THANK YOU, LLIÇÀ D' MUNT. THANK YOU, LLIÇÀ SOLIDARI

On February 20th, Fundación Asha-Kiran and Fundación Vicky Sherpa made a presentation of their respective aid-to-development Projects before a large and participating audience in a Cultural Hall of Lliçà D´Munt (Barcelona), under the auspices of Asociación Lliçà Solidari.

Lliçà Solidari and Lliçà D´Munt City Hall have been standing behind Asha-Kiran’s Projects since the beginning. Last year, a large portion of the Oral and Dental Care Program budget came from them.

At the presentation, we had the chance to explain where the funds we have received will go, and inform the public about the work that we do for vulnerable children. Vicky Sherpa, a tireless Catalan who has labored for disadvantaged people in Nepal for over 20 years, was also there.

MANY THANKS to the town of Lliçà D´Munt for its generous and caring contribution to vulnerable people’s lives, and MANY THANKS to Lliçà Solidari Association for trusting Asha-Kiran. Your contribution is welcome and will be put to good use.

A warm hug from Fundación Asha-Kiran.

The Regional House of Valencia supports Asha-Kiran

As part of our fund-raising campaign and the dissemination of our work, Valencia’s Regional House, Barcelona Chapter, worked together with Asha-Kiran by hosting a fantastic poetry and music evening last February 23rd in which arts and heart came together. Everyone, artists and public, made evident their solidarity with, and their respect to, disfavored children in India by enthusiastically encouraging us on to continue with our work, with even more determination if can be.





The evening was a success. We had a full house and there was plenty of poetry, music and a great atmosphere. We rest assured that the children in India will benefit not only from the funds raised, but also from the vitality that all who attended the gathering showed us.



















Thank you for your cooperation and support. We hope to have more invitations such as this one.
Fundación Asha-Kiran.

INTO A NEW YEAR...

Hi, there.

We’re back in Spain once again after spending some time in Pune the past holiday season, and full of satisfaction in view of ‘our’ children’s progress.

Many of the children at the Day Care Centers, and all of the children at Yashodhara Shelter, now have the required academic level to receive traditional schooling in Indian government schools, and are attending classes daily with other children their age. After class, they take advantage of the academic support they get from the teachers at the DCC’s and the Shelter, in order to cope with their schoolwork. All of them were completely at ease in our company, approaching us openly and uninhibitedly, showering us with caresses and smiles, and showing great curiosity and participation in the activities that we had for them.

Since the middle of October/08 to the middle of January/09, there have been several initiatives launched from Spain aimed at having a positive impact on our beneficiaries’ lives.

Itzíar Onatibia, our Volunteer dentist, left for Pune in October to check and treat the children’s and their relatives’ mouths and teeth. Not an easy task, since working conditions there often put her patience to the test. Nevertheless, all obstacles – from dental material that ‘disappeared’ from one day to the next, frequent power outages, obsolete premises and equipment (which we couldn’t bring over from Spain), to patients who didn’t always show up for their appointments – were overcome during the three months that Itzíar worked with true dedication, and during which she earned the friendship and gratitude of the people she treated.

Though the Oral and Dental Care Campaign 2008 was a success and another intervention in this area won’t be necessary in the near future, we plan to go on with dental treatments. In fact, a few of the children will need to have braces put in.

Montse Álvarez, our technical Project Coordinator, was in Pune from October to December to monitor and evaluate our Projects on the spot – an important task that adds credibility and professionalism to our work.

From December 20th on, Ane Mujika, also from Spain, gave pottery and painting workshops to the children, which lasted done week each. The children were delighted to explore new possibilities in arts and crafts, and became quite proficient with the new techniques after a few days.

More recently, Tritoma S.L. from Madrid donated a much needed van to Asha-Kiran Shelters Foundation. With it, we’ll be able to run countless errands for which we formerly depended on public transportation in Pune, so we are very thankful for their generosity.

