BRIDGE FOUNDATION NEWS LETTER SEVENTH EDITION

(January to July 2006)

The monsoon season is upon us. It brings freshness and vitality to all after the scorching heat. This happens for a few months in the year. We are able to continue on the strength of this until the next season of rain. Our children, teachers and friends however bring freshness and vitality to us each time we meet and they spur us on to overcome obstacles that are supposedly un-surmountable.

Education

This year saw the introduction of a filing system for each child in the centres. Weekly tests are held for the children on specific days. The children have been provided with plenty of paper, files and other stationery items for this work.

 

Excursions and Entertainment

The children celebrated New Years by having a party and they also took part in a dancing competition held on the occasion of Chinese New Year. They won fabulous prizes and enjoyed themselves very much. The children of Blackburn centre went on a day long excursion to Science City in the last week of April. They had a wonderful time and experimented with all kinds of technology that was on display there. The other centres had small Easter parties where the children got gifts of clothes and food items. They enjoyed these parties immensely. Before closing for the summer vacations each centre had a summer party.

 

Congratulations

We congratulate each child who has passed to the next class. Special congratulations go out to Ananya Sarkar who finished class XII with honours and has now joined Loreto College with Education. Two of our senior students have gone to class XII. Two children from Fatima Centre received the sacrament of First Holy Communion in the month of April. We celebrated the event with them and we congratulate them.

Food and Health

The children get nutritious food and drink after their studies. Some of the children families who live below the poverty line get weekly dry rations.

Creativity

The children enjoy the art classes they take with Utpal every month. The children of the Blackburn centre participated in a drawing competition that was held at Howrah Station. The children of the Doctor Lane centre had an Easter craft session and enjoyed themselves making Easter hens and rabbits. Observing the success of these classes in the other centres we are now extending the art class in Fatima centre also.

Reaching Out

The Foundation reached out to a number of children and families during these months. We reached out to some children of our centres and were able to provide medical as well as financial help. The Foundation also reached out to Mongal in a special way. We have been able to help Mongal in the construction of his new house. We are happy to be a partner in fulfilling his dream.

Thank You

We thank all our friends who visited and worked with us during the last six months. Special thanks go out to Carmel Hussey, Elaine Jones, Catherine Devitt, Hazel Carey, Aoife, Yvonne, Andy, Ann, Kieran, Patrick, Finbarr, Stan & Moya. We are filled with gratitude at the Navan group of students who want to stand beside us and be partners with us. We thank Fr. Derek Darby and Cathal O’Reilly for taking this initiative. We thank the Gardai for their generosity which helped us to buy lot of educational equipment and games for our children. We thank Fr. Donal Neary for his continous support for our work.

Welcome

We welcome Regina Brangers as the coordinator of the Foundation. She will be visiting the centres on a weekly basis monitoring the teaching –learning process of the teachers and students.

Networking

The Foundation is now reaching out to a village school called ‘Nabajibon’ (new life) under the aegis of Banspalla Poor Welfare Society situated in 24 parganas(S). It caters to nearly 80 children and gives the children education, health care and nutritious food. Four of their teachers received training in teaching from Laeticia. The Foundation supports the school in their education and nutrition programme by giving educational material and supplementary food.

Laeticia extends her heart felt thanks to all our well wishers. May God continue to bless you and your loved ones for all your generosity and kindness.

Agnes D'souza

Laeticia Gomes