Getting ready for Christmas!

Plagued by no internet and not enough hours in the day! 

Prem Nivas children have been making cards to give to local people who donate lunches or towels and other items to the children to mark a family anniversary or birthday. the 4th and 5 class were let free to make 24 cards and they did very well. sorry I forgot to photograph them. meanwhile other children painted old paper cups to make decorations for our Christmas tree of lights. We got through 4 tubes of PVA glue today when the 4th and 5th year children showed the 1st, 2nd and 3rd  year Primary children how to fold streamers, while Durga and Nagaraju showed Sunita and Nagamani how to make more complicated cut our decorations. All have been stuck on doorways and in their rooms.

we have had birthdays too. This was Saradha's

All gather round to sing happy birthday and have some cake

Swathi Housemother with Saradha

Tomorrow is the big event of the year - The Christmas party! Much hairwashing, nail painting and  decorating hands with Mendhi by the girls! For the first time in my 20 years in India I have had a lovely design made on my hand and arm. Sravani was the artist!  

Sravani made a design on my arm 

A couple of boys have been to show me their shinny hair styles with a back-facing quiff.

Two vehicles are being hired to take the children to our Shanti Nivas site where the children from all of our homes and hostels will meet to celebrate the day, and well into the night. Dances songs and dramas have been rehearsed. Food will be prepared by outside caterers, music has been put on CD's and a new stage had been built near the Mothers' home. 

The mini Hospice tree

I found a very small Christmas tree the local village shop. The Primary school children have decorated it with coloured cut out pictures and put and angel on top - it is for the hospice patients. The original Tesco tree from 2008 will make another appearance and this year I have brought some more gold balls for it. 

Lots of pictures will be taken so do keep watching our blog for sponsors and donors.

Thank you for your support throughout the year and especially at Christmas time , Picnic time and when we need help sending children to college and university
A very happy Christmas to you and your families from the staff and children at Brighter Future India. 

I arrived in India last week

Unbeknown to me the Prime Minister, Mr Modi, had a surprise waiting for me.

I thought I would save my back and leave my big case at the airport left luggage while I spent one night at my usual Delhi city centre hotel. The counter staff told me that they would not accept 500 or 1000 rupees notes. but gave no explanation. Luckily I had small notes with me, left over from my last visit to Brighter Future, which I had intended using for the Airport Express train  and the auto rickshaw at the Delhi end of the line. I asked about the 'notes'  at a nearby cafe  found out that it was a snap decision, of only a few hours previously, by the Prime Minister. to withdraw all 1000 and 500  rupee notes from circulation,( £10 and £5) in an attempt to stop money laundering, hoarding  money, bribe paying and not paying income tax -  all generally referred to as Black Money.  

All ATM's were closed, banks were closed for two days and only a few airport ticket offices and the metro would accept the banned notes. No auto's, food vendors, cafe's, restaurants, hotels or money changers  would accept them . I managed to change 1000 after a wait at the station while they accumulated change from ticket sales to people with 100 or less. but was given a 500 as part of my change for the 60 rupee fare.

I decided that I could not afford to use my precious change on a rickshaw and remembered that if I walked through New Delhi  station, from platform 16 to platform 1, including crossing bridges and going through a scanning machine, I would be at the Pahargang side of Delhi, just a few hundred yards from my hotel. I was wearing a backpack and pulling a small wheeled case. Luckily I had paid for the hotel in advance so only had to use my debit card for meals.  I returned to the airport the next morning by the same route.

Victor met me at the Visakhapatnam airport and told me of the mayhem the banning had caused to traders and in paying wages. So many people do not have bank accounts and the banks would only change 4000 rupees per person, If you had more the money it had to be paid into a bank account.   We saw such big crowds outside banks, with the police trying to keep order,  that the rules are now changed  and one person can only change 2000rps.! Hands are marked with indelible ink to prevent the people returning on the same day. The papers reported small traders not being able to get stock and goods in markets rotting because no one had small change to buy them.The new 2000 rupee notes are being issued in this way.

