Dear Friends
Loving Greetings from Sr.Lilly Chirayath
First and foremost, we wish you a bright New Year and a happy Easter. May the risen Lord grant us peace, joy and prosperity throughout this Year.
New year celebration
All members of Holy Family Asha Niwas dressed colorfully and welcomed New Year with a prayer service and indulge in fun filled activities such as singing, playing games, dancing, and good party. All the children and staff greeted and wished each other Happy New Year. Exchanging messages, greeting cards and gifts are part and parcel of the New Year celebration.
The age-old tradition of planning new resolutions for the coming year was a common sight of our center. A few of the most popular resolutions include keeping the disciplined life, developing good habits, and working hard and love one another.
All the children and staff attended the thanks giving mass and wished New Year .On the occasion of New Year we conducted sports competition for the children and staff .Gifts were distributed to winners.
New gifts for our center:
Sanjana 8 years old and is from a very poor family; she was born and brought up at Gumla in Jharkhand. Her Father died due to heart attack and mother is unable to take care of her. Sanjana is blessed with special power of intelligence and talents. Sisters gave her special coaching and admitted in 3rd standard .She is started to go to school with other children .She is happy and adjusted with place and persons.
Arpita Saha and Preeti Saha are real sisters. Their father is expired few years before .They are born and brought in Delhi and they are from very poor family .Mother is very sick & weak and not able to take care of these children.
Sr.Amla M.C superior of missionaries of charity at Old Delhi requested to Sr.Lilly Chirayath to admit them in to Holy Family Asha Niwas . Arpita is admitted in to 3rd standard and Preeti is admitted to 2nd standard. Both of them are very intelligent and happy children .
Birthdays Celebration:
Every month we celebrate children’s birthday by cutting the cake and having a party. We offered our prayers and blessing on their birthdays and wished with sweets and gifts. It is a time to give a special attention to the children who celebrate their birthdays.
We have assured that every child has got a birthday to celebrate which make them feel important and a member of our family. Some of our friends and their families came and celebrated their children’s birthday and gave food and snacks to our children.
Benefactors and Visitors:
His Excellency Archbishop Salvatore Pinocchio the Apostolic nuncio of India invited our children and staff to Vatican embassy on 13th Jan 2013 and offered Holy Eucharistic for us. With full happiness and joy we the sisters and children of both house visited his Excellency and enjoyed with him and spend some time with him.
He arranged a music programme of Austrian team on our visit to his place. One of our girls gave thanks giving for the Nuncios and his parihsnears. Our Excellency was very happy to see our children and being with them. Children presented a beautiful programme and entertained all the guest who were presented there. Children prepared Hymns for the holy Eucharist.
All the inmates of the center were blessed with his blessings and message. His Excellency has appreciated the services which we are rendering to these little ones. After holy Mass Nuncio gave donation to Sr.Lilly Chirayath the director which was collected from the parihsnears. Delicious food was served for all of us.
30 Africans including their pastor came on Easter day and they gave a talk to our children about Risen Christ and sang for our children. Children also sang and danced for them. They brought many items of food materials which was collected from each family.
They were very happy to see our children and thanked us for taking care of these orphans. They enjoyed with our children and spend half day with them. They provided cool drinks and biscuits and sweets to our children.
Captain Thomas and his wife Bindu came and gave blankets for our children and spend time with our children.
Women’s group from Dwarka came to our center to celebrate women’s day with cake, juice, cool drinks and sweets .They gave the message of the strength and possession of women in the society.
Our Benefactor Theresa from Germany visited our children and spends time with our them and gave sweets and cool drinks.
Sr.Lilly Chirayath and Sr.Anupa Paul went to meet Arch Bishope of Syro Malabar Rite Mar.Kuriakose Bharni kulangra who is newly elected bishop and had lunch with them.
20 women from Rohini came to meet our children and gave lunch for our children.
We extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to our benefactors namely I.S.A. ONLUS Italy who has sponsored many of children. I also thank all the sponsor families who are helping our children. Special thanks to C.N.E.W.A of Ernakulam – Kerala and Mr.Jean Paul Parisod and Unati Foundation.
Many other people helped us with their contributions when celebrating their birthdays and other joyous occasions with us. I cannot forget all our great supporters who are continuing their financial assistance, especially Karen Kelley for her timely help, and Ambassador Sky Chef for their weekly prepared food, without which we could not have survived.
Celebrations- Lodi :
Lodi is the Punjabis’ cultural celebration on the eve of winter solstice celebrated on the 13th day of January. Children and staff gathered round the bonfires, throw sweets, puffed rice and popcorn into the flames, song popular songs and exchanged greetings.
On 13 January 2013, we celebrated the festival of Lodi. Started with prayer at night, we made a bonfire and children sang and danced around it and enjoyed the night.
Sister explained the meaning of the festival to the children. Everyone was served peanuts, chips and sweets etc. Wishing a very happy Lodi. May the Lodi fire burns all the moments of sadness and brings warmth of joy, happiness and love. With this Lodi bonfire – may your life be enlightened forever!
Republic Day:
The Republic day celebration began on 26th January with much fun and feelings of patriotism was extolled by the children through cultural activities, singing and dancing. Sports were also a part of the celebration and gifts were awarded to the winners. Celebrations concluded with distribution of sweets and grand Lunch.
Holi :
All the children and staff of our center had good celebration on 27th March the day of Holi Festival. Varieties of color were distributed for each child and enjoyed the festival in its meaning. Sister gave a brief introduction about Holi . The children sprayed with colors (gulal) and played. And everybody got good food.
Easter:
Easter is the very big fest of Christians. Easter celebration started with midnight mass where all the children and sisters prayed together thanking the Lord the Father for giving us eternal life through his son who rose from the dead.
The celebration continued with special delicious lunch with Easter egg and tea party. On Good Friday we conducted way of the cross along with all our children in our compound. That was the touching prayers for each one of us.
Outreach Program:
Two groups of Students from Loreto School made an exposure visit to our center on 30th January 2013 and 2nd February 2013 for the outreach programme to Najafgarh. 15 Engineer students came to Mahavir Enclave and taught mathematics and science. Also they served delicious food to our children. Students learned the difference between the child one who is in the street and the changes in the behavior and attitudes after reaching to this center.
Children welcomed them to our organization and interacted with each group. Both groups learned many thing through their group activities and personal interview. Sister gave brief history about our institution and its objectives, activities and functions.
Children showed their talents and self confidence through the cultural items.12th class students from St. Francis School, Janakpuri came to Mahavir Enclave and taught them subject wise, made drawing and painting competition, played with our children badminton and they served food for all of them .
CROMA Communication Festival Day:
Our children presented some of the items in the annual day celebration of Croma Communication Company at Rajouri Garden; New Delhi. Children from both centers participated in all the programmes. Children were given proper practice by the sisters and put up the items .They received a trophy and gifts in the name of their company.
St.Gerogary‘s youth programme:
They invited our children to their center, Dwarka and took them by their bus. First they served lunch followed by introduction of the both groups. They presented a skit play on Jesus’ birth and had carol singing. Our children also danced and sang. Father and Sr.Lilly Chirayath gave an inspiring talk to the groups.
They gave personal gifts to each child and also other gifts and sweets. We are very grateful to Gregorian church authorities for making this programme for our children.
Jain community invited our children from both centers and took by their bus and arranged a beautiful programme at Janakpuri in their community center. They served food and cool drinks and conducted a singing competition and distributed gifts to all the children .Also gave beautiful blankets to our center.