Finally, Asha-Kiran participated in two flea markets in Spain – one in Arroyo de la Miel, Málaga, and the other one in Plaza de Lavapiés, Madrid. They both lasted a month, and the funds collected from the sales of Indian articles went to our Projects, as always. MANY THANKS to all the Volunteers who backed us up in these endeavors, as well as to those who came to India to assist our children in taking new steps in their development process.

We urge you to take regular tours of our blog and our website in order to be informed of our ‘whereabouts’. We wish you the best in the coming year and are delighted to have your presence and support.

Until soon,

Fundación Asha-Kiran

FUNDACIÓN ASHA-KIRAN’S 2009 CALENDAR

Dear friend,
As one more initiative in the awareness-raising and fund-raising work that Fundación Asha-Kiran carries out in order to implement its Projects in favor of vulnerable children, and after last year’s sales success of the 2008 Calendar, the 2009 Calendar is now available to the public.

With a small donation of 5 Euros, you can help disfavored children in India have access to the education, shelter, nourishment and affection that they deserve.

If you wish to pitch in with this endeavor, you may do so by purchasing the 2009 Calendar for yourself or as a gift to family or friends – by giving a socially caring gift at the end of the year. You can also help us by placing a bigger order and being in charge of selling Calendars as a Volunteer.

You may place your order by calling
(0034) 913 920 688
or by sending an e-mail to
fundacion@asha-kiran.org.es

We will ship your order right away. You may also ask for additional information. Asha-Kiran is in need of ‘hands and minds’ – of your hands and mind.

Lend us a hand! You are invited to become actively involved in Fundación Asha-Kiran’s work.

PROJECT REVIEW

Hi,
We’re back after spending two months in India. Visiting our existing Projects and the children who benefit from them is a unique experience. As I have often said, in Spain we have to work hard in order to respond in an adequate manner to all the issues that make possible the aid-to-development labor that we are carrying out. We sometimes complain because of ‘all that we have to do’, but when we get to India and come in touch with the beneficiaries of our work, our motivation gains new momentum and we come back full of energy for what lies ahead.

Thus, in our last visit we saw that everything is going according to plan and at a good pace. Both Day Care Centers are operating smoothly. A great job is being done in regard to the education process of the children who come on a daily basis. Their attendance is regular and the fruits of our labor become ever more apparent. They are happy to come, and there is a stable school-like atmosphere at the CFCs. At Yashodhara, our rented house is at full capacity since we have already taken in 20 children, 12 girls and 8 boys. They all go to school, and when asked if they are happy, they answer “Yes, because we go to school”. It is a real treat to visit Yashodhara – its atmosphere is light, refreshing and joyful. The children participate in activities other than going to class, and they have a teacher who helps them out with their homework when they come home from school. We are truly satisfied with the work that our staff (teachers, social workers, cooks, etc.) is carrying out at Yashodhara. There are monthly meetings between the children and their relatives, and it’s lovely to see the children tell them about their day-to-day experiences.

New Projects are under study. We remind you that you can see the monthly unfolding of our Projects at our website, in the monthly reports section (http://www.asha-kiran.es/informes.php).On October 17th, Montse, our Projects expert, is travelling to Pune in order to monitor and evaluate our projects. Itzíar, the dentist who will be carrying out the Dental and Oral Care Campaign 2008, will be travelling with her. We will be able to launch this Program, into which a lot of energy has gone, thanks to all those who donated dental supplies and cash. For two months, Itzíar will be assessing and giving treatment to the children we care for and to their communities. This way, we continue with the process of giving global care to vulnerable children. The premises for said Dental Program have been generously lent to us by a local NGO so that we may have enough space, dental equipment and supplies.We will keep you informed of its unfolding. Please visit our website – which will soon be available in English – to get detailed information. Lastly, I’d like to mention that a team from Spanish Television (TVE) came to Pune in July, where they got a lot of footage for a documentary on our Projects. We will be sending a copy of it to all of our sponsors, donors and collaborators in December, together with the 2009 calendar. Two Spanish groups who went on guided trips of India with Uttam also ‘visited’ us in August and September.

Thank you for being there.

A hug, Fundación Asha-Kiran.