 Pydi and Vidya painting

Meanwhile, I am staying at Prem Nivas, dividing my time between teaching in the Primary school, supervising some VTC boys repainting the playground furniture, with careful sanding, red oxide and then using the colours they have chosen.. 





We had to mend mosquito nets.

The High School children conveniently had a day off school yesterday for a Hindu festival, so some of them volunteered to make Christmas cards for Victor to send to his friends and people he has met on his world travels connected with leprosy work.

Jessie made angels.

It is still rather hot for November - we don't seem to have the winters that we had a few years ago -  I blame Global warming! 










The young children come to my room after school to play on the tablet, use the toy computer and  play with the speaking teddy bear. 

Vijay

Favourite toys

Peace comes at 7.30 when I'm brought my dinner and the children disappear to have theirs.At 9 o'clock I am brought hot milk. I put up my mosquito net and after a few chores I go to bed and read or do word puzzles. A large rat woke me at 2am last night!  I chased it with a stick and it returned from whence it came, up the roof beam and into the next room and out through the roof.

  

Time to Pin a Poppy or Two

The First World War officially ended at 11 a.m. on November 11^th 1918. The following year, as some traumatised  soldiers began making their way home through France and Belgium, they noticed the profusion of red poppies in the fields which had been their battlegrounds. It is known that poppies proliferate on ‘turned earth’. 

Returning American ex-servicemen decided to make the red poppy their emblem. They found a woman in France to make poppies to raise funds for children who had suffered because of the war and asked her to make more for them.

Meanwhile in Britain, soldiers returning from the grimness of war found that life at home was hard. Many of the soldiers were wounded, disabled, suffering from shell-shock or the effects of gas. Many were physically or mentally unable to work. State provision was inadequate and they did not get the hero’s welcome they had been led to expect. So the various ex-servicemen’s societies united together in 1921 to form the British Legion. It was to become one of the most successful British charities ever.

The French woman who was helping produce poppies for the Americans suggested to the British Legion that they might like to sell poppies in Britain for their cause. The Legion approved the idea and in 1921, 1.5 million poppies were made and sold. The British Legion then decided to set up its own poppy factory with ex-servicemen making up the workforce.

Thus the Remembrance Red Poppy became an established part of British life, and it is still an important part of the Services of Remembrance up and down the country on and around November 11^th each year.

In the meantime, back to the First World War. The Women’s Cooperative Guild (founded in 1883) declared in 1914 that “Civilised nations should never resort to the terrible and ineffectual method of war for the settlement of international disputes.” Most of them were wives, sweethearts, mothers and sisters of the men who had been killed and they embarked on a campaign for peace.

In 1933 they were searching for a symbol which could be worn by their members to show they were against war and were for non-violent conflict resolution.

The CWS came up with the idea of the White Poppy. These are becoming more and more popular every year and are often seen worn together with the Red Poppy.

Sadly, ever since the Great War, there has been war taking place somewhere in the world. We are made aware of these dreadful wars and their impact on innocent civilians every day in the media, and particularly focusing on Syria at the moment.

Wearing the White Poppy proclaims a desire to renew our commitment to work and pray for World Peace and to remember the true costs of war and conflict on everyone. The Red Poppy remembers veterans and the fallen and wounded from all past wars.

Wearing both poppies will show people you are thinking of the future as well as the past.

My daughter, Karen, has been busy over the summer making long-lasting, felt poppy brooches. They are embroidered and have a safety pin on the back. You can buy a Red poppy (£2.50), a White Poppy (£2.50) or a Dual Poppy (£4.00) brooch. 

These poppies held raise funds for Brighter Future to care for our children and adults with HIV and leprosy in India. We also give 50p from the sale of every poppy for the British Legion (last year we sold 73 Red Poppies and sent a cheque for £37 to the British Legion).

If you have a group of friends at work, church or elsewhere, we will be pleased to send you a selection of poppies ‘on account’ for you to sell to them.

Give me a call, or text on 07505 792915 or email me at pmanya.norris@gmail.com.

They actually make a pretty year-round decoration for a coat, jacket or hat!

