Child abuse statistics in India are alarming. The latest reports show that 53% of children under the age of 14 suffer some form of sexual abuse. GOOD TOUCH BAD TOUCH is a prevention curriculum designed for students of pre-school and kindergarten through sixth grade. This program has been developed by Child help USA and Ms Pam Church who have successfully implemented it in many US schools. Our Principal Rajinder Singh and the Child Safety Officer for SMS schools, Nirguna dasi, have received training in the program, and the complete teaching aids and printed materials from a representative of Child help USA, Tamohara das.
We have just completed the program at Sandipani Muni Senior Secondary School. The children are encouraged to have a sense of self esteem, to learn to listen to their intuitive and instinctive feelings when they sense something is wrong and know that they have a right to be safe. Their responsiveness made us feel like we were enunciating their thoughts. They have now learnt to identify good and bad touches and they know what to do when they feel threatened or even uneasy. They have learnt that they have the right to say No to a touch they don’t like. They now know how to identify bullying and physical abuse and what to do. They are assured that they will be supported by us if they report any instances or attempts of abuse. It was also conveyed that if something like this had happened to them, it was never their fault. The basic and crucial directive is for them to say No, get away from the situation and to tell someone who believes them. Simply put - NO, GO, TELL.

Their heads held high, the children sang songs of building a new future for their country; a future that surpasses all dreams and conceptions. They sang enthusiastically of being the authors of the future stories of India. They spoke of their commitment to their Motherland and their intention to light the lamp of fellowship that removes all feelings of divisiveness and discord.
Dancing to celebrate the occasion of Haryali Teej - this is the day the village folk offer thanks giving for the rains, this gift of nature, which makes everything green and productive. The girls also dance to celebrate the freedom of their country and the freedom that their education is bringing them.

Kind contribution from Earth Restoration Service UK to this great environmental cause has helped us to bring the awareness of the importance of trees to our children. It also made it possible for the students to plant trees and flowering shrubs around our newly constructed campus. First the children from kindergarten through 7^th grade spent two enjoyable days making awareness posters for an exhibition on trees and their value to Life on Earth. Then all the students viewed the exhibition with visible interest and learnt many new facts. A few days later, they got down and happily dirty, to the actual work of planting saplings. They will also be caring for their saplings to make sure they survive. Many of them had participated in a similar venture at the primary school. In the 4 years since then the saplings have blossomed into substantial foliage. We look forward to a very green campus soon.
To see more photos, please visit our photo gallery.

Food for Life is actively able to continue to provide this most essential, but equally scarce, commodity to those in Vrindavan and surrounding areas. This espesially benefits those without the means to put in a well for themselves and those in the absence of water supply from the Municipal body. These projects have been possible due to the kind contributions of our patrons.
Four water projects were undertaken in Vrindavan this year:
1.Gopinath Bagh and Bansi Wat (Sponsored by Manjuben, Shilaben, Ashaben, Paruben, & Jayesh Patel. Bajipura, Gujarat, India - in loving memory of Manubhai Sukhabhai Patel) - both projects will benefit 6000 residents.
2. Kali Deh (Sponsored by Bharat Patel & family, USA) - will serve the needs of 2500 people. For the last 10 years, residents of this area have had no access to water in their own locality.
3. Bankey Bihari Market (Sponsored by Jani Family, Kenya-UK ) will benefit approximately 3000 residents, who had no running water for the last five years.
A hand pump bringing drinking water to a section of Nagla Sakraya village has also been installed, making life easier for at least 1500 villagers.

Q: How old are you now Hema?
A: I am 16 years old and have been at Sandipani Muni School (SMS) for the last seven years.
Q: Hema, when and how did you come to SMS?
A: I use to come to eat Food for Life kitchri when it was served at the Temple. One day Rupa asked me if I would like to study. I was one of the first students of Sandipani Muni School when it was started at a rented room in Raman Reti.
Q: Tell us more about yourself and your family.
A: I am one of 6 children. One of my brothers is married and he and his wife also live with us. He was married very young, when he was only 16. His wife is my age.
My other brothers and sisters all study at SMS. I am the second eldest in the family. I love my family dearly.
My father has been very sick; both his kidneys have failed and earlier this year he was hospitalized for 4 months. He cannot work anymore and we support ourselves by selling milk, we have two cows that give us about Rs.200 per day. We had three cows but had to sell one to help pay for the initial medical costs.
When Rupa found out about my father he helped pay for the hospital fees and presently my father has to be on medication continuously and Rupa has arranged for that too.
Q: What are your aspirations?
A: I would like to be a doctor. I want to take care of my family and my father especially. I realize that this may not happen because my mother often speaks of getting me married. She understands my desire to study and she likes it too, she tells me she is so proud of me that I have really good fortune to be studying in such a nice school. But, at the same time she says that sometimes she feels bound by traditional beliefs and tells me “please forgive me, but I can’t say when I may change my mind.”
My father says I am his oldest daughter and he would like to see at least one of his daughters married before he dies. He always speaks like he does not have long to live and this makes me sad.
Q: Does his uncertainty trouble you?
A: (cheerfully) A little. I would like to stand on my own feet and support my family too, but I will accept whatever happens as my destiny.
Q: Do you have a lot of friends?
A: My best friend is my sister in law. I speak my heart to her and she also confides in me. She tells me to take advantage of this opportunity and become completely self reliant before getting married.
Q: How do you do academically?
A: I have to work when I go home - my mother gets tired cutting and fetching grass for the cows and taking care of them. I help with that and cook the evening meal; I also have to walk some distance to bring drinking water.
By 9.30 pm I am too exhausted to do home work so I usually do it in school the next day.
Q: Do you see a difference in your life since you came to SMS?
A: Oh yes, a great difference. I have learnt how to be neat and clean and I also ensure that my brothers and sisters keep proper hygiene. I wash their clothes and mine, comb their hair and make sure they are neatly turned out for school everyday.
I was once completely confused, aimless and lost. Now I feel very confident and I can take care of myself. I am so happy to live here in Vrindavan. I know whatever happens I will be all right. In fact I am always happy and grateful for whatever life has given me and I can’t say I hanker for anything. I feel like I have everything I need.