https://shantipurifriends.org/newsletter/volume1.pdf
Shantipuri Friends Foundation News
The Newsletter Blog for SFF
Friday, June 22, 2012
Shantipuri's 2012 Newsletter
https://shantipurifriends.org/newsletter/volume1.pdf
Monday, November 16, 2009
Christmas Letter from Puri
HAPPY CHRISTMAS & BLESSED NEW YEAR 2010
This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. (Luke 1.12)
Dear Giorgio [Swami Nirvanananda] and Shanti Onlus Friends -- Sponsors of our children of Karunalaya Leprosy Care Center /Beatrix School,
Happy Christmas and Blessed New Year 2010. I join our children to wish you the joy of Christmas. We join you to celebrate Christmas with joy and gratitude to God and to you.
Children of Karunalaya/Beatrix School
This year there are 184 children from Karunalaya Leprosy Care Center studying from kindergarten to university levels. Among these 94 are studying in Beatrix School, 47 in various High Schools and 43 in colleges. They are aged 5 to 21. We have a good team of people closely accompanying them. Children/students benefiting from Shanti Onlus include a number children from very poor families in our neighborhood.
Special Assistance and Attention
Health care and emotional support are crucial for our children as many of them come from very difficult backgrounds. I regularly visit their homes and keep in touch with their guardians. Special attention is given to extracurricular activities. Regular classes are offered in Yoga, Teak wan do, music and dance. Our computer center provides them with an opportunity to learn the basics of computer.
Thanks to Giorgio and Shanti Onlus Team
Our heart felt thanks to Giorgio, Sylvia and all of you who are partners with in taking care of the leprosy affected people and their children. Dear Giorgio, children look up to you as Sanyasi and grandpa. The concern and the affection with which you have taken care of them have made them feel loved and wanted. On behalf of Fr. Marian and all your Beatrix School Children, my sincere appreciation and thanks to you and each of our sponsor friends who are part of your team and our mission. Our prayers for your continued wellbeing.
3rd Death Anniversary of Fr. Marian
Saintly Marian's third death anniversary was observed on the 30th of April with a peace meeting. People from all walks of life and religions participated in it. Our Archbishop, the Chief priest of Sree Jagannath temple, SVD provinical superior from Poland and Orissa, twenty people from Poland and Muni Baba were among the dignitaries present on the occasion.
It has been a felt need and a long cherished dream for us to raise Beatrix School to the level of a High School adding classes VIII to X. Giorgio, with your encouragement and support we dare to take this major step. We believe it will be a great service to our people. Trusting in the providence and the accompaniment of Fr. Marin and all of you we plan to take this important step in the coming school year, starting with class VIII. Thanks for being with us.
Hope for the Future:
Dear Shanti Onlus friends, with your help our/your children see a star of hope and they are marching ahead. They will have a brighter future thanks to your vision, thoughtfulness and generous contribution. We appreciate your involvement in making lives of the Children of our leprosy patients in Karunalaya/Beatrix School happier and brighter. We wish you and your dear ones the peace and joy of the Divine Babe. May the star of Bethlehem always lead you to Peace and Harmony!
Blessings of Peace and Joy,
P. Kurian, SVD
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Upcoming Events - November & December 2009
The Willows Yoga,
The Schedule:
Kirtan w/ Komala 1:00 - 2:00
Sequoia
Prem Darshan &
Haresh Gobin 4:30 - 6:00
Shantipuri Friends Foundation
Presentation & Video 6:00 - 6:30
Neelima 6:30 - 8:00
BOLO! 8:00 - 9:30
Arati 9:30 - 10:00
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
CHARITY BENEFIT CLASSICAL PIANO CONCERT
Monday, December 28 -- 7 PM
Seaside Center for Spiritual Living, 1613 Lake Dr, Encinitas
Danae and Kiveli Doerken are two child prodigy piano virtuosos who just happen to be sisters. Residing in Germany, they play many concerts and recitals there and elsewhere throughout the world, both individually and together.
It is our joy to present DANAE and KAVILI DOERKEN in Concert at the Seaside Center for Spiritual Living in Encinitas on Monday evening, December 28 at 7:00 PM. There is no admission charge for this event. Your generous donations are gratefully appreciated. All profits support the work of the SHANTIPURI FRIENDS FOUNDATION.
Danae and Kiveli will be playing works of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Rachmaninoff during their Concert in Encinitas. Educational introductions will be provided for each piece to enhance understanding and appreciation.
More Information:
DANAE, age 18, has won many prizes and awards. From 1998 to 2009, she received 21 first prizes at “Jugend Musiziert”, the “International Steinway Competition” and the “International Grotrian Steinweg Competition”, primarily as a soloist, but also for chamber music. DANAE has often performed with famous artists… In May 2007 she played for Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State of the USA, at Chateau Sanssouci in Potsdam. In September 2007, she played for the Dalai Lama. In September 2008 she contributed to the recording of the annual CD of the “Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben.” DANAE has been chosen to participate in the concert series “Best of NRW” and is going to give 11 recitals as a soloist in major cities of the German state of North Rhine Westfalia in 2010.
