Dear Friends of Operation Shanti,

Welcome to our October 2006 e-newsletter, with news on our relatively busy summer 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.

     This summer, we enrolled two of our street kids in boarding school.  Everyone was quite excited to see the kids happily leave their life on the street for school, where they continue to live and study.
     In addition to feeding 150+ people a hot, nutritious meal every week, passing out vitamins and food to the kids and moms on a daily basis and attending to their health and nutrition issues, we were quite busy in May and June (school starts in June in India) getting the kids ready for their new lives in school.
     For a street kid—a beggar’s son or daughter—to go to boarding school is more than about receiving an education.  In a society where the poor are ignored or forgotten, these kids now have the chance to improve their standing in society as they grow into young adults.  This is in direct contrast to their prior situation, where they sporadically went to local schools when they were not working or begging, and lived on the street—a scenario in which they would likely have remained for the rest of their lives.
     Another bit of good news for eight-year old Latta, who has lived on the street her entire life and had never gone to school—this year, she started school!  Although Latta was a little apprehensive at first about leaving her mom for the whole day, we encouraged her to go to school.  We helped mom get Latta registered, walked her to class in the morning, purchased school supplies (book bag, pencils, notebooks, school uniform) that her mom couldn’t afford, and we continue to give her positive support and encouragement.
     Although there were a few hiccups in her attendance early on given her lifestyle on the street and a serious bout of anemia, for the past couple of months Latta has been attending school daily and loves it!
     For these kids, we are breaking the cycle of poverty.

We endeavor to instill in the kids and moms the ability to make their own choices, and to understand that there are consequences to their choices.

     Lakshman, a 28-year old father who has lived on the street for his entire life and supports his wife and two girls as best he can by selling vegetables and doing other odd jobs, contracted spinal meningitis this past August and was hospitalized for 10 days.  We purchased dad’s costly medicines prescribed by the doctor that basically saved his life and brain functions.  Today, dad is back working and has fully-recovered.
     We continue our networking activities with other health-related organizations to provide additional useful resources for our kids and moms.

     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.
     See our Get Involved section for other ways to give and be a part of our efforts, host a luncheon, take up a collection at your school or workplace, and use your creativity to support Operation Shanti.

     To volunteer, send us an email and tell us about your interests and skills:
info@operation-shanti.org
     We take non-monetary donations: art supplies, clothing, used yoga mats…
     Many thanks to the friends of Operation Shanti in Mysore, who continually support our efforts.
     And, thank you for your support.