2019 Update on the Sanjeevini Trust by Joe Emerson, India 38

December 16, 2018

The Sanjeevini Trust 2018

Hi All,

This year the Sanjeevini Trust, under the leadership of Gnanmithra Jettappa, helped hundreds of poor village families in the district of Sirwar, Karnataka State, India, by providing poor villagers with lifesaving medical care, an ambulance service, eye screening and cataract surgery clinics, preventive health clinics, young ladies tailoring classes, and cancer and heart disease prevention education programs. You can now see them all in the new Sanjeevini Trust website developed by Gnanmithra's son, Vijaya. Just click on "English" in the upper left hand corner to read it in English. And be sure to read the latest Sanjeevini Trust blog get filled in on the most recent activities of the year.

The Sanjeevini Trust Ambulance Service has helped many thousands of poor patients and saved many lives over the last 11 years. During the past 12 months the Ambulance transported 415 patients needing medical treatment for vehicle and agricultural accidents, heart attacks, pregnancy/birthing complications and a variety of other emergency needs.  All decked out for the annual Dasara Celebration in the picture below, the ambulance still commands great respect and gratitude in rural India despite the fact that it has been completely refurbished (in small stages) about three different times during its 11 years of continuous service.

Now, although it still has some life left in it, it is no longer safe for long high speed trips and is ready for partial retirement, during which it can still be used for shorter local ambulance runs and for educational programs for another few years.

So in addition to supporting the regular programs of theSanjeevini Trust, we need to raise money for a new ambulance. Gnanmithra has determined it will require at least $12,800 for a reliable, adequately equipped, road-ready ambulance, a sum that seems remarkably affordable and achievable given the cost of just calling an ambulance in this country. Some money has been set aside from recent years' contributions; in addition, Gnanmithra will be hosting a 20-year anniversary celebration for the Sanjeevini Trust in Sirwar, through which he hopes to attract local contributions for the first time.

While we hope that this local fund raising effort will be successful in the long run, our immediate goal is to raise as much of the needed funding as possible by the end ofJanuary 2019. To do this, we need to increase our total donations by about 50% to fund the new ambulance while supporting the Trust's ongoing programs. We hope that you will join us in this effort by digging a little deeper and reminding yourself that together our donations make a profound, often life-saving difference to villagers - especially poorer ones - and to dozens of villages around Sirwar.

Thanks once again for your continuing interest and vital support. 

 And Happy Holidays!

Joe Emerson and Ann Brayfield

Please make your check payable to The Ecological Development Foundation. Inc. and send your contribution to:

The Ecological Development Foundation, lnc.

18991 Park Commons Drive,

Bend, Oregon 97703

The Ecological Development Foundation, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit charitable organization. You will receive a receipt for your tax records by email.

Tom Brayak - Christmas visit to India 2017

Dec 24, 2018 

Mumbai, India

 Dear Friends & Family,

It's 10:30 am and I'm sitting outside in shorts & a T-shirt (temp Is 78°F, 25°C), inhaling the distinctive smells that can only be India, and looking at tropical trees & plants, listening to binds  & hawkers & traffic — the usual sounds of India, and trying to get myself into the Xmas spirit  without snow in a country where Christians are a small minority. Perhaps a grand endeavor you  may think: but, actually, in this area of Bombay (Bandra), there are many Christians & churches,  and many houses decorated for Xmas. And, in fact, these days, Xmas is observed— if not celebrated—by many Hindus, too, so you'll see many shops & stores decorated with a Xmas  theme. India itself recognizes holidays from Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Christian faiths.  

It's 47 years now since I first came to India as a peace corps volunteer (PCV) with all the  enthusiasm and idealism of youth, hoping to change the world. The world & India has certainly  changed, perhaps due in some minuscule way to our efforts here back then, but most certainly  mainly due to other factors having nothing to do with us.  

I've now been back to India between 15 & 20 times, and my observations of the changes have  been of a gradual nature, thus not standing out as much as they otherwise would — kind of like  the frog in the gradually heated pan of water acclimating until eventual death. However, on this  visit, Mitzi & I were accompanied by Deborah, also a former PCV, this being her third return trip. To her, the changes were substantial & remarkable. 

She & I went back to the state on India's east coast where we'd worked those many years ago:  Odisha (that's the new name, Orissa was the old). Many names have been changed from the  British-i-fied ones of that era to ones closer to the names in the original languages: Bombay  now Mumbai, Calcutta now Kolkata, etc). We met up with old friends and it is obvious that each succeeding generation has a higher standard of life & education.  