Picnic:
We are thankful to Mrs. Ruzka Keus from Holand who took interest and spend time with our children. She arranged one day picnic to Indian Railway Museum on 20th Jan 2013. It was great privilege for us to have her personal presence among us on the day of our picnic. This day was memorable day in the life of our children and staff and enjoyed the outing. Sr.Lilly Chirayath the director, Sr.Suja & Sr.Asrita also are accompanied with them.
Education Trip:
Mrs. Scott prepared a study tour for whom she takes class to different vocational training centers in Delhi and also gave an opportunity to visit some of the historical places in Delhi. It was one day trip and children learned something from this trip. Thank you so much Mrs.Scott for your love and support to our children .
All the children promoted to the next classes with good result . Anjeli ,Nancy and Manju stood first in the class. Fulkumari, Diksha and Pooja stood second in the class.Congratulations to all the children .
Neha and Namita finished their 12th class and Waiting for their further studies. Anjeli, Nancy & Swapan those who are studying in the KG section received many prizes (Trophies) for study, dance and singing.
Seminar on Voice of children:
A team of Don Bosco Animation and Research Kendra headed by Fr.Jose Arimpoor ,SDB conducted three days workshop from 25-27 January 2013 at Najafgarh to create a self awareness on oneself and spread the movement of love. It is a love movement where we believe “another world is possible “.A world of love, concern and respect for one another.
Aim of the seminar is ”A passage to wholeness’’ Main objective of this seminar is to understand the brokenness of the child or children from the perspective of early life (family),street life and Agency (new home ). Fr.Jose and his team were the facilitators to do this movement among the children.
Other News:
Two of our children namely Miss. Shoba & Miss. Priyanka were selected in the state level Kabadi competition. They had gone to Maharashtra for the games. Mary appeared a scholarship examination from her school. We took our children to Government Hospital for their regular medical checkup. Senior girls of our center have made voter ID. One of our girls teeth operation was success able with 5 sitting
About Holy Family Asha Niwas
Holy Family Asha Niwas is an orphanage for street girls in Delhi: little girls, who are abandoned and run away or children of commercial sex workers wandering in railway stations and streets, eating from dustbins and leftovers from travelers. They are picked up by social workers and are referred to a safe and enriching shelter at Asha Niwas.
In 2001, the Sisters of the Holy Family congregation started to take care of 5 children at Mahavir Enclave, providing them with food, shelter, health care, education, protection and rehabilitation. The number of children in the orphanage has grown steadily.
There are altogether 85 girls today accommodated in two campuses – Mahavir Enclave and Najafgarh Holy Family Ashaniwas. Holy Family Ashaniwas Orphanage is registered in Delhi as a Charitable Organization (#S43701 of 2002). The organization is managed by Sister Lilly Chirayath (Director) with her staff and administered by a Board of Governors.
A certified accountant provides administrative, legal and auditing assistance. The revenues come from charitable contributions from generous individuals and the divine providence has not failed us so far. Asha Niwas needs your support and appreciate your help. You may help us by:-
• Volunteer your love, your time and your skills to take care of the children with specific activities, outings, hygiene and health education and giving coaching in English, other subjects and computer work. We also need your help in office work.
• Donate in kind or cash to equip our homes, especially our new house at Najafgarh.
Additional information is available on request. Please do not hesitate to contact us:
Sister Lilly Chirayath C.H.F (Director)
Holy Family Asha Niwas,RZ 74 D, Gali No : 6, Mahavir Enclave, Dabri – Palam Road, New Delhi,
Contact Number : Mbl : 9811379133, 011 – 25053120.
Email: hfashaniwasdelhi@rediffmail.com
N.B. Each of you can open our website at any time. It is www.holyfamilyashaniwas.com
Thanks Once again we thank each of you for all the support you are providing to make our children happy. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the benefactors & volunteers who help us in shaping their future. We expect your continuous support and prayers in the future. We remember you all in our prayers, and may the Almighty God bless you in all your endeavors and bring every success in your life and career. Sister Lilly Chirayath, Staff and children of Holy Family Ashaniwas, New Delhi.