A New Little Boy in the Hospice

Manoj is a 7 year old boy.  .He is an orphan who was born with HIV.because his mother had been infected by his father before Manoj was born.  
Both of his parents passed away due to full blown AIDS. His father was a daily wage earner. 
After his father died his mother took care of both of her sons by working as daily wage earner. Sadly she also passed away  8 months after  Manoj’s father.
After the death of both of his parents Manoj's elder brother took  responsibility for Manoj. 

Manoj frequently became ill with fevers, digestion disorders, colds and coughs. His brother took him to doctor saying that for some months he is not well. From blood tests Manoj was found to be HIV positive.

. Manoj’s brother was doing a small job and looked after his brother and himself. Unfortunately he has  lost his job and now it is very difficult for him to look after his little brother. Manoj's brother is still a teenager and cannot earn much money in any job. 



Manoj was started  on anti-retroviral treatment (ART)  as soon as his status was confirmed but he is 
very ill.

One of our Outreach Workers noticed Manoj at the ART centre in the Government Hospital and learned about his circumstances. He brought the matter to the Director of Brighter Future and with his brother's consent it was decided to admit Manoj immediately to our hospice for HIV children at Shanti Nivas.  

The word from India is that the  present condition of Manoj is very bad. "He is very skinny due to lack of nutrition, rest and proper care. He is very weak his present weight is only 15 kgs, His CD4 count is drastically decreased its only 190. He is now under observation and palliative care,"

 Manoj is receiving nutrition and medical support from Brighter Future. He needs a protein rich carefully balanced diet because his body cannot respond to the very strong ART drugs in its present severely malnourished condition.
In the pickford Memorial Hospice Manoj is receiving palliataive care,  but we hope and pray that he can recover enough to be able to respond to treatment.  . .  

The College Students

Special thanks!

Brighter Future is very grateful...

.... and extends a special thank you to a relatively new supporter who sent £100 towards the repair of the wall. Victor sent these photos of the completed wall.

.... and to the gentleman who sent £100 towards H's college fees, Coincidentaly his son also has the nickname  'H'!

... and also to the Indian donor who gave two bikes for the older  Prem Nivas Children to share. They will be very useful to go on little errands to the nearby town.

Meanwhile the VTC boys get to learn how ...

to fit taps and pipes in the new Mother's Home bathrooms and toilets. 

 Fitting taps

 Water supply  - pipes from the roof tanks

 Then they tackled the broken grinder with their teacher, Mr Apalla Raju. After that it was time to learn how to service a fan. With five children's homes and ther hospice there are many repair and servicing jobs that they can  and learn about and practice on .

The Story of H

I would like to tell you about one of our boys

While filing and printing children's biodata today I came across the story of H..... 

He is 15 years old and comes from a little village near the town of Bobbili in Vizianagaram District. He was an only child.

When he was four years old both his parents died of HIV/AIDS. Both of his parents had worked for a daily wage as casual labourers - which means they would present themselves in the place where unemployed people go to look for work. It is not a building and is usually a crossroads or a tea stall  somewhere in the village or town.  Rather like the biblical account of the vineyard workers they go and hope that someone will hire them.  People who are desparate have to look for work even if they are very ill -   for example even if they are having a bad day with their HIV/AIDS.

After both of his parents died H's fathers' relatives didn't want to look after H. His mother's sister took H into her home and she looked after him with her own children.

 

H went to school every day and he studied well. He is an intelligent child and was always top in his class. However, when he entered the 10th class he was often sick, got fevers, and had coughs and colds. His aunt took him to a doctor for a check up, saying that he had been unwell for months. H had various tests, including a blood test and he was found to be suffering from HIV. 

H took three months off school when he heard that he was HIV positive, He felt broken. Despite his depression and worry he went to school just to sit the National exams at the the end of 10th class in April and May. When the exams results came out last month H found out that he had passed with 89%. H  was not  pleased with that mark. He felt that due to the three months leave the marks in his matriculation had been hampered.

