecting vegetables from the wholesale market and sell it locally and making an income to maintain their family. Agnes : Agnes family is a very poor family. Her husband is a sick person. They have 3 children and is a deserving family. We helped them with Rs. 5000/- and with this amount she started a vegetable business and earning an income to maintain her family. Omana : Omana is a poor widow with 3 children. With our assistance she started a tapioca business. She buy tapioca from the farmers and sell it in the local market. From this she

is making an income to manage the children and their education. Valsala : Valsala is a very poor women. There are five members in her family. One of her son is disabled and bedridden. With our support of Rs. 5000/- she started a vegetable business. She collect organic vegetables from the farmers and sell it is the nearby town and earning an income to support the needs of her family. Rosamma : Rosamma’s family is a five member poor family. They do not have a house to live in. Her husband is a sick person who cannot do any work. With our support this family to took a small shop on rent and started a petty tea shop. They use this same shop to sleep at night as their house. With the income from this shop this family is living happily with the limited conveniences. Philomina Philomina is a very poor women. Her husband is a very sick person. They have 3

children. With our support she started a petty shop close to their house. From this business this family is making an income to meet the family needs and the treatment for her husband. Sobhy : Sobhy is very poor women. Therefore, we supported her with Rs.5000/- with this money she started a small provision store. With the little project she earns from this shop she is meeting her family needs. We have been able to support so many poor persons who are poor and needy only be-cause of year generous support. When we see the smiles on the faces of these poor, once we gratefully remember you….’ NB1: good news that the goat-programmes are continuing to work, and that MORE families are benefitting! NB2: very sad news about Unnikrishnam; we showed a photo of him in a previous report. He always presented himself to us as a ‘young gentle man’. We have had news about another ‘agri project’; this time the volunteers wanted to assist a ‘model family’ to become ‘small holding farmer / agri workers’. This involved the provision of chickens, goat, and vegetables so the entire family could develop these three elements of a ‘small holding’. The first part of the project has been started and here is the first of the reports from the Volunteers: ‘….We selected a very poor family for this project. The father of the family is a heart patient and not able to work. The mother is also a sick person but going for small work to maintain the family. They have three children. They have only four cents of land and a very small house to live. I have given them Rupees 25, 000 for this project. They have purchased 15 chickens already; soon they will acquire a goat. They have already started cultivating vegetables. With the manure from goat and chicken they will cultivate these vegetable. One or two months later I will sent you a beautiful photo of their cultivation. I am attaching the photos of the family….’

Left: the start of the ‘model family agri project’; total cost has been £250 to set up egg, milk, vegetable production. Right: the £10 grants being distributed to the selected students. The day-centre (Pakal Veedu) is starting its second year; here is the latest report on how it is going along: ‘... I am happy to give you some information regarding the Pakalveedu Programme: 10 aged people each were taken twice a week to the centre and given care and attention to each one by the Sisters. The total twenty aged person were give care. From 9.30 to 4.30 they spent at this centre. In the morning they are provided with tea and snacks. Lunch is provided at 1 pm and tea and snacks at 4 pm. They come to the centre on Wednesday and Friday in turn. This year 15 aged people each are taken to the centre twice a week Wednesday and

Friday as you mentioned. They are provided with Tea, Snacks and lunch. The sisters are taken care of them very well and this makes them very happy. At the centre they are very active. They read news papers and discuss the news in details. Usually one person read and others listen the news. They eat together and share their feeling each other during the meal. They have some indoor games and recreation programmes. They also watch T.V. programmes and spent time for recreation. Some how they are bussy with the whole day. The sisters are taking some motivational classes for them. Sometimes a guest person will give a motivational talk to them. At home they are isolated and lonely. Here they are in a likeminded group and they enjoy the day. Every time they leave the centre with the eagerness to comeback to the centre waiting for their next turn. Their coming together has diverse impact on their lives, their families and in the society. Earlier they were lonely and isolated, but now they are together and have many friends. Now they enjoy a considerable amount of peace and therefore there are peaceful persons. Secondly their coming together has helped them to improve their health situation. This is because of the positive thinking and the positive energy induced as the result of the unity and sharing between and the timely and nourishing food they eat at the centre. Thirdly they have become more happy due to the improvement of relationship with others. This also has its impact on their family and social life. Earlier they had problems with the other member of the family. We could identity a Doctor who is voluntarily examining the aged people. He visits the centre once a month and do the necessary medical checkup free of cost. Now the sisters are given an honorarium of Rs.1000/- a month. News paper in provided for reading. The cook is also paid an honorarium. I am attaching a few photographs of the Pakal Veedu for your observation. The service we are rendering to the aged people is very meaningful and the need of the time. It is you who made us possible to render their service to the aged. I am very grateful to you for this support. Exercise and dance—no, the three ladies have NOT collapsed; this is part of the story being told through dance! (Apologies for the colouring of these last three photos) As always, we hope this newsletter is of interest. This edition has concentrated on what has been achieved with your donations over the last year, and what the plans are for the 12 months ahead. More news in due course! Best wishes and thank you all, David and Jane (Clarke).