Thank you!!

A big thank you to calzany and Alberta from Alachua, Florida for contributing US$32 towards Mother Pavitra's treatment and to Denise Pray from Carmel USA who donated US$10.

Thank you to everyone who has made a contribution so far, together we can achieve the target. Still remaining is US$336 needed for Mother Pavitra. Please contact rupa@fflvrindavan.org if you can make a donation of any amount towards this worthy cause.

Thank you!!

Thank you to Sara Berggren from Sweden for kindly donating US$100 to help Sunita. We are now needing US$378 to pay for this urgently needed operation.
Please contact Rupa@fflvrindavan.org if you can help.

Please help Mother Pavitra

Pavitra is pictured here lying on the floor of her single room house. This is where she spends most of her days. Pavitra is the mother of three children. Her oldest daughter is 17 and she has two younger sons. She has been suffering from a blockage in her kidneys, with pain and swelling for the last 6 months.

Doctors say that she urgently needs an operation to remove the stone, otherwise her condition will continue to deteriorate and her kidneys will be further damaged.

Pavitra used to work as a private housecleaner but lost her job as she has been unable to got to work for several weeks. Her husband pulls a cycle rickshaw and earns less than Rs3000 per month (US$67).

Please help Pavitra to get this urgently needed operation. She is booked for surgery at Agra District hospital and can travel there in the Food for Life ambulance, but we need your support.

Her operation and medicines, including transport to Agra will cost Rs21,600 (US$478). If you can help with part of this expense, please contact me immediatly at rupa@fflvrindavan.org

Thank you!!

Thank you to an anonymous donor for sending the $141 needed for baby Varsha.
The next case will be up shortly.

In the mean time, if you wish to know the details of people on our waiting list who are in need of help to get urgent medical treatment, please contact me at rupa@fflvrindavan.org

Human needs

In the shadow of towering high rises and brick walls that symbolize one family's domination over a sizable portion of land, was this hut with an improvised fence made of sticks.

What struck me was the universality of the human need to have a little space to ourselves. A place where we can control who enters and leaves, a place that we can call our own.

The "haves" often justify their position by saying that the "have nots" are used to surviving with less, their needs are different.

For me, this improvised fence highlighted the incorrectness of this justification for not sharing what we have. As humans, our basic needs do not differ. A slum dweller needs personal space and control over their environment just as much as a wealthy apartment owner.

Her needs and her children's needs are not different, they also need good food, comfort, medical care, education and hope for a better future. Please do not ignore them.

India Slumschool Project

Zamar Academy in Chennai, India.

India (MNN) ― In the past two decades, the number of people inhabiting the slums of India has more than doubled.

As the world's largest democracy, India is full of billions of individuals working hard and thinking progressively. Because of this, the country has seen much economic progress.

However, this quick-moving progress has left many behind, according to World Wide Christian Schools (WWCS). Coupled with a population surge and crop failures throughout the country, this economic boom makes cities look attractive, and millions have poured into urban areas. Unfortunately, there is not enough housing and jobs for everyone, and many are forced to live in slums and go without.

As parents lack jobs, many are not able to send their children to schools because they cannot afford the uniforms of public schools or the tuition of private schools. "Given India's size and potential, educating its children could change the world," said WWCS President Scott VanderKooy on their Web site.

Dont forget baby Varsha!

Please don't forget that we are still trying to raise US$141 for Baby Varsha's treatment. See blog post (September 24). As you can see from this photo, after a few weeks of receiving medical treatment and being cared for in the Sandipani Muni school nursery, she is already looking much better. Please dont forget that none of this is possible without your support.