ASHRAYA
Inauguration of the Neelbagh SchoolThe Ashraya Neelbagh Residential School was formally inaugurated on the 15th of April, 2007 at Madanapally by the Honorable Finance Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram. The school was established in 1996 for children of migrant laborers. The school imparts non-formal education to children, and has a large component of vocational training as part of the curriculum. In addition to education, it also provides residential facilities to the children of construction workers.
The inauguration was followed by a cultural program organized by the children. The Finance Minister was given a tour of the school, which houses separate residential cottages for boys and girls, classrooms, a well developed science laboratory, computer laboratories, vocational training workshop areas such as carpentry and pottery making, and a library. Mr. Chidambaram commended the efforts of the Ashraya in taking up the cause of educating under privileged children and giving them a better and more successful chance at life. Union Minister of State for Road Transport and National Highways K.H. Muniyappa, MLAs, Krishna Byregowda and Ramesh Kumar, Ashraya president Sumati Subbaiah, and Secretary Nomita Chandy were present at the event.
Padmashri Award 2011
Padmashri Award 2011 - Ms.Nomita Chandy, Secretary, Ashraya was awarded the Padma Shri in March 2011 for her work in the field of social welfare.
The article: A home for every child
Celebrating 25 Years of Altruism
Ashraya celebrated its 25th Anniversary on the 29th of December 2007. The celebrations were spread over four days, from the 29th to the 2nd of January 2008. The four days were very eventful with cultural programs, workshops, interaction between adoptees and the Ashraya staff, and visits to the various organizations run by Ashraya.
The 25th Anniversary celebrations were inaugurated by Chairman, Administrative Reforms Commission Veerappa Moily, and Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sharma who has an adopted daughter himself, said that adoption makes sense no matter which perspective one views it from Mr. Moily said that adoption is a bond of unconditional affection.
Recognizing their truehearted commitment, caretakers and crèche teachers who have been associated with Ashraya for more than 20 years in service were felicitated. The Ashraya Children’s Home and site crèches would not have been the same without the dedicated staff, who have shown exemplary care and devotion in their work.
The children of Neelbagh Residential School put up an excellent cultural program, complete with traditional folk art and dances which included kolattam, Yoga and other popular folk dances. The show gave our international adoptees a colorful insight into the rich tradition.
Ashraya Art Auction
The Art auction was held on November 15, 2007 in Delhi at the Italian Embassy. The art Show was held to raise funds for the construction of a Training and Convention Center for Ashraya’s Womens Center - Tara.
Eighty three paintings and sculptures were given by eminent artists like -
K.G. Subramanyan, Arpana Caur, Sunil Das, Yusuf Arakkal, S.H. Raza, Shamshad Husain, Jatin Das, Anjolie Ela Menon, Laxma Goud, Jamini Roy, A. Ramachandran, K.S. Radhakrishnan, M.F. Husain, ameshwar Broota,
Jogen Chowdhury, Rini Dhumal, Satish Gupta, Harsha Vardhana, Jayasri Burman, Sakti Burman and Nayanaa Kanodia. Out of these nearly 70 paintings were sold.
We are happy to say that Rs 2 crores was raised from the auction. With 50 % given to the artist, Ashraya made a net profit of nearly one crore.
Ashraya is grateful to all the people who made this charity auction possible.
Mrs. Anjolie Ela Menon did a great job for us by curating the show.
Mr. Vikram Sardesai and
Design Laboratory Pvt. Ltd. for design input.
Naina Kanodia, Rini Dhumal, Malti Puri, Dechu Bannerjee, Appa Rao Gallaries, Sanskriti Gallery, Crimzon Art Gallery, Right Lines Gallery, Gallery Samukha, who helped to collect the works.
The Claridges Hotels and Resorts for Hospitality.
Ashraya Workshop
Ashraya conducted a workshop on 23rd October 2010 based on :
The main resource persons were Dr.Meena Jain, Psychologist and newly appointed Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee, Bangalore Urban and Dr.Aloma Lobo, Chairperson, Adoption Co-ordinating Agency, Karnataka.
The workshop started off with a group discussion on ‘Questions often asked by the adoptive children and how can parents deal with them’, which served as an ice-breaker. We had a lot of sharing of thoughts, experiences, suggestions and ‘Don’t worry, I’ve been there too’ during the session.
Dr.Meena Jain, spoke about the issues faced by adoptive children and their families in school and also gave important tips to take back home, on issues relating to adolescence. It was a very interactive session and it left the parents much more confident about dealing with the challenges of parenting children in their adolescence.
Meeting of adopted children and families in Sweden (Sept-2000)
Meeting of adopted children and families
September 2000
At Mullsjo in Sweden, during a pleasant summer week - end - 4th and 5th August 2000, - 30 families gathered to meet Nomita Chandy and Shanthi Chacko. The families had one thing in common - they had all adopted children from Ashraya. The adoptees ranged in ages from 20 yrs. to 2 years and it was a truly happy get ?together.
What was an encouraging experience was that they all seemed well adjusted individuals, though the older ones had questions concerning their backgrounds, birth - mothers etc. A few of the older adoptees were happy with whatever information they already had but some showed greater interest in knowing a few more details. The session with the youth was the highlight of the week - end. Their views on the film of an adoptee looking for his roots were also interesting because most of them felt that it was rather insensitive to have a camera crew follow you at a very emotional re-union.
For Nomita and Shanthi it was a time of remembrances also. Seeing the children brought back memories of battles fought on their behalf, of frustrations and delays ; but also the triumphs and joys of tasks finished and happy families.
