News Letter
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Newsletter for Feb/Mar 2010
Dear Sponsors, Supporters and Friends of DAYA Orphanage,
Our state has a new name! Recently the government changed it from Orissa to Odisha. The new name is pronounced O-di-sa (the “h” is silent).
On January 26th we celebrated Republic Day. Candies and other sweets were distributed to the children. This is a national holiday commemorating the date on which the Constitution of India came into force. India had obtained its independence in 1947 but did not have a permanent constitution until Jan. 26, 1950.
We also celebrated birthdays that fell during these months. All the youngsters of the orphanage were given candies and those having the birthdays were given small gifts as well.
An exciting outing was a visit to the fair. The Khandagiri Fair happens only once a year and is the oldest fair in Odisha. The children enjoyed seeing all the different and interesting kinds of little shops. Each child was given 20 rupees (a little less than half a dollar) to spend. The bigger girls bought “bindis” (small decorative stickers to put on their foreheads), hair clips and glass bangles for themselves. The littler girls bought small rubber toys and balloons. The boys purchased candy and metal bangles for their wrists. In India it is common for boys to wear such bangles.
Another event we organized was a cricket competition between the boys of the orphanage and boys of the nearby slum. The game ended in a tie with 58 runs. It was a lot of fun for the children.
We have taught the children how to keep the environment clean and to keep themselves clean. Now once a week they clean the orphanage campus. They are taking pride in their home and surroundings. The ten oldest youngsters were each given a flower plant, either a rose or a marigold, to tend. They have been told to treat their flowers as their own children, giving them proper care and attention. Later, when the rainy season comes the younger children will also each be given a flower plant to tend.
Kalpana B. And Kajol D. Were chosen by the school they attend to sit for scholarship exams as being among the best 500 students. DAYA is very proud of them and we are sure that their sponsors will be too.
We are thankful to George S. In the USA for his generous donation of $10,000 for the orphanage development. This money will enable us to install an automatic water pump and water pipes. Recently a bore well was dug but water had to be pumped manually and had to be carried by hand. Now both the girls’ and the boys’ homes will have water piped in. There are three toilets altogether and two water basins. The kitchen will have piped in water as well. The extra money left over will be put into an emergency fund.
Thanks also to Trish, a volunteer from the UK, who donated $400. With it we will be able to install a proper drainage and sewer system. Until now water from the kitchen and toilets didn’t drain away. Instead it went into a hole in the ground, causing a bad smell and it was a breeding place for mosquitoes. Now we will dig a big hole which will be covered with a concrete slab and the toilets and kitchen will be connected to it with drains. Then all the water will go into this hole which we call a swamp.
An Indian radio company called “Trans World” donated a radio to the orphanage. The children are enjoying listening to it.
DAYA Orphanage is now listed with GlobalGiving in the USA and the UK. This is an online marketplace where you can select charitable projects you want to support, make tax deductible donations and receive updates on the good that your support is doing. We will have a link for you soon. GlobalGiving is launching an “Open Challenge”, a fundraiser, on March 25. So in connection with this we will be sending out an e-mail within the next few days asking that you please spread the word to your family members and friends who might wish to support DAYA.
Also, our web site has been completely revamped and updated. Please visit it at www.dayaindia.org
DAYA continues to work with dedication for the Dalit orphan children, members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Dalits were formerly regarded as “Untouchables” in Indian society. Though discrimination against people of lower castes is now unlawful in India the caste system is nevertheless still strong. Hindu in origin, it exists among Muslims and Christians as well.
Our love and best wishes to you all. The children and staffs of DAYA Orphanage.