We are happy to say that volunteers’ day and award ceremony with raffle and lottery draw was held on 21st June 07 in London starting at 6.30 PM attended by about 70 volunteers and supporters from all over UK. It turned out to be success on all fronts with tasty food, music, dance, entertainment and successful fund raising. We could not hope for better.

The programme started with welcome by Veena followed by drinks, food, music and entertainment. We thank Preritha and Anupriya for presenting dance to the Bollywood rhythms to begin the programme as well DJ with lovely music throughout the evening. We are obliged for Veena and Anantha with friends and family for organising it so well. For beautiful photographs, thanks to Karam Jit, click this album here http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/I.jsp?c=1kzev9bah.28i9c7pex&x=0&y=-q83vkd and more in our photograph gallery on www.box.net contact us for password if interested.

We congratulate Seniz Fareida Ibrahim, Lara Sikka, Peggy Halloran and Zora Casttling, who received the honour as fundraiser, youngest, senior most and event organiser volunteer of the year respectively. Richard Worral, Ex- Mayor of walsall, won the award for innovative fund raising and publicising the GCHC by doing the tour by bus travelling for more than 1000 miles all over England within ten days. Robert Pugin, Gillian Ely, Olivia Hunt, Linda Nevin-Drummond, Olivia Hoare, Fiona Inglis and Katherine Begbie from Australia are other volunteers honoured for their outstanding work helping GCHC this year for achieving its goals. There are many more, who have been helping us but it is not possible to name and honour every one, however we remain obliged for their support without which we could not have come this far.

Mrs. Shashi Desikan from London won the Mini in the raffle draw but donated the mini to the charity for £500 in lieu. It has been decided to place the Mini for auction to add to the funds as required for the School in Snehalaya, a target to complete for this year. First prize of £250 was won by M. Holcombe, second prize of £100 by Nicola Mcfadden, two third prizes of £50 each have been won by Mrs. H. Hockley and R. Chew. Five fourth prizes of £10 each were won by G.Duxbury, Derren Nathan, Majic, Andrew B and Mrs. M. Gash. We congratulate all the winners and will like to thank all the participants to make it a success wishing the best of luck for next year.

We are obliged to all our volunteers and supporters, who travelled from far off places for making it a memorable day in our calendar. We very much remain thankful to all our volunteers and supporters for their contributions, donations, hard work and efforts helping us in this endeavour but could not join us.

We are pleased to inform that it has been a successful memorable day raising £5342.00 Pound Sterling with this event, which will go to start the school with vocational training facilities for the girls from villages surrounding Snehalaya, who remain uneducated otherwise helping them to become independent and lead a life with dignity rather than being opressed all their lives as happens now. The plans are in place, construction is being started to complete as a target for this year. We are sure that we should be able to start this school for the beginning of the session in year 2009 as planned. We have raised £48700.00 towards this new School project so far, and we still need to raise further to meet the project costs of £125K ($250K). We are sure for continued support from all of you to help us complete this School and help us to take these works forward with donations, by fund raising and by publicising the needs of GCHC and its work details on our website http://www.helpchildrenofindia.org.uk Thanks again, with regards,
BK
Dr.B.K.Sharma,

It is a proud moment for me and our team to mention opinion of two dignitories following their visit to Snehalaya as given below-

"Quite innovative project different from normal work in India. It is a learning experience to visit this place", these are the words of Mr. Rajneesh Sharma, Director, for Snehalaya, who must have seen so many other organisations in India and abroad. We are proud of our team to bring such an accolade for Snehalaya from a such an skilled, qualified and experienced person in this field, BK

subhashsx@yahoo.com
Dear Dr. Sharma,
I came back to Ireland on 21st April and below I am giving you my impressions about Gwalior project-
Snehalaya - I am yet to see so well managed home for special needs children in India. In a way I was proud as an Indian to see that we too can manage such specialised and difficult ventures so skilfully. It obviously is your vision and selection of staff of that calibre. You deserve the credit of putting such humanitarian ideas into practice. The other aspect of this centre which hugely impressed me , was the work force of dedicated young boys and girls . These young persons are showing not only the will to serve the most vulnerable section of society, they are giving people of our age a hope for the future of our country.
Rural Hospital - It is again a great idea not only to treat the people through mobile clinics, more impressive work of this unit was the doing difficult task of health education of people in the country side. With best wishes and regards, Subhas

