Club News

Dear members and friends

 In August this year I was able to take over 2000 euros to Arogya Agam, our club’s theme charity. This money was raised from raffles, thanks to your generosity, at our recent four club events.

 As you know the money is for the children’s support programme, children from the poorest of families who are affected or infected with HIV. During my visit I was able to assist at a monthly meeting of these children with their carers, often a single mother who is too ill to work, or a grandparent.

 Before the distribution of allowances (which you help fund) we sit round Saratha, a gentle young woman who is the Children’s Programme manager. She explains the importance of hygiene, and carefully explains how to take the antiretroviral treatment correctly and makes sure that everyone understands.

You can see photos and read about some of those families we are helping in our “Charity Current Case Histories”. For example, little Powneswari who is HIV+ and her grandmother who is struggling to keep her at home; about a girl about to be forced to marry, and about Dhanalakshmi a girl recruited illegally to work in a cotton mill.

As you can read under ‘Charity’ the work is not all about health, children at risk need a voice and part of the programme is making sure that, especially Dalit children - the lowest of the low in the caste system - know their rights: right to life, right to development, to protection and provision.

 I hope these case histories will encourage you to continue to support our theme charity. We are helping about 100 vulnerable families but there are many more families at risk. We can pull together to meet their needs.

 George - our ‘visionary’ - is going full steam ahead with more exciting theme events where you will get the opportunity of supporting the charity whilst and the same time meeting a lovely bunch of people!

With all best wishes

Jill Pirdas