Update: Sanjeevini Trust 2013 Report

Much good work is being done.

Dear Friends,

 I just returned from India where I spent two weeks with Gnanmithra and the Sanjeevini Trust. I am very pleased to report that all the programs of the Sanjeevini Trust are running smoothly, and I was immensely impressed with the work Gnanmithra is doing.  Among many other initiatives, he has started the "Sanjeevini Health Network".  This is a group of doctors and medical professionals in Sirwar, Raichur, Hyderabad and Bangalore that Gnanmithra can turn to 24x7. Any person with a health problem can call Gnanmithra anytime to get medical advice and he can turn to this network of experts to give them a state of the art answer to their questions.  It is especially helpful for helping poor people figure out the best specialist they can turn to for the lowest price, so they do not waste their hard earned savings on sub-standard healthcare. The network also helps Gnanmithra identify the best doctors to which to take emergency patients and seriously ill patients.

The ambulance program is working very well and is highly appreciated by both the poor and the more well to do who have used its service. Many people came up to me and thanked me for this life-saving service. Gnanmithra and his driver, answer calls 24x7, and while I was there Gnanmithra got calls for the ambulance service every other day. Most of the calls were in the middle of the night!

Life is changing fast in rural India for poor people.  Laws banning child labor under age 16 are being rigorously enforced and ALL girls and boys are now going to school until age 16. In addition, ALL rice is being harvested, threshed and winnowed by fleets of harvesting machines that drive down from the Punjab. Gnanmithra and I are in the process of making some ambitious plans for a future program that will help meet the changing needs of poor village families and their educated, but hopelessly unemployed, young adults. I will write more about those dramatic changes and the new program Gnanmithra is developing in a future email. `

Gnanmithra’s son, Vijay, has put together a video from pictures that Gnanmithra has taken during the year.  I hope you will enjoy watching his video which summarizes the 2013 activities of the Sanjeevini Trust:

Tax deductible contributions to the Sanjeevini Trust may be made through the Ecological Development Foundation, Inc. a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable and educational foundation. Please note the new address:

The Ecological Development Foundation, Inc.

839 NW John Fremont Street

Bend, Oregon, 97701

Best wishes,

Joe Emerson 603-494-1990

India 33: Plans for a Reunion and Need Emails

From a post our our Facebook page.

INDIA 33: Thinking of a reunion in Goa, Fall 2014 in celebration of many of us turning 70.

If there is any interest, please let me know.

In need of email addresses of the entire group.

Paul Stefanacci

pstefanacci@gmail.com

Updates on David Behren's Memorial Service (June 1, 2013)

Angela Voll will be mailing out the Memorial Service Announcements shortly for David Behrens' service in Sibley, IA on June 1, 2013. The announcement can be found here.

Also, if you have any pictures of time you have spent with David and would like to have them included as part of the service, please send them to Angela Voll at angelavoll@msn.com or the mailing address listed in the anoucement link above. Deadline is May 1st.

We look forward to meeting all of you as we celebrate David's life in June!

Join Us for RPCV Guided Tour of India and Nepal in October 2013

Did you ever want to go back to India, without the hassles?  Or has your spouse (or friends or kids) indicated an interest in India?  Now is the time to act. Harry and Mary Andrews, India III volunteers and Michigan State University retirees, along with our neighbors Lynne Mark (Nepal RPCV) and Cyndi Mark (Benin RPCV) are creating a tour program for October 3-20, 2013 to both Northern India and Nepal.   It will be 8 days in each Delhi- Agra-Jaipur in India, and Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan in Nepal.  We chose this itinerary as a comfortable introduction to India for the uninitiated or basic highlights for those returning after a long absence.  India is changing constantly, but travel is still a hassle, so a group experience will make the trip a breeze.  Both the Andrews and Mark’s have traveled recently and have many friends who are anxious to meet and host the group. Think about joining us, or share this information with others who might be interested. Go to our website to read more about it. www.msu.edu/~mandrews/tour13/tour13.htm

National Peace Corps Association is Now Accepting Nominations of a RPCV for the Sargent Shriver Award

The Sargent Shriver Award for Distinguished Humanitarian Service is awarded by the National Peace Corps Association to a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who continues to make a sustained and distinguished contribution to humanitarian causes at home or abroad or is an innovative social entrepreneur whose actions will bring about significant long-term change. 

NOMINATIONS FOR 2013 ARE NOW OPEN. Visit the Awards page on our website for the nomination instructions, rules, and nomination form cover sheet. Deadline: Monday, April 1, 2013. The Award winner will be notified by May 1, 2013. The Sargent Shriver Award for Distinguished Humanitarian Service will be presented at NPCA Peace Corps Connect - Boston June 28-29 in Boston, MA.