LETTER FROM HOME
DIWALI EDITION (OCTOBER 2008)
CONTENTS:
TRIP TO MYSORE ...........................................................2
OTHER OUTINGS ...........................................................3
CHILD PROFILE: INTERVIEW WITH SAURABH SINGH ....3
THE CARE HOME IN PICTURES .....................................4
TRIP TO DAMDAMA LAKE: ............................................5
All donations/contributions to Naz are 50% tax
exempt under section 80G of the Indian Income
Tax Act. Naz is registered under FCRA. All
payments to be made only through cheque/DD
in favour of “Naz Foundation (India) Trust.”
ABOUT THE NAZ CARE HOME:
The Naz Care Home is founded on the
belief that all children have an
undeniable right to a loving, fun-filled
childhood which ensures access to
education, health, and a safe, stigmafree environment. Today, Naz is home
to 35 children between the ages of 20
months and 15 years living with HIV.
In an atmosphere of love and care, we
provide the required medical care,
nutrition, schooling, and psychological
support necessary for all children to
thrive.
A-86 East of Kailash
New Delhi, 110065 INDIA
+91.11.26.91.04.99
+91.11.41.32.50.42
www.nazindia.org
ISSUE 7
Happy Diwali from the Naz Care
Home! We have enjoyed a quiet time as
we gear up for our Capital Campaign to
raise money for the new Care Home. As I
mentioned in my last letter, we have
recently purchased land in South Delhi,
and plan to start construction in 2009 on a
larger
Care
Home
that
better
accommodates the needs of our growing
Naz family.
Our efforts have received a
welcome kick-start in the form of generous
donations from two well-wishers: Navin
Gupta, a long-time supporter of the Naz
Care Home, and Saif Ali Khan, the
Bollywood star. Saif Ali Khan starred in a
special celebrity edition of Kya Aap
Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? (the Indian
version of Are You Smarter than a FifthGrader?), donating 100% of his winnings
(Rs. 25,00,000, or $62,500) directly to the
Naz Care Home. We are extremely
grateful to both these supporters.
The children in the Care Home
have also been doing well since my last
letter, and we are very happy to report that
Meena, who was diagnosed as having a
progressive brain disorder, continues to
show signs of improvement in her health
and abilities. Meena can now sit up
without help for short periods of time, and
she enjoys spending time with the other
children, who continue to entertain and
help her. Everyone celebrates Meena’s
progress, and we are very obliged to our
supporters and well-wishers who maintain
an interest in Meena’s well-being.
ANJALI GOPALAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
THE NAZ FOUNDATION (INDIA) TRUST
Letters from Home
TRIP TO MYSORE
During their summer holidays, ten
of our older children (Deepak, Prashant,
Kushal, Akhil, Lalit, all three Saurabhs,
Shivani and Maneesha) went on a trip to
Mysore, a South Indian town near
Bangalore. Mysore is known as the City of
Palaces, and is a very popular tourist
destination because of all the historical
sites there.
The children attended a camp
called “Monsoon Magic”, organised by Dr.
Mothi, who runs the organisation Asha
Kirana in Mysore, The camp brought
together 19 children from Delhi, Chennai,
Mysore and Bangalore.
They were fortunate enough to visit
Jagamohana Palace; the main Palace of
Mysore (both during the day and at night,
when it is lit up); Chamundi Hill; St.
Philomena Church; the Rail Museum and
the Palace of Tipu Sultan. But the trip
wasn’t only about sightseeing: the children
Diwali Edition (October 2008)
also went to the Zoo and a water park,
attended sessions about “Relationships”
and “The Basics of HIV”, participated in
drawing competitions, and performed in
front of a large audience at the Laxmi
Public School.
Deepak, Akhil, Saurabh Singh,
Prashant, and Lalit won prizes in the
drawing competition. During the session
about “Relationships”, the children were
asked to draw a picture showing their
relationships with their families. The Naz
Care Home children were nervous at first,
but then they drew beautiful pictures of the
large and special Naz family. All the
children performed in a play called “Khulja
Sim Sim”, Maneesha and Shivani danced,
and Saurabh Singh sang, to wide
applause and appreciation.
Ten days later, the children
returned to Delhi, having enjoyed a
summer holiday that they will never forget!
2
Letters from Home
Diwali Edition (October 2008)
OTHER OUTINGS
th
On the 24 of May, all the children went
on an outing to the Baha’i Lotus Temple.
The children enjoyed viewing this beautiful
building and playing in the large gardens
afterwards. It was a very rewarding trip.
Below: Sharvari and Santosh in Nehru Park
Saurabh (right) with Prashant in Mysore
While the older children were in
Mysore, we didn’t forget about the
younger children! On the 28th of June,
they were taken out for a picnic to Nehru
Park. The children enjoyed themselves
very much. They ran, jumped and played
around, enjoyed special treats and were
very tired out by the end of the day.
