From the Director’s Heart…
Month of April sets up fresh targets for us in the new fi-nancial year. New academic year too begins with it with new admissions in the schools. Children after their final exams move into new classes and try to adjust them-selves into a new settings with new classrooms, new books, new friends, new teachers etc. A feeling of a new beginning gives a lot of joy to the children.
Ashalayam has a similar experience. A pond has been filled therefore a new space is ready to cultivate vegetables. With the roofing done, two small rec-reational halls are ready for children to play. There are five new boys who have got admission in the school. They have brought in a lot of joy and hap-piness in the life of Ashalayam. Of the five three are very young and so very different from each other: one is fat, bold and fearless, another very thin and talkative and the third is very quiet and introvert.
Some of these children are easy to handle but a few have a very difficult character. One of these new ones has given me a lot of thought to learn from. He is a very good critique. He observes things very fast and gives a good analysis of what has happened. But he is also very fast in criticising others and passing judgements as a result no one wants to be his friend.
The lesson is that if we want to be happy in life we need to close our eyes to few things. We need to bypass some of the defects in our friends and dear ones. A true friend in life is very important to enjoy life, a friend who does not bother about the limitations and appreciates good qualities and is ready to defend at all cost. Sometimes we need to forget about being perfect and learn to live together and appreciate one another. There is more joy in shar-ing and living together. The moment we try to avoid others because we are better than the others we become the loner and life becomes miserable. With new experiences and the old let us continue to march on to fulfil our dreams. God bless you.
Fr. Edward Sacrawat – Director
TEA WITH MR. MANISH AND HIS FAMILY
The children and staff of Ashalayam Lucknow had a privilege to have tea with Mr. Manish Deviwedi and his family on 3rd April, 2016 at his residence. The treat was offered for children to celebrate holi .
The good will of Mr. Manish and his family brought festivity for children later. The children felt and experienced welcomed and served as guests. It was really a heart touching gesture for the children .
The family of Asha-layam keeps on record the generosity and warmth of the family.
DR. JITENDER CHATURWEDI &DHRU KUMAR, FROM WCD & NCPCR AT DBAL
From Ministry of Women and Child Devel-opment, Dr. Jitender Chaturwedi and Dhrva Kumar, the representatives of WCD & NCPCR came to Ashalayam on 6th and 7th April, 2016. They had come to study and enquire about vari-ous documents and requirements of a children’s home. After vigilant observation of documenta-tions they asked if other home in-charges could be brought in to show how a children’s home should be kept. DBAL continues to strive to be-come more homely for children in need of care and protection.
KANPUR TAILORING CENTRE REACHES ANOTHER MILE
The tailoring centre Kanpur trained and provided with skills to another 30 marginalized girls. They completed their course on 15th April, 2016. Presently, the girls were engaged in doing their practi-cal and trying to exhibit their tal-ents. Soon they would be given cer-tificates and sent out as skilled and trained persons of society continue to learn, earn and flourish.
ENGLISH VOCABULARY COMPETITION
On 9th April, 2016, Gero, Rose and Cl. Bimal conducted the English vocabulary competition for the children 8thchildren studying in classes 8th—11th. The children had put in a lot of effort to learn maximum vocabularies. Children had a learning and mental gymnastic ex-perience of being at competition.
DENTAL CHECK UP FOR CHILDREN
Don Bosco Ashalayam Lucknow had organized camp for dental check up for all the children on 11th April, 2016. A special consultation was carried out mainly to treat dental problems of children and educate them regarding dental issues and precautions. Dr. Vijay, the dentist met the children one by one and did examination of their teeth and accordingly recom-mended them the remedy.
ROOFING OF OPEN SPACE
To make DBAL more spacious and children friendly home, Fr. Edward Sacrawat, the director planned to do the roof covering of two idly open squares in the building. During rainy season water used to flood in veranda, children’s dormitory and other rooms and in summer there used to be direct heat of sun and winter used bring in cold breeze. Now the squares will be used as recreational halls. The staff and children of DBAL are grateful to all well wishers and sponsors for their support and love.
B-ED STUDENTS AMONG AND WITH THE CHILDREN
The B-Ed students from Aryavart Institute Of Higher Educa-tion, Lucknow came to Don Bosco Ashalayam Lucknow on 17th April, 2016 in the morning . They organ-ized dance, singing and general knowledge competitions. The chil-dren were seen enthusiastic and exu-berant in taking part in all the day’s activities. The campus of DBAL was enthralled with the presence of B-Ed students and lecturers.
WORKSHOP ON “THE VOICE OF YOUNG INDIANS GLOBALLY”
In coordination with the ‘Ehsaas’, the Childline Vikas Nagar Lucknow, DBAL organized one day workshop on “The Voice of Young In-dians Globally” on 23th April, 2016. The inputs were basically about the bad touch and good touch that a child gets in his/ her life. The children were displayed some of the techniques to defend themselves and escape from the intimidators. The workshop sensitized the young minds with the challenges of present era.
NEW MEMBERS OF DBAL ENTER INTO NEW PHASE OF LIFE
I n April, 2016 the five new members of Don Bosco Ashalayam Lucknow kicked off new journey in their lives. They got admission in St. Peter’s Inter College, Mohanlalganj. Asha-layam wishes them all the best for making a new beginning and taking a bold step to plunge into mainstream life.
RALLY AGAINST CHILD ABUSE
A rally was conducted by the Lucknow Childline at Hazrathganj. Ashalayam children participated in it with much vig-our and enthusiasm. They shouted slogans to create an atmosphere which is free from child abuse. They demanded their rights for education, entertainment and freedom. They asked for their “achche din” from the people of Lucknow.