We proudly anounce that we are participating as a hub in Central India to make available the live proceedings of this conference being held from 3rd Aug. to 8th Aug. through our ICTC at Gwalior. The attendees will be able to join and participate in the discussion through our video conferencing facilities. All are welcome. Most sessions will be available in English and Spanish. As we are aware that those might not be your main language, we are putting in place interpretation services: some sessions will be interpreted into the most asked for languages.
We shall arrange for interpretation in Hindi locally for local people. Contact 0091 751 2435537 for details or write to gwalior.hospital@care4free.net

We organised a get together of children, HIV positive people and other citizens of Gwalior including members of press and media, on the day in our ICTC lighting the candles and holding one minute silence in the memory of victims of HIV/AIDS. Thereafter a discussion was held aiming to create awareness For HIV/AIDS including its preventive aspects and available support through our help line and ICTC in Gwalior, Chambal region. The event was well covered by all the news papers and TV informing whole of general public of Gwalior and Chambal region.

We are happy to say that Holi was celebrated in Snehalaya campus and every one including volunteers and children enjoyed the day with feast, colours and entrtainment. Our hydrotherapy tank/waterfall tank became the large pot of coloured water, where every one enjoyed playing with coloured water as well had a dip in it. Here are some photographs. However in UK it turned out to be a white easter, coincidently falling on same day, with snow all over, something new for this time of the year here.

We are happy to inform that since 10th March 08, we have added much needed Cardiac and Stroke rehabilitation facilities at our Physiotherapy Centre within Gwalior Childrens Hospital Campus. This has been possible with joining of Dr. Anant Singh (Neuro-physiotherapist), Dr. Anubha Singhvi (Cardiac Physiotherapist) and Dr. Akanksha Seth (Paediatric Physiotherapist) with aims to rehabilitate and bring such patients to normalcy at the earliest possible with minimal residual effects as much possible. A full team of specialists includng occupational therapists, speech therapists, counsellors and Psychologists etc. will help in bringing these results to the best advantages for such victims of heart attack and strokes with an integrated approach to get the best results in the shortest possible time.

Most of the people in India think that their life has come to an end following such episodes and suffer with depression without knowing the facts that they can very lead a normal life and continue with all the activities if they get appropriate rehabilitation services sooner the best, where physiotherapy plays a major role. We aim to provide such services at this centre with integrated approach by all specialists as required to achieve the best results in minimum possible time. Ten beds in the hospital are being made available for admitting such people coming from far villages as required in local conditions. All consultations will be provided free to poor patients and 20% of beds are kept free too for poor population of Gwalior and Chambal region. Let us congratulate our local team for adding such services and facilities, BK

I had returned recently from Gwalior on 21st Jan. having stayed there almost for six weeks. This was my first stay during festive season with the children and residents there since its opening and believe me I enjoyed every minute of it. As you know we celebrate all festivals and occasions to let children enjoy happily as much they can as well let them be aware of all religions and occasions.
With these aims we celebrate all religions. During this period, Christmas was celebrated in Snehalaya campus with Santa Claus from FM 97.3 radio team and other festivities were held almost for two weeks.
All children were invited for lunch and fun activities in Usha Kiran Palace hotel by their staff on 1st Jan. the New Year's day. We are obliged to GM and other staff members there for their support and helping us in giving these children a life with happiness and dignity. Here I will like to add that UKPH is the only five star hotel in Gwalior region, which I can not afford personally for myself or rather do not like to waste my own money for such luxuries, but it turned out to be very good and a succesful outing for children there.
Our monthly sport day was celebrated on 17th Jan. with all the children, residents and volunteers participating in it. I am amazed to see the changes in these children and I could never imagine that these same children were living absolutely inactive life just one and half year before coming to Snehalaya.

I am obliged of the Poet Shri Pradeep Choubey, Shri Bapat ji, Radio FM97.3 and Mr. Hari Mohan Sharma for their support and giving their precious time for the sake of Snehalaya and its children.
We hope to organise similar events more frequently in future.
The construction work for five cottages is progressing well and hope these will be ready by March this year.
Our cow shed and shed for poultry farm is ready too.
We are able to cultivate most of the land for farming this year growing mustard, wheat, potatoes, other seasonal vegetables and papaya on site,
all thanks to all the hard work by Mr. Narayanan.
Lastly but most regretfully, I will like to inform you for recent changes in our hospital activities as follows-
"Since 2004, following admission of Radha with HIV in this hospital and then beginning of the hospice on site, because of various myths and rumours, the number of patients attending this hospital came down to almost zero, which though improved gradually but never recovered to justify expenses incurred for maintaining these services. Hence after trying for nearly three years, regretfully, the indoor hospitalisation and operation theatre facilities have been closed since 31st Dec. 07. Out patient services and investigations as well help line with ICTC continue as before. All rural health care services are continuing from the rural hospital in Snehalaya Campus now. The hospice has already been merged into Snehalaya since Aug.06. We are keeping our options open whether to restart the main hospital after overdue renovation work or close it altogether shifting all the services to the rural hospital located in Snehalaya Campus concentrating our efforts for rural development work in villages surrounding Snehalaya rather than urban population of Gwalior. We shall keep updated as it comes."