ASHA-KIRAN in BOLLYMADRID 2008

On June 6th, 7th and 8th, over 30.000 people gathered in Lavapiés, an inner Madrid area, to take part in BollyMadrid 2008, the first Indian-culture and Bollywood festival in the Spanish capital.

The official figures are as follows: over 100 hours of cultural programs scheduling in three separate town squares, 42 hours of state-of-the-art film showings on Lavapiés’ buildings’ walls, 32 dancers of six different varieties of Indian dances, three European film premieres, seven children’s workshops, dance classes, a photography exhibit, countless new sponsors for NGO’s, 20-meter queues at the one-euro food stands and record sales at the Indian bazaar and food shops.

For Fundación Asha-Kiran, it was a time for intense sharing where, once more, we verified the vitality that gives our work momentum. Throughout the weekend, many volunteers made it possible for the colors that accompany us to shine through in true fashion throughout the various activities of the fair in which we took part: an Indian handicrafts bazaar where we sold almost everything we had; a marquee-jaima where we made the public aware of who we are and what our work in India consists in, and to which came many people who wished to cooperate; several workshops for children and an Indian dance performance by our co-worker Ester Rodríguez from Girona.

We wish to thank all of those who made this weekend rich in experiences and cooperation. Thank you.

The fair took place just a year after the starting of Asha-Kiran Shelters Foundation in India (the counterpart of A-K in Spain) and our work there – our driving force. Looking back, we see with great joy how much can be accomplished in a short period of time in aid-to-development work for the people who need it. As always, we trust that we will continue to count on the support of the people who already help us, and that, little by little, more hands and hearts will contribute to the attainment of the goals we set for ourselves.

You are again invited to come close to India’s disadvantaged children through Fundación Asha-Kiran. There is enough work to go around. Please get in touch with us to get to know the ways in which you may cooperate and join our Vitality.

Hugs and until soon,

Uttam Módenes, Fundación A-K.

Dental and Oral Care Program in Pune. India

Fundación Asha-Kiran, wishing to give global care to the children who attend our Day Care Centers and the children who live at the Yashodhara Shelter Home in Pune, is planning new strategies and Projects.

The Dental and Oral Care Program is one of the strategies that sets out from a context of the defense of children’s rights as set forth in the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (1989), just as the rest of our interventions do. This Project will be carried out during two months – from October 20 to December 20, 2008 – by a volunteer dentist (Itziar Oñatibia, from Urretxu, Gipuzkoa, Spain). Our projections are that we will be able to give dental care to at least 120 children between the ages of 3 and 18.

We are aware that the majority of dental problems could be prevented by education, regular check-ups and proper hygiene habits. It is of utmost importance to raise awareness among adults and children about the relevance of having a healthy mouth. Other lacks, aches and illnesses that are sometimes caused or worsened by oral/dental problems can also be prevented by good oral hygiene.

OBJECTIVES:

General objectives

To improve the health of the street children that Fundación Asha-Kiran cares for
in Pune.

To raise the awareness of children and parents alike about the importance of having proper oral hygiene and healthy habits in order to stay in good health.

To cover the needs of all of the Children who are presently attending our Day Care Centers and those who live at Yashodhara Shelter Home.

Specific Objectives

To treat the teeth of all the Children from the Day Care Centers and Yashodhara Shelter Home.

To improve the children’s habits in regard to dental, gum and overall oral care.

To provide children from the CFC’s and the Yashodhara Shelter Home with the necessary supplies for them to continue to take proper care of their mouth and stay in good health.

To raise their awareness concerning unhealthy habits such as smoking, drinking, or taking substances which have a detrimental effect on their teeth and overall development.

To lessen the amount of caries, infections and other common childhood dental ailments.To reduce the fear that children and their families have of dentists and physicians in general.

In order to carry out our Project, we need to secure the necessary dental equipment and supplies. To this end, we urge you to give us your support either by contacting your own dentist or acquaintances, or through a cash donation.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to receive further information and to get to know the ways in which you may cooperate with us and be part of this undertaking. As you know, our number is 902 181 245.

Together, we can ‘draw smiles’ on the faces of those in need.

We are awaiting you. Warm regards from
Fundación Asha-Kiran.