21 Days until we head to India for Women's SHINE Conference Kotdwara

This team photo was taken just this week. The Thomas Family and 6 other Aussies will be heading to Kotdwara, North India in just three weeks time, to present the first ever Women's Shine Conference. This has been a vision of 'Project Help India' for a number of years and we can't quite believe that it is about to become a reality. At times we have wondered if we have bitten off a little more than we can chew, but hey, we can't turn back now, so we are positive and confident that women's lives will be changed and empowered ...through this we hope to see stronger lives, stronger families, stronger communities and a stronger India.

Thank you for your interest, please read on to learn about all we are doing. If you could make a donation to support our work, we would really appreciate this. The majority of our delegates are women who live in slums and in poverty. None of these women will have ever attended an event like this. They can't afford to pay, so we are not charging them. We want to bless them and give them an experience they will never forget. 

In fact the town of Kotdwara (population 150 000) has never experienced the likes of this. We are pioneers, so please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Spread the word, if you might know any Aussies who might be passionate about human rights and human justice and who might be stirred to make a donation to this worthwhile cause (we need some help as it's costing more than we earlier anticipated), forward this email.

How you can help

BSB: 812-170

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 100122703 

ACCOUNT NAME: RM & DJ Thomas INDIA

Please write your name and WOMEN'S SHINE in the reference section so we can thank you.

http://projecthelpindia.co/

Young Women's Technology Classes

Our young women's technology classes are held at our City Centre in the heart of Kotdwara. Each week, young women from some of the slums attend these afternoon classes. The girls are trained for 6 months in basic keyboard and Microsoft programs. By attending these classes they also receive the wonderful opportunity for friendship and personal counselling. Daisy Samuel runs these classes. The main goal of these classes is to equip the girls with skills which will give them a very good head-start to apply for jobs, along with experiences that provide a very tangible sense of purpose and hope for the future. These classes certainly go a long way in helping to break the cycle of poverty of the girls' circumstances.

We see much success with this program and it is always so lovely to see their smiles and growing confidence, as they grow friendships and find belonging.

This past week the girls were fortunate enough to have a very special and important visitor join them. Mrs Sarita Agarwal, is a legal rights advocate at the local Kotdwara Court. Mrs Agarwal spoke to the girls about women's legal rights. It was a fabulous afternoon and the girls really loved what they learnt. They were empowered, equipped and encouraged to have greater self confidence and to respond to the many issues they must deal with in their day to day lives. 

We are very thankful for the help and support of Mrs Agarawal, who has generously given her time and expertise, and also offered to provide us with legal advice in relation to any matters that our projects and organisation may face.

Thank you for your support of our work in Kotdwara, and for your generosity. If you would like to specifically assist the technology classes, your ongoing donation will help us pay for 'new' (second hand) computers, some furniture, workbooks, posters and other resources. 

Bringing love, dignity, hope and purpose this October

Our work in October was a very big month for the many projects of www.projecthelpindia.co

One of this past month's highlights was my trip with my daughter Maisy to Kotdwara, to spend time with our many friends, network with community leaders, and visit a number of our projects. During this time I was able to;

* attend our Annual Celebration event, attended by about 400 people. We had many local dignitaries attend, each of whom spoke highly about our work. The event even made a small article of one of India's largest Hindu Newsletters, which praised our social work efforts. 

* I visited the new Head of the Kotdwara Police Anti-Human Trafficking Team and to discuss a number of projects for the year ahead.

Our Project leaders, Amit and Daisy Samuel continue to do an incredible job and they are well respected members of the local community. I am so appreciative and thankful for their hard work, energy and passion for reaching out to people in need. Just a few weeks ago there was much tension and fighting between some of the prominent religious groups in town, following a terrible situation where a little 4 year old girl was raped. Amit and Daisy were called upon to assist by bringing peace and mediation to this situation.

Our hearts always gravitate to the poor and needy. Just last week I received this email from Amit, requesting financial help for the family of one of the little boys who attends one of our slum schools. Perhaps you can help. This family really is in crisis. We have an opportunity to reach out in love to these people, and to bring hope, dignity and purpose to their lives. 

"The name of this little boy is Hritik. He is 7 years old. He is one of the student from our slums center. Hritik's father name is Rakesh & Mother name is Sapna. Hritik is a very poor Family. We got to know that Hritik is suffring from both ears infection from last one years. This infection has made hole in his both ears. He is not able to hear properly. Pus comes out from his ears. 

On the other hand Hritik father Rakesh has Cataract in his both eyes & he can't see properly. Rakesh also has gangren in his ond leg. So he is not able to walk properly. Because of his such condition he can not do any work.

