It has been quite sometime that I posted an update on Vaidehi Ashram. Life in general got extremely busy (read as chaotic), pushing everything else into the back burner. Honestly though, there has been not a single day when I don't think of these kids at the ashram. Now, thanks to my mother, I could coordinate and disburse about 50,000 Rupees for their monthly groceries. The ashram currently is giving shelter and a chance to lead a better life for about 120+ girls (from ages 3 to 21 years) and providing 3 square meals a day is a necessity. A big thanks to the generosity of these awesome people out there and the trust they have in me to help out these kids. The remaining amount (~ Rs 50,000) is being planned to spend as their monthly schools fees in the month of May 2015.
All the photographs used in the post have been taken by my mother using her phone. I think she did a hell of a good job capturing the true essence of the visit. Bonus: My driver took a video too. Check it out at the end of this post. :-)
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came forward to help these kids at the ashram.
“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”
~ John Bunyan
It was a day to rejoice and to celebrate at Vaidehi Ashram as it completed 20 years of its existence That's a big milestone, especially when an ashram survives all these years on its own with the help of generous donors and without any government support. Kudos to the people behind it who diligently attend to the needs of all 150+ girls who either have no parents or with a single parent who no longer want them. I deliberately don't delve into their life stories as the two times I tried, I found myself crying inconsolably right then and there. Some are such sad stories that one wouldn't believe that such an incident can actually happen in these modern times. The mindset of the parents who think girls as liabilities has to change. So, I go there, play with the kids, talk to them and see the brighter side of their lives. When I spend time with them, they give these wonderfully radiant smiles filled with hope for better times ahead. And every single time, I hope & wish they have an opportunity to live normal lives, surrounded with lots of love, joy and compassion. :-)
“No one has ever become poor by giving.”
~ Anne Frank, diary of Anne Frank
If you want to help these girls at the ashram, please read more details here. There is a constant need to pay their school fees each month and every penny will take them a step closer in meeting their right for basic needs such as education.
Below are few photographs of their annual day celebrations I took to share with you all. Enjoy.
Here is the last and final set of photographs from the Shirdi Trip. Click here for set 1, set 2 and set 3. I intentionally published in few bursts rather than all 34 of them at once as this would give you an opportunity to feel the joy & happiness the girls experienced during their first trip outside the state. IT was a HUGE responsibility to manage 59 kids on a week long trip and I must commend the ashram authorities for taking a good care of them. Kudos. Two children fell sick during the trip, but thankfully it was just cold and they were back in action in no time.
In Ajanta and Ellora Caves. Don't they look super cute in this pic!
they cooked their own meals all through the trip. It both hygenic and economical.
On their way back, they stopped by Basara, abode of Goddess Saraswati.
Gnana Saraswathi Devi at Basara
..and they were back in Hyderabad late at night..
With the blessings of Shirdi Sai, the trip happened without any hiccups. All the girls at the Ashram came back happy, joyous and with loads of memories in their hearts. Thanks again to one and all who made this happen. :-)
Note: Click here to view all the Vaidehi Ashram related posts published here on the blog.
Note: Click here to view all the Vaidehi Ashram related posts published here on the blog.
A quick glance at the below pictures and you will know how much fun the kids had and the joy & happiness they must have felt when a wish of theirs got fulfilled, thank to you all. It was a pure delight to sift through the photographs the girls have taken during their trip and compile the best ones for the blog which I will be sharing with you all for next few days.
Their Shirdi trip went for a week where they started from Hyderabad on a Sunday night and visited places like Pandaripur, Nasik, Ajant & Ellora Caves, Aurangabad, Shirdi and Basara.
Here are the first lot of the photographs... Enjoy!
Breath in experience. ~ Muriel Rukeyser
One joy scatters a hundred griefs. ~ Chinese proverb
“To need nothing is divine, and the less a man needs the nearer does he approach to divinity” ~ Socrates
I rejoice in what I have and I know that fresh new experiences are always ahead. I greet the new with open arms. I trust life to be wonderful. ~ Louise Hay
I breathe in the fullness and richness of life. I observe with joy as life abundantly supports me and supplies me with more good than I can imagine. – Louise Hay
Too much of a good thing can be wonderful. ~ Mae West
The joy of a spirit is the measure of its power. ~ Ninon de l’Enclos
While you are upon the earth, enjoy the good things that are here. ~ John Selden
Happiness is a way of travel, not a destination. ~ Roy Goodman
{Updated on November 15th 2012} Shirdi Trip Photographs Part 1 Located in a quaint colony here in Hyderabad, until last year, there were only few handful of people along with 100+ orphan kids associated with the Vaidehi Ashram. Now, things have a changed, a lot. Since the day Vaidehi Ashram has been mentioned on this blog for the first time, many many generous souls have joined the ashram community. Its now a big, virtual family where each one of us have pledged to help out those needy girls and strive to give them a better life. I can't thank enough those who helped me in bringing joy and happiness into their lives. Thank you in lending a helping hand (even now, every single day through your numerous calls and emails about what you can do for the ashram) and for believing in the notion that- the ashram kids too deserve to see their aspirations fulfilled in their lives, just like any of us. :-)
Welcome to Vaidehi Ashram
Now, coming to some super exciting news. Remember, this post where I asked for your help to make their wish (to visit Shridi for Dussehra) a reality. Well, I am ecstatic to let you all know that - not only we collected the necessary amount in less than 48 hours, the travel company has offered an attractive package where the children will be touring not only Shirdi but a bunch of other places as well. How cool is that!!. It is no longer a day trip, it evolved itself into a week long trip. About 50 girls (who are studying from 7th standard to college) along with 3 ashram wardens and 6 committee members (59 in total) will be joining this trip.
"The Bags are ready. Food packed. The kids are all set to go, tomorrow! "
A total of 1,21,393 Rupees has been collected during the fund drive last week and am happy to let you all know that the entire amount has been handed over to the ashram authorities.
Here is the breakup of the costs -
--> Transportation - 40,000 Rs (in the form two cheques directly given to "Sri Venkateshwara Travels) + 33,000 Rupees (for various toll taxes & othere travel related expenses along the way etc)
--> Food - 20,000 Rupees donated by Lata Raja, sent directly to Ashram account.
--> Accommodation + Miscellaneous costs for medicines, blankets etc - 28,393 Rupees
I visited the ashram today to see how the preparations were going on. Below are few photographs I clicked while I was there. Some of the older kids have promised me to take loads of pictures during their trip. I will post them once they are back. Stay tuned. :-D
common medicines, in case needed.
its quite cold these days, hence few blankets to wrap on.
buckets & mugs
few munchies - chudwa and rava laddoo (made in ashram kitchen) for the trip.
Some of the girls, wardens and committee members who will be going to this trip. (except for the little girl on right side)