CHILD PROFILE: INTERVIEW WITH
SAURABH SINGH
On the 15th of July, Saurabh Singh, the
oldest child at the Naz Care Home, turned
15. It was a very special day for everyone
in the Care Home. Saurabh is very
talented: he plays the harmonium, sings,
and participates in English debate and
poetry competition. He consistently ranks
first in his class at school.
One of our staff members conducted an
interview with Saurabh about his life in the
Care Home and his plans for the future.
Interviewer (I): How does it feel to be the
oldest child in the Care Home?
Saurabh (S): I like being the oldest child,
because I enjoy having so many younger
brothers and sisters. It is a lot of
responsibility though, because everyone
expects me to set a good example.
I: In a recent session, the children were
asked with whom would they like to go on
a long trip with. Most of the children chose
you. How does this make you feel?
S: It makes me feel happy. I like all the
children, they are all my friends – that is
why they chose me.
I: What career do you want to follow?
S: I want to be a Computer Engineer. I
have been asking people what subjects I
need to take and what plans I should
make to achieve this.
I: What are your favourite classes at
school?
S: Computer Science, English and Maths.
I: What is your favourite activity?
S: Singing. I have been taking singing
classes for one year now, and have given
many performances. (cont. on next page)
3
Letters from Home
Diwali Edition (October 2008)
(Interview with Saurabh Singh cont.)
I: Who is your role model?
S: Hritik Roshan.
I: If you become a Computer Engineer, will you continue to visit the Naz Care Home?
S: Yes, I will always come back here to visit my friends, and I also want to make money
to help Naz.
THE CARE HOME IN PICTURES
Left: Meena (centre, in
red shirt) with her friends
from the Care Home.
Below: Baby Sahil, now
20 months old.
Above: Santosh (left) and
Sharvari
Below: Chetan on his way to
school.
Below: Meena (centre) with Babli
(left) and Ritika.
Right: Saurabh Sharma
4
Letters from Home
Diwali Edition (October 2008)
TRIP TO DAMDAMA LAKE:
Left: on the
bus on the
way there.
Right: Camel
rides!
Left: Seeta & Geeta, our funloving twins
Bottom: Tug-of-war
Right: Meena gets help making a
pot on the clay wheel
At the beginning of October, 19 of the
younger kids from the Care Home went
on a weekend trip to Damdama Lake,
situated 60 km out of Delhi on the
outskirts of Gurgaon. They were joined
by some of the children from the Naz
Home Based Care for Children program.
They stayed in the Indira Gandhi
Holiday Home, located on the banks of
Damdama Lake, and the setting was
absolutely beautiful. The children did
arts and crafts, made pottery, and even
rode a camel! But their favourite part
was the obstacle course, which involved
rope climbing, crossing a rope bridge,
going down a zip line and jumping into a
sand pit. The children also competed in
tug-of-war, with each side pulling on one
side of the rope, trying to pull the other
side over. Everyone loved the huge
sports fields, and the children ran up
and down, enjoying the space and the
green grass. There was also a magic
show, where the magician managed to
amaze and entertain everyone. In the
evenings, the children danced to
Bollywood tunes while a large campfire
crackled in the background. On the way
back to Delhi, the bus stopped at Sohna
hot springs, which was an interesting
sight.
5
SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME
The Naz Care Home is supported primarily through donations. We encourage you to
become part of our donor community and support our children with your financial or inkind donations:
• Sponsor a child for one year: 48,000 INR / 1,200 USD (Payments can also be made in
monthly instalments of 4,000 INR / 100 USD)
• Sponsor an outing of your choice for all the children: 5,000 INR / 125 USD
• Sponsor medications, hospital visits, and tests for a child for one year 12,000 INR /
300 USD (Payments can also be made in monthly instalments of 1,000 INR / 25 USD)
• Sponsor a meal in the Care Home 2,000 INR / 50 USD
Name_________________________________________________________________
Address_______________________________________________________________
Occupation__________________________
Organization_________________________________
Phone_______________________________
Email_______________________________
Please tick:
__ Sponsor a child
__ Sponsor a meal
__ Sponsor medication
__ Sponsor an outing
__ Other
Amount of donation __________________In kind donation______________________
Please return this form along with your cheque or in-kind donation to:
Naz Foundation (India) Trust
A – 86 East of Kailash
New Delhi, 110065 INDIA
Cheques should be made payable to: The Naz Foundation (India) Trust.
Donations can also be made online at www.giveindia.org. Please find Naz India listed
under the Health category.
For other donation options (wire transfers, cash, etc.) and general inquiries,
contact Anuradha Mukherjee, our Programs Manager: [email protected]. All
donations are exempt under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act of 1961.
Naz website: www.nazindia.org; Phone: +91 11-26910499/41325042