This family is suffring finencial too. It is not possible for them to go to a good doctor for Hritik check up. Hritik's father also need a treatment. 

We request you all to pray for Hritik & his family, and please help him financially."

Once again, I am reminded that our small steps make a big difference in the lives of these amazing people. They certainly make our lives all the richer and better, that's for sure.

If you are in a position to make a donation to Hritik and his dad, please join their story. Perhaps you might like to sponsor them for the next 12 months. $30 a month will help them to start a new chapter and will change their lives forever. 

Be blessed and thank you again.

$100 makes a huge difference

Happy 2018 to you and to our many friends and supporters.

If you are like me, you are contemplating the year ahead and setting some goals for all that you hope to achieve over the next 12 months. Just yesterday I tweeted a great NY Times article* (click here) which summarised some great research on self control. The article shows that self control based on ‘willpower’ wanes over time, and thus 90% of us tend to very quickly give up on the new year’s resolutions. Willpower alone, can actually be detrimental to our health, due to the added stress that we place on ourselves… it’s easy to give up and not persevere when we just focus on a large goal.

The research suggests that when your goal is correlated with a long term future focussed outcome, and linked with gratitude, compassion, and empathy, people significantly increase their perseverance and have a 30% greater chance of achieving their resolution. As we value the future more, we are less needy of instant gratification, we persevere and we are more patient.

Add to this, a degree of reflectiveness where you break your achievements into short term successes and celebrate and take pride in your efforts, your resolution is more likely to be achieved. 

So what’s the key to a successful resolution, and what does this have to do with www.projecthelpindia.co? I suppose I just want you to consider how you might link one of your New Year’s resolutions to a worthy cause that is future focussed and gives you plenty of authentic opportunities to show compassion, grow empathy and in doing so, be mindful and grateful for your personal life circumstances. Each one of us is already ‘better off’ than someone else, so why not start 2018, being thankful for all you have. Through a stance and mindset of being grateful and optimistic for all that your future promises, commit to making a difference in someone else’s life.

Just in December our supporters contributed to making all of the following possible because of the hard work of Amit and Daisy Samuel and our staff team in Kotdwara;

-       We distributed warm winter clothes to the 220 children who come to our 6 small schools

-       We blessed our teachers with Christmas gifts (a warm blanket each)

-       We had a Christmas pizza party with the girls who attend our Technology Centre

-       We blessed a number of homeless people, mostly elderly, disabled and/or suffering mental health problems, by talking with them, and giving them warm clothes, blankets and food hampers.

-       We worked with the police to present community anti-trafficking and anti-drug awareness programs.

In December we also received some wonderful accolades;

-       We received an award from the Senior Superintendent of Police recognising and thanking us for the help we give them with the anti-human trafficking and anti-drug programs. This fantastic achievement was highlighted on the news of local television.

-       One of the Hindi newspapers commended our work in a feature article on 25th December

Back to the NY Times article which also goes on to show that people who focus on dispositions that enhance self control also combat another problem of modern life: loneliness.

“Today, more than half of all Americans report feeling lonely …But study after study has shown that those who are seen as grateful, warm and justifiably confident draw others to them. Because these emotions automatically make us less selfish, they help ensure that we can form relationships with people who will be there to support us, when we need it.”

 As you start this new year, we would be delighted if you set yourself a resolution to align your goals with our goals.  We really need our friends to commit to setting a financial goal across 2018. At www.projecthelpindia.co we have big plans for 2018, and we cannot do this without the help, support and ongoing generosity.

A final quote from the NY Times, which I love…

“So as 2018 commences, take more time to cultivate these emotions. Reflect on what you are grateful to have been given. Allow your mind to step into the shoes of those in need and feel for them. Take pride in the small achievements on the path to your goals. Doing so will ensure that every future New Year’s Eve will have more to celebrate than regret.”

Thank you for being a part of our story, and for making a difference in the lives of people who really are some of the world’s poorest of the poor.

Happy New Year. May your hopes and resolutions for 2018 be blessed and with no regrets. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to know more about how you can connect with our people and projects.

Love Doug and Rowena 

How a small town in India can help you to achieve your NY resolutions

Happy 2018 to you and to our many friends and supporters.

If you are like me, you are contemplating the year ahead and setting some goals for all that you hope to achieve over the next 12 months. Just yesterday I tweeted a great NY Times article* (click here) which summarised some great research on self control. The article shows that self control based on ‘willpower’ wanes over time, and thus 90% of us tend to very quickly give up on the new year’s resolutions. Willpower alone, can actually be detrimental to our health, due to the added stress that we place on ourselves… it’s easy to give up and not persevere when we just focus on a large goal.

