FFL Vrindavan is dedicated to the poorest of the poor, educating and guiding them in pursuance of a fulfilling life, enabling them to become exemplary members of society. FFL Vrindavan is also dedicated to protecting and developing Vrindavan’s natural environment.

Our work includes:

• food distribution
• basic medical assistance
• training courses for women
• drilling for drinking water and constructing water tanks
• assistance to the elderly and the disabled
• distribution of clothes
• environmental projects and education
• taking care of cows
• providing primary school education for disadvantaged children.
  

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June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October-November 2007
December 2007
January 2008

This month which heralds the advent of spring, also brought with it close friends and many occasions for SMS children to participate in local cultural events and put up performances for our visitors. The children performed at the Braj Utsava. Seventy schools from all over Braj were invited to this celebration of the vibrant culture and traditions of the Braj region. Our children proved their all-round skills in singing, classical Odissi dance, painting, theatre and martial arts. Their innovative presentations depicted their understanding of Krishna and were appreciated by all. Their talents were also noticed by the Festival’s organizers, the District Administration of Mathura, who requested that SMS children perform at the prestigious Taj Mahotsava in Agra. This annual event is a tribute to the legendary skills of master craftsmen and exponents of art, music and local cuisine. SMS’s troupe of dancers danced the depiction of the Ten Incarnations of Vishnu, Dasavatar, in the classic Odissi dance form under the tutelage of the renowned exponent and guru Sri Pratap Narayanji. SMS students also participated in an Inter-school event organized by Akshaya Patra to promote an understanding of the Bhgavad Gita amongst Vrindavan’s school children. The children painted and colored themes from the Gita and recited Slokas (verses). Pooja was awarded a prize for her drawing.

This month FFLV’s cleaning drive was held in Junai village. On the assigned day most of the 2,000 villagers came out of their houses with cleaning equipment to help clean the streets. Villagers were also encouraged to spring clean their houses on this day. The village is now looking neat and clean, and what is more, awareness of the need for cleanliness has been raised, and with regular cleaning drives the occurence of sickness and infections is largely reduced. We will return to this village in around a month’s time to monitor the maintenance of standards of cleanliness.

In February, we distributed 9 bicycles to young village women to help them continue their education. These young women were walking 12 km to school every day because education in the village ends at primary school. By gifting them these cycles we have cut their travel time from an average of three hours daily down to 30 minutes.

Nagala Jamun is a small village with around 1,000 residents. All the water pumps there gave only salty water. This water can be used for washing clothes and feeding animals but is not suitable for human consumption. In order to relieve the residents of Nagala Jamun of a half-kilometer walk to obtain drinking water, we installed a water pump with a deep bore to reach fresh water. This is timely, as the scorching Vrindavan summer is approaching.

On 18th February we inaugurated our FFLV Cookies factory. Production of 1,000 biscuits per day has begun so that our children can enjoy healthy, whole-wheat cookies. We are grateful to our kind supporter Peter Burwash and his daughter Skyler, who donated the funds to start the bakery. Both were present for the opening, and biscuits were enjoyed by all. Three local women who were in desperate need of employment now work at the bakery. As well as these benefits, we are also saving the environment from hundreds of plastic wrappers by not using prepackaged biscuits.
Peter Burwash shared his management experience with FFLV staff and the school’s teachers at special meetings, where he reminded us to appreciate the scale of the work that FFLV is doing and to increase it even more.

Q: Can you tell us about the Mulji family and their visit to Vrindavan?
A: I have known them since early 1990, when I was in the UK. The Muljis are patrons of Bhaktivedanta Manor in London. They have business interests in the UK and Kenya. Over the years, the Late Sri Govindji Lalji Mulji and I talked about establishing a medical centre here for the villagers. Earlier this year, with his support, we began work on the medical centre. Though Govindji passed away in November 2007, his sons have pledged to build the medical centre in his memory. Four of the five brothers came here to immerse the ashes of their father, Govindji, in the Jamuna river. I was honored to be part of the ceremony where, with prayers and rituals, we consecrated the remains of Govindji into Jamunaji. A photo report can be seen at FFLV Photo Gallery.
Q: There were a lot of food distribution events during their visit...
A: Yes. Govindji knew the value of the local tradition of feeding the sadhus and the brijabasis. It was his wish to come and feed the brijabasis personally. This too, his sons did in his honor. We had several feasts including:

• 1,000 plates of a five course lunch served to SMS children and staff including ice cream, sweets and fruit juice.

• A feast for 108 sadhus.
• A special meal for 800 poor residents of the area around our schools.
• A feast for 208 widows.
• A feast for 800 temple devotees.