For several years, Revs. Dan and Cortney Randall have hosted a Read-A-Thon to rasie money for Friends of Padhar Schools. This year, due to Pandemic restrictions, they decided to do it a little differently: Although the group was not able to meet in person, the Randall kids, Ceara, Caleb and Caden, hosted the Read-A-Thon virtually, with some friends and family. They gathered around Zoom to share with others about the schools of Padhar. Those who have participated in the past shared about what it means to help support another child with books and educational supplies. In Charlotte,NC the Randall kids decorated their backyard with a camping theme for the reading part of the adventure. The tent, camping chairs, fire ring accompanied a three tier hammock. Some of the people stayed together virtually to read with one another for part of the three hours. Snacks for the event were based on food ideas gleaned from some of their favorite books.
Caleb made chocolate covered pretzels from Mr. Lemoncello's Library and rats on a raft from the Narnia Series. Caden baked cupcakes from If You Give a Cat a Cupcake. They joined together at the end to talk about why we love to read and to share book recommendations. Reading gives us an ability to travel to different places and to be a part of a greater adventure. Reading can be a friend, especially in this socially distant time. Reading can give others hope. It was a wonderful Read-A-Thon with friends from Colorado, Oregon, North Carolina and Massachusetts.
Many thanks to the Randall Family for the creative fundraiser!
This year, we began a 2-year project to provide a Chemistry, Biology and Physics lab at Happy Valley English School. This year’s funding provided lab infrastructure: indoor plumbing, multiple sinks, tables with washable surfaces and storage. Many thanks to our donors for bringing these opportunities to the students of Padhar.
When our fundraising year began, we had no idea what was in store! In our February 2020 Board meeting, we established projects to fund for the eight schools we support, and a fundraising plan to meet those goals. As the year changed, as the schools shut down, as other funding sources dried up, the needs of our eight schools transformed and we were called to adapt to the new reality. Our Pre-COVID plans included funding for classroom equipment and materials, sewing machines and school uniforms; as the COVID shutdowns shifted classes online, our focus turned to school survival. This week, we completed our our fundraising year and here is how we distributed those funds.
Padhar Mission Higher Secondary School: This year, we sent $5000 for a Teacher’s salary fund and for student support. Students at the Mission School have returned to in-person class for the 10th-12th classes and are currently preparing for end of the year exams.
Padhar Mission Primary School: $750 was sent to provide teacher salary support and to purchase masks, Hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies to prepare the school for the return of students to in-person class.
Panchsheel Ashram School: This year, we sent $6500 to support the student sponsorship program and to provide text books, notebooks and writing materials to each student. Teachers delivered materials to each student in their villages, some more than 30km. away from the school. Local students are attending school with 10th and 12th classes taking end-of-the-year exams.
School and Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind, Padhar: $2400 was sent this year for Student Sponsorship program.
Felix Convent School, Paratwada: This year, we sent $3500 for Teacher’s Salary support and to begin building the infrastructure for the Biology, Chemistry and Physics laboratory.
Happy Valley English School, Padhar: This year, we sent $6474.00 to provide support for student scholarships, teachers’ salary support and to begin building the infrastructure for the Biology, Chemistry and Physics laboratory.
St. Mark School, Sarni: Due to the changes with in-person class, we postponed funding for new desks and benches, and tables for the teachers. We will address that need in the new funding year. We did send $1000 for support for teachers’ salaries.
Ebenzer Education Society: $2500 was sent to support the English Medium School, providing supplies for classroom cleaning, masks and hand sanitizer, as well as text books, notebooks and writing supplies.
Today, we completed our fundraising year with a total of $28,124.00 sent to India. Many thanks to our donors and supporters! Soon, we will prepare for the new school year beginning in June which will hopefully include the Director’s visit to our schools.
An Update on Happy Valley English School:
Following the government’s regulations, classes from 1st-8th grade at Happy Valley are online only. Teachers have been conducting 2 classes every day, but the school session has already finished. These classes are conducting 1-unit test every month, quarterly exams were in September last year, half yearly exams were in December last year and final exams are scheduled for the 2nd week of March for these classes. There are total 398 students in these classes.
For classes 9th to 12th, in-person learning began on December 18, 2020. There are 84 students in these classes and they are recording full attendance. Mandatory requirements include wearing masks, taking temperatures daily, using hand sanitizer and maintaining social distancing are strictly followed during classroom studies. We can not run our busses as per government order; hence students are coming in by their own conveyance. Normally, school timings were 9 AM to 3 PM with 8 periods with a lunch break, but now it has been trimmed down to 10 AM to 2 PM with 6 periods and small break. Most of the syllabus have been completed and revisions are going on. Exams for 9th and 11th classes are scheduled in March with other classes. For class 10th and 12th which will be conducted by government and proposed in April/May.
Great News and Many Thanks! Facebook matched $305 of our donations on #givingtuesday2020! Many thanks to all who woke up early to donate. Every dollar counts!
Happy New year to you from the teachers, schools and students of Friends of Padhar Schools! As the pandemic continues to postpone in-person classes, teachers have developed creative ways to teach using technology, social media and YouTube. Throughout this crisis, we have continued our work to provide our schools with the materials, equipment and support needed. We appreciate your support as 2020 comes to an end and new possibilities emerge with a new year.
Many thanks to all our supporters, donors, friends and connections for your generosity on #givingtuesday2020! With all our fundraisers combined, we raised $4425! Many thanks to Loreen Brown, Amy Aitken, Erika Gara and Krista S Givens for hosting Facebook fundraisers this year and to all who woke up early to try to meet the Facebook match. We will be notified soon about our Facebook matching funds. Thanks again for your support!