The research suggests that when your goal is correlated with a long term future focussed outcome, and linked with gratitude, compassion, and empathy, people significantly increase their perseverance and have a 30% greater chance of achieving their resolution. As we value the future more, we are less needy of instant gratification, we persevere and we are more patient.

Add to this, a degree of reflectiveness where you break your achievements into short term successes and celebrate and take pride in your efforts, your resolution is more likely to be achieved. 

So what’s the key to a successful resolution, and what does this have to do with www.projecthelpindia.co? I suppose I just want you to consider how you might link one of your New Year’s resolutions to a worthy cause that is future focussed and gives you plenty of authentic opportunities to show compassion, grow empathy and in doing so, be mindful and grateful for your personal life circumstances. Each one of us is already ‘better off’ than someone else, so why not start 2018, being thankful for all you have. Through a stance and mindset of being grateful and optimistic for all that your future promises, commit to making a difference in someone else’s life.

Just in December our supporters contributed to making all of the following possible because of the hard work of Amit and Daisy Samuel and our staff team in Kotdwara;

-       We distributed warm winter clothes to the 220 children who come to our 6 small schools

-       We blessed our teachers with Christmas gifts (a warm blanket each)

-       We had a Christmas pizza party with the girls who attend our Technology Centre

-       We blessed a number of homeless people, mostly elderly, disabled and/or suffering mental health problems, by talking with them, and giving them warm clothes, blankets and food hampers.

-       We worked with the police to present community anti-trafficking and anti-drug awareness programs.

In December we also received some wonderful accolades;

-       We received an award from the Senior Superintendent of Police recognising and thanking us for the help we give them with the anti-human trafficking and anti-drug programs. This fantastic achievement was highlighted on the news of local television.

-       One of the Hindi newspapers commended our work in a feature article on 25th December

Back to the NY Times article which also goes on to show that people who focus on dispositions that enhance self control also combat another problem of modern life: loneliness.

“Today, more than half of all Americans report feeling lonely …But study after study has shown that those who are seen as grateful, warm and justifiably confident draw others to them. Because these emotions automatically make us less selfish, they help ensure that we can form relationships with people who will be there to support us, when we need it.”

 As you start this new year, we would be delighted if you set yourself a resolution to align your goals with our goals.  We really need our friends to commit to setting a financial goal across 2018. At www.projecthelpindia.co we have big plans for 2018, and we cannot do this without the help, support and ongoing generosity.

A final quote from the NY Times, which I love…

“So as 2018 commences, take more time to cultivate these emotions. Reflect on what you are grateful to have been given. Allow your mind to step into the shoes of those in need and feel for them. Take pride in the small achievements on the path to your goals. Doing so will ensure that every future New Year’s Eve will have more to celebrate than regret.”

Thank you for being a part of our story, and for making a difference in the lives of people who really are some of the world’s poorest of the poor.

Happy New Year. May your hopes and resolutions for 2018 be blessed and with no regrets. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to know more about how you can connect with our people and projects.

Love Doug and Rowena 

Baby girl found dead on the roadside

Just this week I was sent a very distressing photo of a baby girl found dead by the side of the road. The photo is very upsetting and reminds me of the harsh realities of a life of poverty. If this was Australia, the news would make national headlines. Similarly, in Kotdwara, people are saddened by this news, but many are not surprised.

Why? Because when you are very poor, you may have the mindset that you can’t afford to have a girl. Girl’s are expensive, especially the cost of a dowry at wedding time when the parents of the bride are expected to pay a dowry to the parents of the groom. Also, girls are regarded as not being as employable and they certainly do not bring in the income to the family as much as young men.

This is why we are working with women in Kotdwara. Our programs seek to place value on women and to empower them in all aspects of life.

Kotdwara Women’s Shine Conference in April

We are excited to be bringing a team from Australia with us to Kotdwara this April, for the first ever Women’s Conference. Kotdwara has never seen anything like this. We are developing this idea from scratch and it certainly is unchartered territory for the Conference hosts -Daisy Samuel and Rowena Thomas.

We anticipate that more than 250 women will attend our one-day Shine Conference. Delegates will include women from Kotdwara and many others who will travel from neighbouring towns and cities. Women from the slums that we help will attend. Also, women from the local police, lawyers, social workers, media and wives of politicians have been invited.

Our sessions will be motivational with talks focussing on raising awareness of human trafficking, sexual health, the value of education, parenting, and careers. Women will share their stories and they will be pampered and blessed with nice food for the day.

Imagine the power and impact this will have! Our prayer is that women will be equipped in such a way that perhaps, just perhaps, a poor young mother will have many other options available to her, so that she will not be forced to leave her precious baby to die on the side of the road.