 

One of the Brighter Future Outreach Workers found H at the Government Hospital department where HIV/AIDS patients go to collect their anti-retroviral medicine. He enquired about H and came to know his history. he brought the matter to the Director of Brighter Future India and the Director joined H into Thompson House. H had regular counseling and now he is feeling much better and has resigned himself to the fact that he has HIV.

 H has been registered and admitted to 1st year of Intermediate College to do his 10+2 . H is joining the English Medium stream at one of the best colleges in the district - Gayitri College. 

  

Brighter Future is now supporting him, emotionally, educatinally, medically nd nutrition-wise. H is now happy and pleased that he can continue his studies. 

We would like to find two sponors for H - one to sponsor his accommodation and board, and the other to sponsor his college fees. Each work out at about £250 a year.

We do not use photos of H or his full name  - these will only be revealed to his sponsor or sponsors.

That wall!

  Out of the blue

One of our newer sponsors kindly sent £100 towards the building of a new wall - a lovely thoughtful response! A big thankyou!!

The wall came tumbling down!

No one was hurt!

The Prem Nivas Primary School was made by converting and finishing off a semi-detached house which we bought in 2009. The house was directly opposite our existing Prem Nivas campus and we were able to incorporate it to provide a much needed school for our younger children. They had been refused admission by local schools for three years because of their HIV status. 

The building belonged to a man who had decided to become a monk and we were, therefore, able to buy it, with help from our sponsors, and a grant from the Canning Trust.  

The boundary wall has collapsed after heavy monsoon rains.  There has not been any building on adjacent plots so the land was full of weeds which like damp conditions, and pools of water, especially in the monsoon season . 

The main school building has been inspected and there is no sign of damage to its fabric.

Stone delivered to make a solid foundation for the new boundary wall of concrete blocks

The photo shows the stone with which a strong foundation is being made for a new boundary wall which also goes around the corner at the back of the class rooms, library and the guest room. 

Victor made sure that reconstruction began as quickly as possible so as  to keep out snakes, pigs, dogs and other undesirables, including creepy crawlies.

The back of the building's boundary wall came down too.

According to the senior mason the wall, when completed,  will have cost Brighter Future  82000 Indian Rupees - that is roughly £943 for labour and materials.

To the VTC students of Brighter Future

A Letter To the Students at the

 Betty Lawes Vocational Training Centre

 at Shanti Nivas

My dear Young People

 I would like to welcome you to this special training centre which has been set up for you.

The Betty Lawes Foundation in England were told of the need to provide employment opportunities for our HIV children who were not able to continue their studies at 10+2 level.  I told them that there were several boys who were, through no fault of their own, behind in their studies for various reasons.

Some students found learning difficult, some had not had the opportunity to go to school when they were young, because of their family circumstances, because they were too ill to attend school, or because there was no school that would accept them.  

 We want to give you a second chance to succeed. A second chance, to start again. We want to enable you to learn a trade like plumbing, electrical work, repairing electrical appliances and phones.

You are being given a great opportunity. Now you Young People have to prove to the world

that you can learn,

that you are not stupid,

and that you are not lazy.

It may take a long time to learn new things but if you try, try and try again you will succeed in the end. You will feel happy and pleased when you can do something new. When that new knowledge can let you work well, safely and honestly you will feel pleased with yourself and Brighter Future will be proud of you.

It will still be necessary to learn some Maths. Telugu, English and Computer Studies.as well as new subjects. You will be taught in a small group and individually. You will be given the chance to learn through doing tasks, competing with one another, and helping one another.

It is very important that you tell your teachers if you do not understand what you have been asked to do. If you do not understand something ask your teachers or fellow students to explain what you do not know. And then use your knowledge to solve the problems yourself.

The most dangerous thing you can do is to copy.

 Why is it dangerous to copy someone else’s work?  It is harmful to you because then your teacher does not know you don’t understand. He cannot know that you may need extra teaching, and extra practice, to help until you do know what you are doing.

You are now all nearly adult and you must take responsibility for you own behaviour in all things, in learning and in your everyday conduct.

The Betty Lawes Foundation very kindly agreed that they would like to give you the opportunity to have a vocation.