Elisabet Johansson one of the adoptive parents was the motivating force, and the months of planning and hard work resulted in a well arranged meeting. For the first night was arranged a Indo-Swedish dinner and later the parents showed videos of their visit to Ashraya and Bangalore. The next day there were sessions with the youth and also separate ones with individual families. What was sent back to Ashraya as a memento was a large tablecloth with signatures and names of all those who had been present.
Nomita and Shanthi are grateful to Elisabet and all the other parents for having made it possible for them to meet the families in a beautiful setting.
Shanthi Chacko.
The article: A home for every child
Celebrating 25 Years of Altruism
Ashraya celebrated its 25th Anniversary on the 29th of December 2007. The celebrations were spread over four days, from the 29th to the 2nd of January 2008. The four days were very eventful with cultural programs, workshops, interaction between adoptees and the Ashraya staff, and visits to the various organizations run by Ashraya.
The 25th Anniversary celebrations were inaugurated by Chairman, Administrative Reforms Commission Veerappa Moily, and Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sharma who has an adopted daughter himself, said that adoption makes sense no matter which perspective one views it from Mr. Moily said that adoption is a bond of unconditional affection.
Recognizing their truehearted commitment, caretakers and crèche teachers who have been associated with Ashraya for more than 20 years in service were felicitated. The Ashraya Children’s Home and site crèches would not have been the same without the dedicated staff, who have shown exemplary care and devotion in their work.
The children of Neelbagh Residential School put up an excellent cultural program, complete with traditional folk art and dances which included kolattam, Yoga and other popular folk dances. The show gave our international adoptees a colorful insight into the rich tradition.
Ashraya Art Auction
The Art auction was held on November 15, 2007 in Delhi at the Italian Embassy. The art Show was held to raise funds for the construction of a Training and Convention Center for Ashraya’s Womens Center - Tara.
Eighty three paintings and sculptures were given by eminent artists like -
K.G. Subramanyan, Arpana Caur, Sunil Das, Yusuf Arakkal, S.H. Raza, Shamshad Husain, Jatin Das, Anjolie Ela Menon, Laxma Goud, Jamini Roy, A. Ramachandran, K.S. Radhakrishnan, M.F. Husain, ameshwar Broota,
Jogen Chowdhury, Rini Dhumal, Satish Gupta, Harsha Vardhana, Jayasri Burman, Sakti Burman and Nayanaa Kanodia. Out of these nearly 70 paintings were sold.
We are happy to say that Rs 2 crores was raised from the auction. With 50 % given to the artist, Ashraya made a net profit of nearly one crore.
Ashraya is grateful to all the people who made this charity auction possible.
Mrs. Anjolie Ela Menon did a great job for us by curating the show.
Mr. Vikram Sardesai and
Design Laboratory Pvt. Ltd. for design input.
Naina Kanodia, Rini Dhumal, Malti Puri, Dechu Bannerjee, Appa Rao Gallaries, Sanskriti Gallery, Crimzon Art Gallery, Right Lines Gallery, Gallery Samukha, who helped to collect the works.
The Claridges Hotels and Resorts for Hospitality.
Ashraya Workshop
Ashraya conducted a workshop on 23rd October 2010 based on :
- Helping the Adoptee answer questions from often asked by family and friends.
- Issues for adoptive children and families in school, through adolescence and thereafter.
- The need to tell children about their adoption- The When and the How?
The main resource persons were Dr.Meena Jain, Psychologist and newly appointed Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee, Bangalore Urban and Dr.Aloma Lobo, Chairperson, Adoption Co-ordinating Agency, Karnataka.
The workshop started off with a group discussion on ‘Questions often asked by the adoptive children and how can parents deal with them’, which served as an ice-breaker. We had a lot of sharing of thoughts, experiences, suggestions and ‘Don’t worry, I’ve been there too’ during the session.
Dr.Meena Jain, spoke about the issues faced by adoptive children and their families in school and also gave important tips to take back home, on issues relating to adolescence. It was a very interactive session and it left the parents much more confident about dealing with the challenges of parenting children in their adolescence.
Meeting of adopted children and families in Sweden (Sept-2000)
Meeting of adopted children and families
September 2000
At Mullsjo in Sweden, during a pleasant summer week - end - 4th and 5th August 2000, - 30 families gathered to meet Nomita Chandy and Shanthi Chacko. The families had one thing in common - they had all adopted children from Ashraya. The adoptees ranged in ages from 20 yrs. to 2 years and it was a truly happy get ?together.
What was an encouraging experience was that they all seemed well adjusted individuals, though the older ones had questions concerning their backgrounds, birth - mothers etc. A few of the older adoptees were happy with whatever information they already had but some showed greater interest in knowing a few more details. The session with the youth was the highlight of the week - end. Their views on the film of an adoptee looking for his roots were also interesting because most of them felt that it was rather insensitive to have a camera crew follow you at a very emotional re-union.
For Nomita and Shanthi it was a time of remembrances also. Seeing the children brought back memories of battles fought on their behalf, of frustrations and delays ; but also the triumphs and joys of tasks finished and happy families.
Elisabet Johansson one of the adoptive parents was the motivating force, and the months of planning and hard work resulted in a well arranged meeting. For the first night was arranged a Indo-Swedish dinner and later the parents showed videos of their visit to Ashraya and Bangalore. The next day there were sessions with the youth and also separate ones with individual families. What was sent back to Ashraya as a memento was a large tablecloth with signatures and names of all those who had been present.
Nomita and Shanthi are grateful to Elisabet and all the other parents for having made it possible for them to meet the families in a beautiful setting.
Shanthi Chacko.