Our conference will cost a minimum of $2500. Might you please consider making a donation towards this?

Floods, Modern Day Slavery and the new luxury of doing a poo

Life in Kotdwara is harsh when you are impacted by poverty. It’s a vicious cycle. Poverty has tentacles that entwine and relentlessly drag you down, coming at you from all directions.

Thank you for helping the poorest of the poor. Because of your generosity and support, Kotdwarahelp brings hope and light in the midst of people's darkness and suffering. Our work is strategic. We plan, budget and respond to the many needs and challenges that we anticipate. We also budget to respond to the unexpected ... reaching out to the plight and circumstances of some beautiful people. 

Floods – Thank you for your generosity

This week we have seen the ongoing devastation of the monsoon floods, which sadly have continued throughout the week. We are thankful for the many people who have been so kind and generous in donating to our floods appeal. We have raised $2380 in just one week. 

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

The 2 kids (top left) are Sadhna and Prachi, they attend our city centre school and they lost everything when the floods swept through their home in the middle of the night. We are helping their family and many others. We will keep you updated with how your donation will help these people.

Modern Day Slavery and a good news story

You may have heard in the news this week that the incidence of modern day slavery is more prevalent than ever in human history. A UK National Crime Agency Report released this month, estimated a significant number of people subjected by slavery across England.

“People are being exploited on an hourly and daily basis. The full scale and extent of it, we don’t know. But what we have found is that in every medium-to-large town and every city in the UK, we have found evidence of vulnerable people being exploited,”

“Human trafficking and modern slavery destroy lives. They are terrible abuses of human rights, shamefully robbing people of their dignity, causing total misery to the victims, their families and our communities. We all need to work together to stop it.” (The Guardian, 11th August)

Without a doubt the same is true in Australia …and certainly in India! The challenge in India is that slavery is deeply engrained in the culture of the place, where it is accepted and goes unquestioned by many. Kotdwarahelp helps the local anti-human trafficking police team, and this week this young man (green and blue) was rescued from a miserable circumstance. He went missing in 2015 and for 2 years he has been subject to forced labour in another town in Uttrakhand. His very poor family was tricked into believing that he was getting a very good job. Yet it was quite the opposite and he was forced to work in terrible conditions. He could not escape. 

We are thankful for the police team who do an amazing job, both rescuing victims and stopping the crime, yet their resources are limited. We work with the police promoting and delivering education awareness campaigns within the slums and poor communities.

When you need to do a poo

Where do you go, when you live in a very remote village in the foothills of the Himalayas? Sadly for many people on the outskirts of Kotdwara, when you need to do a poo, you venture into the jungle... where there are creatures like cobras, wild elephants and even tigers! 

It's worse if you are a child, young girl or woman. There is a fair risk that you could be raped. This is the reality of life in this part of the world and this is why we are so excited to have built toilets in the three villages where we have education projects. 

We had plans to build just 3 toilets but thanks to a government grant, our money was doubled. We have built a girls toilet and a boys toilet. 2 in each village, 6 in total! They cost us $1200 ($2400 all up including the grant). We are incredibly thankful to our friend Imby Langenbach (@karmmehq) who specifically donated money to Kotdwarahelp for this purpose.

Kids and women, can now do a poo in peace and safety. The things we take for granted in Australia hey! Next time you do a poo, or girls when you change a pad or tampon, contemplate how your donation can make a significant difference in the life of someone in Kotdwara. 

Thank you for being a part of our story.

EMERGENCY FLOOD RELIEF

These images were taken on Friday after a torrential monsoon storm hit on Thursday night (3rd August 2017). Sadly lives were lost and we have been told that some children were lost and swept away. Many slum houses were washed away also. 

The local authorities have been distributing emergency help and food but we really need to do more than this. Kotdwarahelp has been counselling people and supporting them in their distress, shock, trauma and grief. 

Once the waters subside, this is when the relief effort will need to crank up a couple of notches. With our limited resources, we will be working with the slum families who we help through our school and regular projects. These are our friends, the people who everyone else tends to forget about ...they are the poorest of the poor.

We anticipate that Kotdwarahelp will be helping in the following ways, over the next couple of weeks;

* providing healthy meals to those who are in need

* responding to any disease outbreaks

* helping to re-build houses

* purchasing tarps

* providing emergency relief packs with blankets and other essentials for the kids and families.

It's early days and the full extend of the problem has not yet been assessed. But we know that there is much work to be done, and people's lives and sense of hope and security restored.

Today is Sunday and thankfully the sun is shining.

Would you be able to make these people's lives a little brighter? If you could make a special donation, it would really make a difference.