We are sure of continued support from every one as received so far, without which we might have not been able to come this far. With best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year, though bit belated and hope all your dreams as well ours come true in coming years, thanks, with regards,
BK
Dr.B.K.Sharma, Founder.

The World Aids day was celebrated on 1st Dec. in Gwalior Childrens Hospital Campus with opening of help line available 24 hours a day , Integrated Counselling and Treatment Centre (ICTC) with video conference facilities and launching of Gwalior network of positive people led and organised by Mr. Snehansu Bhaduri, our volunteer incharge for HIV/AIDS cell. Magdalene from Chennai, Nili from Calcutta, Eric from New York joined us on the occasion through video conferencing while Dr. Chaturvedi from California in USA, Sarah and Daniel from England and Emma from Scotland were present in Gwalior along with many local dignitories, positive people, students and local community including local media and TV channels. BK happily added that this was a new service being added by Gwalior Childrens hospital Charity to benefit the local community whereby they can avail counselling, consultations and advise for treatment related to any health issues or medical problems from our volunteer experts from any where in India or abroad. We have about 450 experts belonging to various disciplines available by appointment through video conference facilities all 24 hours a day. Most of our experts belong to United Kingdom, USA, Australia, Canada, Germany, France and from various places in India. Now people of Gwalior can avail services by experts from any where in the World sitting in their own town through this service provided by GCHC, perhaps first in India. In fact any one can avail these services from any where in India or abroad sitting from their own place, if they have computer with web cam and internet service. We have more than 450 experts from India and abroad belonging to various disciplines to provide their time and expertise using skype programme including my self for this service.Various issues related to HIV and AIDS for its awareness, to remove stigma and discrimination were discussed by these experts through video conference facilities.



On this occasion a medical camp was organised attended by nearly 200 people. Free counselling and consultations were provided and blood group and HIV tests were carried out for those who wanted these voluntarily free of any costs.
BK

6 years old Lara from Devonshire house school in hampstead, London arranged for jumble sale of various things to raise funds for Gwalior Childrens hospital Charity to provide for poor and underprivileged children in india. She successfully raised £150.00. Congratulations to Lara for successful fund raising, such considerations and thoughts at such an young age and to her parents too to instill such views. Lara has also recommended to her school committee to adopt GCHC for schools's preferred charity for next year. We are happy to anounce that Lara stands nominated for being the youngest fund raiser of the year for this year and will be honoured on volunteers day in year 2008. We wish we had many more similar fund raisers to help us carry this work forward. With best wishes, BK

Please note that you need a visa to visit India if you are not an Indian citizen. I will like to inform you that Snehalaya is a non alcoholic area now in addition to no smoking area. No alcoholic drinks or addictive drugs are permitted within premises. Because of recent experiences at the hands of some volunteers and some miscreants, we have revised in house rules too especially for timings to return to Snehalaya in the evenings. We have also revised the volunteering programme for working of all volunteers with respective responsibilities and interest in respective disciplines giving them exposure to all our facilities there. Please make yourself aware of these rules and other guidelines on arrival there. I am sure your volunteering support and available skills and experience will help us to make it better for the children there.
BK

We are happy to say that 6th volunteers’ day was held on 23rd june 07 at Ironbridge in Telford, Shropshire attended by about 60 volunteers from all over UK as well Indra from Germany and Bart from Holland. It turned out to be success on all fronts with tasty food, music, entertainment and successful fund raising. We could not hope for better. We thank Niraja for presenting classical Bharatnatyam dance to begin the programme and Yaz & John of Athena Band for the music, songs and entertainment throughout the evening. During the evening we also celebrated 17th birth day of Seniz being with us with her family in spite of this day being her birth day. We are happy to say that Seniz, her mother Fareida and grand father Walter were our first three generation volunteers who worked with us at Gwalior in April 2007. Fareida is competing with Zora Castling neck to neck for becoming fund raiser of the year for year 2007, each has raised nearly £9500 so far. We are obliged for Lynda and George Mcshane for organising it so well.