They are giving Brighter Future the finance for the building, equipment and the salaries of your teachers. They have put their trust in Brighter Future India and in YOU. to study well, to learn a trade. After several years of working for an employer and perhaps getting more qualifications, you may one day be able to start your own business.  

The Betty Lawes Foundation want you to do well and learn a trade that will enable you to support yourself and enable you to do well in your future life.

Please remember them in your prayers

 I wish you every success

 Ps  I used Google Translate to write this letter in Telugu and Victor printed it and gave each student a copy

Another First for Brighter Future

Report of Inauguration of the Betty Lawes Foundation Vocational Training Centre for Youth

(Empowering Youth)

at Shanti Nivas Campus on 25th June, 2016

Brighter Future Development Trust

After a long wait the great idea of Mrs Manya Norris was successfully completed. The project is to give a skill and training to our young people for their  future sustainability, especially to the non academic youth infected with HIV. With the idea of Manyaji and the help of The Betty Lawes Foundation UK the Vocational Training Centre was completed by Brighter Future Development Trust.

The Vocational Training Centre is providing skill training in three trades, Electrical, Plumbing & Mobile Phone repairing. All the equipment for the training centre was purchased and the training centre was all set for inauguration on 25th June, 2016. All  college age boys from Rainbow, Karuna Nivas, Prem Nivas and Shanti Nivas took part in the opening program.

In The function started at 4pm with a prayer by Pastor Elisha, in the presence of the Director, Mr. Srinu, Mr. Appalraju (trainers at VTC) all staff and children of Shanti Nivas Campus. Afterwards everybody at VTC and  all the children sang songs and hymns.  Pastor Elisha preached some  words from the  bible and linked those words to skill development and self sustainability of the youth.  He beautifully explained to the youth present in the gathering. Director addressed some good words to the boys those who are going to join the VTC namely that:-

• This is the idea conceived by Manya Aunty for you all. She always thinks about the children and their welfare she has done lot of hard work and research on this VTC project and convinced Liz Neville Aunty to recommend Brighter Future for this funding.
• This VTC was constructed with the help of Betty Lawes Foundation. Liz Aunty loves all children and she helps Keerthi and Yerrinaidu.
• This is for the HIV non academic boys because they are not admitted elsewhere so they can now learn skill in different trades.

The Director advised that don’t take it easy and don’t think that “director uncle built the VTC and asked us to learn. So we have to go attend the classes”. All the students should attend the classes regularly and learn the respected trades in which they are. This is a life changing opportunity to learn a trade and be able to look after yourself and your family in the future.

Every Sunday all  college boys from all homes will be coming to Shanti Nivas and learn a little about these trades (also on Saturdays in holiday time if they have no college lessons)

Director also mentioned  that if there is any skill development training centre for girls it would  be a great opportunity for them.

The Director also addressed some more words and advice to the upcoming youth and children in the campus.

After that boys from PN and SN inaugurated the Plaque of VTC in presence of Director and staff and cut the ribbon and entered into the training centre. After that second plaque was unveiled by Mr. Srinu all the children and staff entered the VTC classrooms. The Director instructed regarding the class timings with the teachers of the VTC.

Finally all the children had sweets and snacks and the meeting wound up with a Vote of Thanks by Pastor Elisha.

All the children and young boys are so thankful to Liz Neville Aunty and Manya Aunty for thinking of them and giving them a bright future through the VTC centre.

Many Thanks to Betty Lawes Foundation…..

Exam results, further education and how to find the fees!

The results of those 'national exams' that were taken by 10th year students in April are now published. Helping our young people to decide on whether to take the equivalent of our A levels, to follow alternative studies or take vocational training courses has begun. These post tenth year studies are known as '10+2' and are undertaken at an 'Intermediate College'.

The headache of finding the funding for the students, the various fees,(admission, tuition fees, exam fees and the inevitable extras), the text books, buying the college uniform, arranging transport (bikes or bus fares) all fall upon Victor  and Mary, Directors of Brighter Future India. The cost is now around £300 pounds a student for Inter College. Six students are qualified to enter first year Inter college and three more may decide that they want to enter an Intermediate College.

