Two of our HIV children died this month.

Despite being on anti-viral therapy (ART) two of our young people have died this month.
ART does not cure HIV/AIDS, there is no cure, but the treatment is supposed to slow down the progression of HIV into AIDS. There are five recognisable stages of the virus. The earliest stage has no symptoms.  It used to be unrecognisable, even by blood test, under the age of 2 and a half, but I read recently that there is now a method of earlier detection. If the person has no symptoms, having been confirmed HIV infected by a blood test, then they are said to be a-symptomatic. One or two of out children remained a-symptomatic for several years. We were so worried that they might have been misdiagnosed, and hence condemned to  the stigma of having HIV, that we had them retested!

In the second stage of the viral infection the appearance of other infections make themselves known. Skin infections, sickness, diarrhoea, a propensity to catch everything going, shingles, measles, chicken pox and the usual childhood infections, including malaria, because HIV/AIDS has weakened and gradually destroys the immune system. By the fifth stage, full blown AIDS, the immune system is completely destroyed. Certain infections, like TB are acquired on the way and are in themselves killers.  The ART drugs are very toxic and eventually destroy the liver or kidneys.The children have to be on them for life and their long term effect is not known, as treatment for children in India only started in 2007.

Our young boy at Karuna Nivas would have been thirteen this year. He had been with us since he was seven years old.He died of cancer of the ear and throat - Kaposi's sarcoma This complication is relatively unknown now in the west, as in the west the drugs give to treat HIV have improved.

Our other child victim was also a teenager. She had been detected as having severe anaemia and died of liver failure.

One of these children had a sponsor who sent pictures and a letter to let her know that there was someone, many thousands of miles away who cared about her.

 We have many unsponsored HIV/AIDS children who would appreciate an uncle or aunty to whom they could send a card at Christmas and receive one in return. We don't know how long they will live but we do our best to give them a happy and loved childhood.

The more  children who are sponsored the better. 

Swathi's double celebration!

The Shanti Nivas Children 

 This confident and happy girl is Swathi.She is celebrating her 20th birthday and taking up the position of  Assistant House Mother to the 28 children at Thompson House.on the Shanti Nivas campus. 

The adoring smiles of the children show how much she is loved by them.

Swathi first came to Prem Nivas on the day the home for HIV positive children opened in October 2006. Swarti was our eldest girl and was the first to finish High school from where she went on to gain her 'A' levels in Physics, Maths and Biology at a college in Gajapathinagaram, the village where Prem Nivas is situated.

Since the day she joined us Swathi had wanted to be a nurse but because she is HIV positive it was not possible. One of our sponsors paid for Swathi to study secretarial subjects including English and Computer Studies at a vocational training centre in Vizianagaram.   After her course Swathi  divided her time between helping Victor in the office in DMC House and caring for the children at Prem Nivas. She was able to pass on her computer knowledge and typing skills to some of the older children. Some of our youngest children live at Prem Nivas.

We thought that Swathi might try to find employment locally but suddenly we were faced with the prospect of the Shanti Nivas Housemother leaving to study Theology.  Swathi seemed to be the  ideal replacement for Kamala. Swathi has always looked after the children younger than herself and they regard her as 'Akka',  - big sister! 

Now Swathi is very happy to be employed by Brighter Future as Assistant Housemother and she is teaching computer skills too whenever the children's  timetable allows.

When the children are at School I am sure that Swathi will find her way to visit patients in the Hospice, where we currently have 3 children and four adults. Her innate nursing skills will be appreciated.

Victor says Swathi is very Happy working for Brighter Future.  

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My daughters and I are in full swing making Christmas and general cards to sell for Brighter Future. We have two bookings at churches in Bury St Edmunds to sell the cards. We have also been making felt Poppies  to wear at any time of the year.The poppies are £2.50 each. 

We are giving 50p for each poppy bought to the British Legion and taking £2 for Brighter Future! 

Faye organises another great team and Fun Day!

Do you remember how difficult it was to find runners for the London 10K  this year?

Faye's 2013 team 

 Danny was as active as usual and now that school has started again he will soon be letting us know how much his team raised by sponsorship. 

Faye's charity came to our rescue again and ran to raise funds for  Brighter Future. 

Faye's 2015 team

Faye's 2015 10K team collected £4500 in sponsorship and they are donating it to Brighter Future for a very special and specific project at our Shanti Nivas campus in Vizianagaram district. 
Faye has been supporting Brighter Future since meeting Victor and Danny in 2014. Faye has been out to see Victor and his work in coastal Andhra Pradesh.Victor visited Faye and her family when he was in England in June this year.

Faye and her supporters are raisng funds to build a Mother's Home for women who are HIV+ and have no where to live. They may have been evicted from the traditional joint-family home after their husbands died. Many were blamed for his death! Others are evicted from rented accommodation because they have HIV. Yet others cannot pay  rent  for a roof over their heads as they have no income other than what they can glean by begging. One of our ladies lives in a shelter of leaves built for her, near the railway line, by some students.

 Brighter Future always tries to respond to local needs. Victor and his staff see what  the situation is where they operate and try to offer a solution.

 That is how the idea of a Mother's home was born. It is not a new idea. Brighter Future India first mooted the idea of a Mother's home in 2012 when the Shanti Nivas campus opened its doors to the HIV+ children of Thompson House and when the Hospice. There was room to build, but as usual, there was no money to build a home.Now Faye has come to the rescue and has taken on the not inconsiderable burden of raising funds for the project. (If any one would like to 'chip in' they are most welcome!)
 

Eight brave souls!

Faye and eight friends did a sponsored swim at Brighton last month. It made me shiver to see the photos of them in the water! Faye said it was very cold for the swim between the two piers.  They also had the problem of the current changing to cope with at the end of the swim.  This event was part of a 'Fun Day' and raised £1000 towards the Mother's Home project. What a wonderful and inspiring person Faye is!. 

A huge thankyou to all Faye's friends and their sponsors. 

The website appeal for mattresses

That appeal for mattresses!
You may have seen the appeal that Victor sent, with photos, that was on the web site.
I am pleased to say that three people from Lincolnshire,who wish to be anonymous, have responded generously to the appeal and the mattresses are being delivered as they are made.

The foam sheet  mattresses are covered with 'rexine' for hard wear and have a cooler surface included in the construction for comfort in the hot season.  Each  mattress also has a sheeting bag made for it.
The children tuck their mosquito nets under the mattress.

A special message from Manya

An assurance to all of our sponsors and donors

In view of all the recent news in the media about Kids Company and of scams about the selling on of data base information  I would like to assure all our sponsors and donors that Brighter Future International Trust administrative staff are all volunteers and do not receive salaries. 
Furthermore they keep  administrative costs to a minimum. The quarterly Newsletter is funded by one of the trustees and he also pays for the postage that it's distribution entails. The new website, brighterfutureinternationaltrust.co.uk was also paid for by the same gentleman, as well as the new printed letterheads for BFIT stationary.
Brighter Future does not disclose our data base information outside of Brighter Future. 
The trustees regard it as their duty to be good stewards of your gifts and donations.

Personally, I do claim for ink cartridges and stationary from time to time but I pay my own fares to India and other costs, like injections and visas,that this entails!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our kind sponsors and donors for their continued support. Some of our child sponsors have been with us since 2004 when Danny and Victor set up the charity in India! Our newer supporters are equally appreciated and new ones are always welcome with open arms to join the 'Brighter Future Family' of sponsors and donors.