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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e-News Archive

June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October-November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008

This May, two groups of 30 selected students were taken to Manali, HP, for a recreational and educational summer camp. The students, accompanied by the teachers went for a two weeks period. The students were selected amongst the best grades from the recent Exams. The very nice and adequate facilities were made available by Abhiram das and his team. The children came back totally thrilled and raving about the experience. Many thanks to Abhiram for making this trip possible. For more details about the trip please visit our photo gallery

Sandipani Muni School has acquired a brand new 42 seater bus which has been used to take the children for the Himalayan summer camp and also will be very useful for future school excursion. The Bus has been kindly donated by Amal Bhakta das, USA and Sunita, USA. Our greatest appreciation to these special friends of ours who are always looking for ways to help our humble endeavors.

This month, 5^th grade sat for board exams. Board exams are set by the Indian government. The exam gives students and schools an idea of how well they are doing compared with other students around the country. SMS students did excellently. Out of 102 students who sat for the exam, 86 students were ranked in the first division (65% and above). All students passed and there were several students who gained distinctions (80% marks and above).

Nine Sandipani Muni School students attended a Karate competition in Mathura on 11^th May. Our students really put up a good fight and, in the brown belt division, 5/7 students won gold medals. In the purple belt division, 1 of the 2 students who competed won a gold medal.

On 25^th May, all Sandipani Muni School students enjoyed eating mangoes thanks to the kind donation of Radha Rupa and Vinod Krishna from UK. The mango feast was offered to celebrate their son Madhava’s first birth anniversary. In first world countries, it is often difficult to get children to eat fruit, but in India, children go crazy for it. In India, fruit is quite expensive compared to other foodstuffs so many impoverished children miss out on eating fruit. Many thanks to Radha Rupa and Vinod Krishna who gave children happiness and a nutritious energy boost.

May saw the inauguration of a Food for Life Vrindavan social development project to teach village women how to make floor mats. A teacher has been employed by FFLV for one month to teach the women the art of making the mats. Wooden frames and thread have also been supplied by FFLV and the enthusiasm is supplied by the village women.

In India, exclusive private schools use English as the medium of instruction, whereas other schools teach in Hindi. This means that those who graduate from private schools come out with impeccable English, and other students, who cannot afford to go to exclusive private schools, miss out on jobs that require a good knowledge of English. In order to do what we can to give a fair chance to all, we have started a class at Sandipani Muni School for undergraduate students from other schools who want to improve their English. 20-30 young people, from villages surrounding Vrindavan are coming to our school every day for a two hour class.

A new initiative by the social development team has been initiated to start youth groups and peer groups in villages to help identify and empower village leaders. In Nagala Sumera, one girl's youth group has been set up with 30 members. At the first meeting, the girls were asked the question “What can you do for your village?” Other groups are being started for boys and for village elders. These groups will be given responsibility for social development projects such as cleaning drives and managing microcredit groups.

May and June are the summer months in India and all schools are closed for a 45 day holiday. Sandipani Muni School however, never closes because many of the children would just wander the streets under a 45 degree sun. The school provides a shelter for them, a fan overhead, breakfast and lunch. During these summer days the children engage in various extra curriculum activities like yoga, tablas and harmonium classes; art and dance; martial arts; mehendi and rangoli classes; computer classes; odissi and bharat natyam classes; mukut and embroidery classes; a video room and a library for reading.

The FFLV medical center construction is moving ahead and is on target to be completed by October 2008. The medical center will serve 9 nearby villages and will be the closest medical care available for another 5 villages. There will be an ambulance service and a 24 hour on call medic. Care for those people who are below poverty line will be free and for others it will be subsidized. The project is a combined effort by FFLV and the Govindji Mulji Foundation from UK.