We visited the charity that Gerry & I help to fund through the Father Fleming Foundation (assistance to lepers & handicapped children, and community outreach health & welfare). There is definite improvement in the leper colonies with zero—yes zero— new cases occurring! Now it's just the elderly left with leprosy. Otherwise the colonies are just like any other village. Handicapped cases are also decreasing due to nutrition &education (many deformities are due to malnutrition during pregnancy: cerebral palsy is often due to improper delivery during home births). Deborah was moved & impressed by the positive cheerful attitude of the children: and that always affects me the same way and gives me a reality check and good grounding in how fortunate I really am in life—something so easy to lose sight of in our day to day lives of ease.  

Let me end by saying that after experiencing many different peoples & cultures this year, my belief that we are all way more alike than different has been reinforced even more. Stereotyping and marginalizing is not the answer to anything and will always lead to more troubles & problems in the future. This realization is by far the biggest benefit of travel and it is my wish to all of you that travel will be in your future!  

As always, I'll leave you with several favorite quotes I've come across this year:  

“You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand” Woodrow Wilson  

“If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room.”   - Unknown 

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place”. - George Bernard Shaw 

I hope my words in this letter do not fall under that category!   

Peace & a blessed Xmas to you all! 

Tom

2018 Update on the work of the Sanjeevini Charitable Trust

Hello Friends,

 

We just returned from India where we reviewed the work of the Sanjeevini Charitable Trust with its director, Gnanmithra, and friends of the trust. The programs are continuing to help many poor people, and we received so much gratitude from people for the support you have made possible over the years: From people whose lives were saved by the Sanjeevini Trust ambulance service, people who received heart surgery thanks to the Sanjeevini Trust, young women who were able to earn money from using the sewing machines they received by graduating from the Sanjeevini Trust tailoring classes, and married couples who were saved from going into debt by the group marriages organized by the Trust, and much more.

 

 

Based on feedback from the community, we will be conducting another group marriage in 2018 which will relieve much financial stress on the poor  newlyweds.  We also will be winding down the preschool program, as the government has finally stepped up and established two similar preschools in the area, which is a very positive development.  Instead the Trust will be expanding its program for immunizations and health check-ups for preschool age children and health education for pregnant women.

 

We conducted two eye camps this year where dozens of people received cataract surgery and regained good vision. The medical program has helped many poor people access quality medical care for life threatening conditions. And we will be expanding the young ladies’ tailoring classes by bringing classes to some of the outlying villages.

 

The ambulance is going strong, helping many people get emergency care and follow-up. Please see the video on the ambulance service that Gnanmithra’s son, Vijay, created while we were there. The ambulance is now 10 years old and going strong, but it is time for us to build a fund to replace it. 

New this year are the free Health Camps sponsored by the Sanjeevini Trust which attracted hundreds of people for screening and treatment for heart disease, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and dental problems. This video on the other Sanjeevini Trust programs shows some of the many people who came to the health camp, as well as the other programs.

 

Your past contributions to the Ecological Development Foundation, Inc have made all this possible and people there are very grateful for it. To continue this work and to purchase a new ambulance, we need your continued support.  Please make a check out to the “Ecological Development Foundation” and send it to:

 

The Ecological Development Foundation, Inc

839 NW John Fremont Street

Bend, OR 97703

 

Thanks,

Joe Emerson

Ann Brayfield

The Ecological Development Foundation, Inc, is a non-profit 501c3 educational and charitable foundation. Your contributions are tax deductible to the extent of the law.  A receipt will be sent by email.

Additional Videos:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=rgf3boN5iQg

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=ihFtNexRxt4

10th Anniversary of George's Lucky Dozen

January 14, 2008 marks the 10th anniversary of the beginning of George's Lucky Dozen, one of the charities founded and supported by Friends of India members.

 

Lucky Dozen providers educational opportunities for the very poor, giving hope for the marginalized students. Over the past ten years, Lucky has helped more than 275 students in elementary/high school and in college studies. It is run by Sister Mary Therese, in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu. All money is for the students, Sr. Mary receives no monetary compensation from Lucky Dozen donations. 

 

Sister Mary words on the anniversary of the Lucky Dozen:

 

George and Brenda - 

 

Greetings to you.  

 

At the close of our 10 years reaching out to the students in need, my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude to you for the interest and dedication you have.  Thank you very much for touching the lives of so many students.  As soon as possible, I shall send you the details of the year wise students. 

May God be praised for all you have done and for the efforts you have taken.

 

Will be in touch soon.

 

With affection, gratitude and prayers,

 

Sr. Mary

India 48 2017 Mini Reunion

On Saturday, September 30, 2017, members of India 48 met in Glen Rock, Pennsylvania to have lunch at Rob Wood's Spoutwood Farm. 

From Left to Right: Paul Neal, Bob Zurbriggen, Rob Wood, Morgan Sharpe, Tom Howard, Emory Price, Jeremy James, Ken Kauffman, Noel Zinn.