We congratulate Katie Elliot, Rohan Sikka and Lee Rollo, who received the honour as fundraiser, youngest volunteer and event organiser volunteer of the year respectively. Amy Slater, Chris Shaw, Caroline Reagan, Gillian Kerfoot, Indian Society of Imperial College, Fiona Ingles, Gurmit Tamber, Olivia Hoare, Edward Whitten and Chris Allen (posthumous) are other volunteers honoured for their outstanding work helping GCHC in achieving its goals. Raffle and lottery draw was held with Mr. Kothare from Birmingham winning the Mini. First prize of £250 was won by Vivek, second prize of £100 by Dr. Dhar, two third prizes of £50 each have been won by Dr. Jacky Leather and Mrs. R. Fordham. Five fourth prizes of £10 each were won by Mr. Baker (Bristol), Mrs. Liz Macpherson (Shropshire), Dr. Phalke (Swindon), Dr. Otlet (Bristol) and Dr. Viswanathan from USA. We congratulate all the winners and will like to thank all the participants to make it a success wishing the best of luck for next year.

We are happy to say that Mr. Kothare has donated Mini as well £500 in lieu of the Mini to thecharity. Also all the winners have donated their winnings to the charity increasing the funds raised. We are obliged to all of them for their generous considerations.

We are obliged to all our volunteers and supporters, who travelled from far off places for making it a memorable day in our calendar. We very much remain thankful to all our volunteers and supporters for their contributions, donations, hard work and efforts helping us in this endeavour but could not join us.

We are pleased to inform that it has been a successful memorable day raising more than 6000 Pound Sterling with this event, which will go towards our new primary care hospital opening soon in Snehalaya campus to provide much needed care to the residents of Snehalaya as well to the local community in surrounding villages. We are sure for continued support from all of you to help us take these work forward with donations, by fund raising and by publicising the needs of GCHC and its work details on our website www.helpchildrenofindia.org.uk Thanks again, with regards,
BK
Dr.B.K.Sharma,

I have returned from India on 26th Jan. and think that the visit proved to be quite fruitful though hectic. There are lots of good news, but can’t contain myself from sharing some important ones being as follows-

1. The construction work for the 30 bedded primary care hospital on site is progressing and that for five more cottages is being started. We are aiming to open these facilities on the anniversary date i.e.23rd Aug. this year hopefully, Insha-allah or God willing as they say.


LINED UP AT THE START FOR THE LEMON RACE

THE START OF THE WHEELCHAIR RACE

2. Some of our children participated in national special Olympic and abilympic games held in Nov. and Jan. and won three medals too.


WINNERS OF NATIONAL SPECIAL OLYMPICS AWARDS

Monthly sports day was celebrated on 18th Jan. Also the national republic day, 26th Jan. was celebrated with flag hoisting and horse riding for children.
3. All the children are progressing well and many of them have outgrown of their uniforms within such a short span of four months, a pleasant surprise to show of the results with nutritious diet and care they are getting now. Sandeep is out of casts and is progressing with ongoing physiotherapy. So are other children doing well living there happily and progressing well. Now we have nearly 70 residents including 37 children inclusive of four shifted recently on 20th Dec. from Mercy Home, full for its present capacity.


WORK BEGINS ON OUR MEMORIAL ROSE GARDEN

4. We have started to develop a rose garden too on site around Meena’s memorial and planted 500 plants there in Jan. About 3000 more will be planted in Feb. when we have more varieties.
5. We have services of Psychiatrist, Paediatrician, Speech Therapist, Special need teacher and counsellor on regular basis on site now (though not full time but as frequently as possible or could be possible in the circumstances) in addition to all other ongoing work from before.
6. But most important we are on internet in Snehalaya now, a result of hard work nearly after six months of persuasion and determined efforts, though it is still painfully slow with dial up connection using old obsolete technology through mobile phones. We still continue to pursue our case for main telephone lines and broadband in Snehalaya, which is not available in this area. Nearest is 3 Km away in local ITM, but hope they will lay down the telephone lines soon to make it possible, but how soon is any body’s guess. Can you believe this is the state of affairs in spite of all the boasting claims by Govt of India and that of M.P. regarding rural development? When internet became live in Snehalaya first time on 25th Jan., I could not stop myself cheering with EUREKA and Hurray, three cheers to Sanjay, Mansi, Narayanan, Pravar, all the volunteers and local team working there to make it a success.
Thanks for your support without which we could not make it happen and I am sure we shall continue to make progress day by day with your blessings and on going help, with regards and best wishes,
BK

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