Dear Friends of Operation Shanti,

Welcome to our May 2007 e-newsletter, with the latest news on our work over the past few months in India. This newsletter is for you, to let you know how your generous contributions are being put to good use. Enjoy, and thank you for your continuing support.

     Chumi (age 6) and Venkatesh (age 9) completed their first year of boarding school. Both had a great time, and Venkatesh learned computers, was singled out to ring the school bell several times and received an award for winning a sports competition. He told his mom (who until recently had lived on the street her entire life) that when he grows up, he'll get a good job and take care of her so that she can live comfortably. The kids return to school in June, along with three other children in our program who can't wait to join them. For these kids, we are breaking the cycle of poverty.
     Our volunteers continue to do a great job with the kids and moms. They bring tremendous compassion and support to our work and take time a few days each week to connect with the kids, teach them Yoga and the ABCs, accompany them on field trips and give the moms massages and acupuncture treatments.

Housing Program Update

     Four more families have joined our housing program and are now living in their own rented houses. Their kids now have a home and no longer need to sleep on the street. The difference in the moms and kids is noticeable—they are happier, more relaxed, have gained weight and are cleaner and healthier, like two-year-old Jyothi (below left) who was once a sickly and thin baby. The moms want their kids to go to school and they are doing a much better job taking care of them.

     We've been out there with the moms and kids for two years now, and we're delighted that our moms have started to watch out for other destitute women (like Sanju, right) and the elderly on the street who are unable to care for themselves. The moms bring them to us and we help them with medical care, food and clothing.
     One elderly couple, Krupamma (left) and Peter, live in a rented shack, but since Peter lost his legs and hands to diabetes several years ago, he begs for money to pay the rent. We subsidize part of their monthly rent and provide them with weekly lunches and morning breakfasts.
     We have also begun to provide nano loans to select women. The women use this money to start a vegetable or flower business, and make weekly payments on the loan.

     We feed 300+ destitutes a nutritious meal every week and pass out daily B-complex and calcium to the moms for their overall health. Prema (age 9) got a much-needed tonsillectomy and will have an ear operation in a few months. Two moms (including Amita, right) had tubectomies at the local women's clinic as part of our family planning effort.
     Two other women in our program were admitted to the detox center and have been sober since. One woman's son, Ganesha (left), was at a shelter since birth and excelled in school. A couple of years ago in a drunken fit, mom pulled Ganesha out of the shelter and back to the street to work. Now they are in our housing program, and with a nano loan from us, mom started a fruit and vegetable business. She plans to have Ganesha go back to school this year.

     We continue to raise funds for our next projects, a community center/homeless shelter for our Street People Program, laying the groundwork for our home for destitute kids, and providing free mobile medical services to those unable to get good healthcare.
     Help us get more kids and families off the streets and into proper shelter and help provide basic yet life-saving medicines to the poor by donating securely today here.

      Give in other ways, host a luncheon or take up a collection at your school or workplace; be creative!
     To volunteer, send us an email and tell us about your interests and skills.
     We appreciate your nonmonetary donations: art supplies, clothing, yoga mats, soap, blankets. Many thanks to those in Mysore who made Christmas special for the kids in 2006, and who continue to donate very useful and needed items.
     And thank you for your support.