I've raised £300 to build a toilet block at Divya Prem charitable residential school Rishikesh, India for the children of people with leprosy.
Organised by Fiona Salter
Story
Hello
I’m running the Vitality London 10,000 Race for Rama’s Divya Prem Sewa Mission’s residential school near Chilla, Rishikesh for 200 children of people living with leprosy.
I have chosen this charity in memory of my much missed cousin Chris who, after a long career dedicated to children with special needs in the London Borough of Newham, used her skills to train teachers in one of the most challenging settings in India. The Rama Foundation works with some of the very poorest communities in India. It partners with small grassroots charities and schools to reach the most vulnerable children, those who would not otherwise get an education because their parents have leprosy or are just too poor to afford school.
Inspirational is an over-used word but it suited Chris down to the ground. Warm, funny and boundlessly compassionate, she also had a nice line in risqué songs. Few of us who were there can forget her robustly alternative version of 'Sisters' performed with sister Jean..
Chris was changed by her first trip to see the Rama foundation’s work. Shocked by the deprivation she saw and in particular by the social exclusion the children suffered, on her return to London she said: “I am sort of back to normal now – though I don’t think I will ever be ‘normal’ again for I’ve left part of my heart with the school at Chilla….I really did feel real joy at being able to teach such keen, bright boys who have such a positive sense of hope…"
She was particularly keen on empowering the sisters of these boys.
‘What about the girls?’ was her core concern. She became a crucial contributor to Rama Foundation Core Group with visits to other projects and their potential sites for creating much needed opportunities for girls"
In April 2012 Chris had travelled there with 200 Easter eggs for the children but she died shortly after she arrived in India.
As well as being a huge loss for her family and friends, she is missed by the Rama community and commemorated here .
Divya Prem Sewa Mission School Rama is small, grassroots charity with scrupulous funding policy so you can be sure that money goes directly to improving life for children in their care and not absorbed in bureaucracy or marketing. People who work for the charity have dedicated their lives to the wellbeing of those in their care.
In memory of Chris, please help me raise funds for Divya Prem Sewa School so they can continue their work with vulnerable children who would otherwise be deprived of education and a chance in life.
At the moment only charities registered in Australia, Hong Kong, UAE, South Africa, Canada, USA and Ireland are able to join JustGiving.
This means I will be using the Just Giving crowdfunding tool to fundraise for Divya Prem Sewa Mission Trust. If you donate please use the reference 'Divya School'. Thank you, Fiona.