KIVELI, who is 14, won a prize at the “International Steinway Competition” in Hamburg as the youngest participant at the age of 5, and won the first prize of the “International Grotrian Steinweg Competition” for five times in a row, lastly in 2009. At the age of eight years old, she performed in her first concert with orchestra. KIVELI has played with many orchestras throughout Germany and has given solo concerts in Germany, France, Austria, Liechtenstein, Italy and Greece. KIVELI was selected for a concert tour to Chicago, USA, by the Grotrian Steinweg Foundation in November 2007. She played for the Dalai Lama in the Muensterhalle in Muenster, Germany in 2007. In July 2009, she was invited to play in Washington D.C. at the occasion of the visit of the German chancellor Angela Merkel. Upon invitation of the Chinese Cultural Attaché, KIVELI participated in a concert tour to Guangzhou, China in October 2008. She was invited to the “Marler Debut” and played for the Bayer Cultural Department in Wuppertal and Leverkusen in January 2009.
Future Projects for 2010
A DREAM
Fr. Marian was a man who dared to dream and so we take courage to dream with him. The parents of our children and we are keenly interested in raising our present school to the level of a High school named after Fr. Marian – ‘Father Marian Memorial High School’. It would be a three year project. We have not dared to venture into it only because of the large amount of money needed and which we do not have. Our proposal is to raise the present school to a High School by adding classes 8, 9 and 10. Virtually it will be a new school.
Background
Fr. Marian started Beatrix School in 1982 for the children of the leprosy patients as they could not get admission in other schools. Then it was a school of the segregated children of the leprosy patients. Now it has become a center of integration between leprosy affected people and the rest of the society. The school is known for its good academic standard and discipline.
At present the school is up to class VII. Besides, there are two classes of Kindergarten. More than 200 of the 600 children come from the leprosy affected families. Every year am average of 60 students pass class VII and struggle to find admission in high schools. These schools are very poor academically and in discipline.
Requirements
Building: We need to construct buildings to house it. We will be able to construct the buildings in the available land attached to Beatrix school. The minimum space requirements for a High school are: 3 class rooms, a Staff room, an Office room, a Visitors’ room, Science lab, Library, two store rooms and Toilets. This will be approximately about 5900 square foot area. At the present costs of construction per square foot (INR 1000/-) approximately it will cost us INR. 59,00000/- (US $125,500).
Equipments and general maintenance: We need furniture and office equipments like computer, facilities for sports & games, extracurricular activities and library- cum-Lab worth about INR. 710000/- (US $15,000).
Staff and salaries: We will need an additional staff of six teachers, one manager (secretary) one clerk, one peon and a maintenance person. Their Salaries per year would be approximately INR. 996000/- (US $21,200).
The total capital investment amounts to INR 66,10000/- (US $140,500). If about one third of this and one year’s salaries (US $68,000) are available and have hope of raising the rest gradually, we can venture into this project. If this is possible our wish is to start with class 8 in year 2010.
I know I am presenting a dream, but a dream of Fr. Marian and many children, good many of them children of the leprosy affected families. I hope you and many other friends of Fr. Marian will join us to realize this dream.
Fr. Kurian, SVD
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
2009 Newsletter - November
We are happy to report that 95% of the funds raised this year have been sent to India to support the many projects -- in particular, the focus in both Omkareshwar and in Puri is to finish construction of two "dream schools". (More information about both of these projects is provided in following posts.) The other 5% is being used to fuel and sustain the organization's efforts here: venue rental, recording and CD production, and general expenses. (Be on the lookout for Swami Nirvanananda's newest CD: "Live in Encinitas 2009" -- the beautifully-mastered recording of his July 26 kirtan at Seaside Center for Spiritual Living. It will be offered along with our current selection of CDs and books online at www.shantipurifriends.org when it becomes available. But if you can't wait, you may preorder by sending a request to info@shantipurifriends.org.) We are also happy to report that from Swami Nirvanananda's US visit, 41 children now have you as sponsors. (!) And 14 of you have renewed previous sponsorships. Thank you!
And she expressed such admiration and gratitude for Nirvananandaji for the amazing work he has done over the years for so many. It takes so little on our part to do so much; and our Swamis are making it all possible.
+ Repairing of the old house of Father Marian
We bought:
+ 6 new Rikshaws [See photos]
+ 60 bikes for the students who need to go to higher classes
+ Salaries for 3 teachers of the Beatrix School
+ 12 sewing machines
- A new Middle School for the higher grades with three classrooms, science lab and open meeting hall.
- A new woodworking shop where students are training to eventually build harmoniums, under the guidance of Thomas from Germany.
+ A new youth group has been established in Omkareshwar dedicated to environmental consciousness and keeping the area of Omkareshwar clean. They have had several full-scale cleanup projects in the area, and several drives to instill the idea of a clean environment in the local villager’s minds. They have planted trees and installed waste receptacles all around the island of Omkareshwar. The local youth take part in these projects with great enthusiasm.
+ The ashram has founded a new and very important group in the village for the empowerment of women. This group, called Matri Shakti (The Power of Divine Mother) meets monthly. The ladies discuss their problems and ideas, sing bhajans and the monks of the ashram give a talk and answer questions. In addition to the monthly meeting, there are daily training classes at the ashram after school hours for the ladies to learn computer skills, handicrafts and various vocational skills for the betterment of their lives.