Our Holiday Craft sale is now complete and we raised approximately $1850.00! I say approximately because I am still getting inquiries and people wondering if they can purchased unsold items (Yes, you can!). Many thanks to those who shopped and shared! Your help was vital to bring books and school supplies to the children of Panchsheel School in Bahiram, Maharashtra, India.
I would also like to thank those who donated items for our sale and encourage you to shop their online stores this holiday season:
Apothika Candle Co.: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ApothikaCandleCo
Hawaii Soap Company: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HawaiiSoapCompany
Lisa Hunter, jBloom designer: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1113128362081104
Vi Marie Art and Things: https://www.facebook.com/vimarieart
Kristin A. Sherry, author: https://kristinsherry.info/buy-books/
We’ve had great response to our holiday sale! So far we’ve raised $1243.00 and we have one more day to go! We still have some wonderful gifts and holiday decor, wrapping and cards available, so take a moment and browse through our offerings. All proceeds benefit our Give Books program at Panchsheel Ashram School.
Our First day of our Holiday Sale was amazing! Many thanks to all who browsed, shopped and ordered. Our first batch of packages is being sent today. On Day One, we raised $953 for the students of Panchsheel Ashram School, to provide books and supplies to each child. Our sale extends through Sunday and can be accessed here:
https://go.rallyup.com/fopsholidaysale/6DP6ZV
*Photo taken in January 2020 at Panscheel Ashram School, Bahiram, Maharashtra.
We are having an online sale this Thanksgiving weekend and need items to sell! All proceeds will benefit the students, teachers and schools of rural India. Can you help by donating your craft projects to our holiday fundraiser?
Students and Teachers from the School and Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind (SRCB Padhar) keep us updated.
Last week we completed some "check-ins" with our schools in Padhar via Zoom. Board Members Amy Aitken and Krista Givens met with the Education Committee for Happy Valley English School and the School’s principal. Currently, as the school facilities are shut down due to COVID-19, grades Kindergarten-8th class are meeting on What’s App and grades 9th-12th are meeting on Google Classroom. Teachers are uploading videos for students to access, although access to smartphones, computers and WIFI is limited.
During a Zoom visit with teachers from the School and Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind, a few of the 20 students who are living at the residential facility came to say “hello. “ What a joy to see their faces and hear that they are doing well. School is expected to reopen mid-November, but since the SRCB is a live-in facility, about 20 children remain at the facility and are being cared for there.
During the visit with the Padhar Mission Primary School, we were pleased to learn that they are ready to hire two additional teachers with the support we’ve sent this year. They are using some of the monies we’ve sent to purchase hand sanitizer, masks and other safety materials for the children when they return to school.
We are still working hard to provide education to our children, even in these difficult times. Sending our love and best wishes to the teachers and students of Happy Valley English School, Padhar Mission Primary School and the School and Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind.
Amy and Krista met with the Education Committee of Padhar Hospital to discuss the current situation at Happy Valley English School.
Mrs. Alpheus, Head Teacher at Mission Primary School in Padhar, describes the situation.
Yogesh, 12th class student of Padhar Mission Higher Secondary school created a WhatsApp group and is gathering students to attend online classes. He is blind and is always focused on his study. Many thanks to Mrs. Ratna Sadanshiv for the photos!
Recently, Mahesh passed the 12th class exam and is now awaiting college admission. Now with a new sensor stick, he is ready for his future and all that lies ahead. Many thanks to Mrs. Ratna Sandashiv, teacher at the Padhar Mission Higher Secondary School, for the photo.
Although, schools are not yet open in India, life and education continues for the students, staff and families we support. With COVID-19 cases rising in India, school re-openings have been postponed but schools are doing what they can to help educate their students. Some schools are recording online lessons and holding virtual classes. Tests and exams are happening using safety measures or are postponed until restrictions are lifted. Even though classes are not in session, there are some students and staff living at the School and Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind, seen below sharing a special meal together. And our teachers at Happy Valley English School celebrated “Teachers Day” together, seen below. Many thanks to Mrs. Shweta Raghu Ezekiel, teacher at Happy Valley English School, for the wonderful photos.
I miss Jaime. And I will every day. But I am so grateful we had the chance to know her and so grateful for the instrumental role she played to the work of Friends of Padhar Schools. Jaime was a founding Board member and helped us with fundraising and administrative work. But most of all, she was our main supporter, encouraging us when times were hard. She also celebrated when things were going well. We will miss her joy.
Only 3 weeks ago, we announced the creation of the Jaime Kim Scholarship for a deserving female student from one of our schools in rural India. Since that announcement, her friends and family have contributed and thus far, we’ve raised $5805.00 . We are so grateful for all the wonderful notes and the generous donations to honor Jaime. Many thanks to you!
The Jaime Kim Scholarship will provide support for an exceptional female student in her post-secondary education: teacher-training, nursing school, medical school, career-training or university education.
To donate to the Jaime Kim Scholarship, click here.
Thank you so much to all our donors, bidders and customers! Our Art 4 Good Sale and Auction was a big success raising $1632 for the Happy Valley Scholarship Fund! This fund provides scholarships to Happy Valley English School in Padhar, India for the children of staff at Padhar Hospital. Many thanks!
Friends, I wanted to share with you that Jaime Kim passed away this week. Jaime was a founding board member of the Friends of Padhar Schools and was very passionate our work together. We are so grateful for her passion, her encouragement and her unending joy!
To honor the instrumental role Jaime played to the work of Friends of Padhar Schools, we are announcing the creation of the Jaime Kim Scholarship for a deserving female student from one of our schools in rural India.
The Jaime Kim Scholarship will provide support for an exceptional female student in her post-secondary education: teacher-training, nursing school, medical school, career-training or university education. The Board of Directors will initiate the fund, evaluate applicants, distribute the funding and communicate with you about the recipient.