To begin with, I want to wish the children and volunteers of Sadbhavna a “Happy New Year”. We have moved forward, achieved some success and hope to do many more interesting activities in the coming year. All our Sadbhavna kids are attending school, looking happier and more confident. Fortunately, they look forward to attending each session with the same vigor and enthusiasm. For all of us, the volunteers, they have been a delight to watch and each one of them is special and source of joy in their own way.

I also want to share with you a small piece written by our 17-year-old, volunteer. She talks of her experience of working with Sadbhavna and the impact it has made on her. She attended several of our monthly sessions till the time she went away to prepare for her 12th boards. However, she has promised to be back once her school exams are over.

She writes :

“I sat observing the little excited faces. I quickly switched my camcorder on as 4 year-old Jatin broke into a Hindi rhyme with his adoring fan club (read: volunteers) looking on. I couldn't believe that this was the same boy who refused to speak and sat sulking in a corner in the last month's session. But I guess this is what my mother and her team did at Sadbhavana (read: good feelings), an organization for the economically underpriviledged children. They created an environment of comfort emphasizing education and instilling self confidence.

And for them I was on a special mission: to capture their journey on camera.

So I did. I filmed little "Komal " draw a house with pink and green walls. Her dream is to build a similar one when she becomes a doctor. I filmed her elder sister, "Kamini", struggling with the spellings, all the while encouraged by her 25 year-old tutor(an engineer). For the last several months I filmed love, struggle, determination and blossoming intellect.

For me, filming was not just an experience but an interesting journey. It was perhaps the most stimulating and challenging task I have undertaken in recent times. There were so many stories to be told. No child could be left out; no volunteer's work could go unrecorded. I had to capture the children's hope and their desire for education.

Slowly and carefully I wrote a script telling a simple story. Yet, my movie is still not over. I am waiting for Jatin to learn to read out a story from his book, Kajal; to complete the picture she has just begun painting.I want to capture every moment of their achievements.. It's not as I hoped it would be. What started as a small project has now become a passion and an intellectual experience which will last with me forever.”

The Christmas session went off as planned. The children decorated the Christmas tree with bells, streamers and stars (see pics). Our guest, Alvin, from the HR, cut the cake and interestingly, told the children the same story about Christmas that he had heard from his mother as a child. Alvin spoke about the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, and how the “wonder” child grew up to be a preacher and a healer of humankind.

Later, everyone sat down for a hearty Christmas lunch prepared by Kanan’s team.

Late news : We want to thank one of our NRI patrons who brought toys, coloring books and crayons for Sadbhavna children. These were sent to the kids as New Year presents. Some of the kids were also seen enjoying Newgen’s party on the 31st December. For most of them it was their first New Year party.

During the New Year party team Sadhbhavna was able to raise Rs. 1350 from the game coupons, also Mr. Ankur Jain (Phoenix) won the first prize and Mr. A. K Sharan (Legal) won the second prize from the Sadhbhavna lucky draw.