It is not only the new student who need funding those now entering their second year of Inter need fees again,There are 9 confirmed second year students already and we are expecting another 3 to qualify soon.

The degree students  need even more funding as they are now in their second years of study. Degree students have to pay £500 a year basic fees, with prestigious courses like Engineering costing more.

This year we have two young people who are embarking on a nursing career  where fees are similar to those for a degree.

Another new course this year is for some of our boys, who are not academically inclined, or who are behind in their studies, and hence are in classes below their chronological age, because were severely disadvantaged by being denied education as  HIV/AIDS orphans. This opportunity for a 'second chance' to get a vocational training in plumbing, electrical installation or mobile phone repairing has been given to some of our students through the generosity of an English family trust who have given Brighter Future a special grant. The trust have provided for the extension of an existing building at Shanti Nivas so that there are now three classroom/laboratories, equipped with all the necessary tools, and teachers, to accommodate up to 10 young people. There will be foundation courses in basic maths, Telugu, computer studies and English as well as the specialist subjects. The idea is to give the young people a basic level of a trade skill that will enable them to be employable despite their HIV status.

Victor is approaching all the educational institutions to ask them for a 10% discount for our children but this June the

total fees will be over £7551 !

Another dilemma is fitting the students to the college. The best colleges fill up quickly. Courses vary and the young people have to decide which subjects they want to study.

Please keep  all our students in your mind, not only those who have passed but also those who have failed, and those taking re-takes next week. It is a very traumatic and stressful time for them and they need your love and support.




  

A Visit to Visakhapnam for Senior Boys

Hemant, Brighter Future's DirectorVictor's PA, sent me an account of a post exam time picnic/outing enjoyed by senior boys from Shanti Nivas, Prem Nivas and the Rainbow Boys' Home.

Outing of College Boys 

to

Visakhapatnam, City of Destiny

Date: 06.04.2016

View of Visakhapatnam from Kailashgiri

     It is the end of  the academic year for our children with the completion of the
 Intermediate College and University level exams. All the boys revised well and 

appeared in  their respective exams. 

They could now relax so the Director decided to send all the boys for an outing.

 He discussed with the college boys and finally the plan was agreed. They decided that they would like to go to Visakhapatnam.

On 6th April all boys were ready to go for their outing. Boys from Shanti Nivas and the Rainbow Boy's Home,a total of 13 boys. The Director personally arranged a cab for them. All the boys, along with House Father, Mr Apalnaidu, started at 7.00 in the morning after breakfast. 
They planned to visit Kailashgiri first, It is a wonderful spot on the top of a hill. The view below them, of the Bay of Bengal and the entire city of Visakhapatnam,. is amazing, like wow....

The boys roamed around the hill parkland, having snacks and buying drinks, up to midday. 

Boys at Kailashgiri

They had their lunch which they had carried with them from their respective homes.

Preparing for lunch

All enjoyed the small feast of Pilihora ( typical south Indian flavoured rice with tamarind and peanuts), potato curry, boiled egg and bananas.

After lunch they left Kailashgiri to go to Vuda Park. Vuda Park is situated at sea level on the edge of the Bay of Bengal. There are lots of slides, climbing frames and  scrambling nets plus a small boating lake where pedal boats may be hired. The boys played cricket and had ice-creams to beat the scorching heat. 

On the climbing frame

Enjoying cool bites in the heat by having chocobars!!

From Vuda Park they went to Rishkonda beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Visakhapatnam district. They changed into old clothes and started to jump in the water, under the supervision of the House Father. 

After a time in the sea they played a chasing game called Kabadi. All their energy was drained so to regain energy they all had drinks and snacks  and started to play again.

Recharging their batteries!

At around 6pm they started to return home via the wonderful scenic marine drive of 35 km from Visag to Bheemali. They reached home at 7.30pm. All had enjoyed their outing after the weeks of revision for their exams.

They showed some photos of their trip to the Director and thanked him for a nice outing.