Time flies! It's been nearly 2 years!!
With 2017 passing by with the wink of an eye I suddenly realized that it has been almost two years since the last blog was posted. Not that Varada Effort has not done a thing but there were too many things that went past and I could hardly breath and now it is already the third quarter of 2018.
To summarise what we have done in 2017, we will list the activities chronologically:- 1). For the TCV winter program in January 2017, we saw a total of 29 children (14 travelling to Auroville and 15 to Nepal) to spend their winter holiday. Each of them were given an amount of Rs 600 /- as pocket money. Thus a total amount of Rs17,400 was spent from our fund. Since we had a previous balance of Rs 19,000 plus a top up of Rs 75,000//- from the fund raising in Dharamsala, this leaves a balance of Rs 76,600/- for the following year.
2) For the Vesak 2017, we continue our support for the children in Ngari Institute by raising the prayer flags in Ngari Institute on Vesak Day. We managed to have all 50 Dharchor taken up with another 50 smaller luntas as well. Altogether with the $1,720/- donations from various kind hearted sponsors in Singapore, we managed to raise a total of $6,520/- for the Institute.
We intend to make this an annual event where the money raised, after deducting the cost of the smoke offering puja, offering to the monks and helpers and the cost of the flags, the balance will go to the maintenance of the children in Ngari Institute. The children also will reciprocate by doing protector puja nightly before dinner and dedicate the merits to all the donors.
This is a very meritorious deed for all as the ground where the flags were raised is on top of the hill and the wind is forever blowing very strongly. Therefore the mantras on the flags will travel across the mountains and valleys to pacify all obstacles and also send peace to all beings. May all sentient beings find peace and happiness!
Vesak Day smoke offering and raising of Dharchor
3) Our dear nurse in the making, Ms Pema Dolkar, is into the third year of her study now. Our kind hearted sponsors have continued to support her education. With their generosity a total of $1,745 /- was raised in Jul-Aug. This will take care of her school fees, books cost plus dormitory charges, and living expenses as well. Very grateful to the following donors who lend their hands to support a stranger that they do not know and make a difference in her life. Many thanks to:-
Shirley Hoe
Tham Khuan Heng
Yik Choi Peng
Swas Tan Teik Ee & family
Bhagya Jean Lau
Amala Chew Soo Chuah & family
Chiang Meau Chyou
Cheng Meng Heok
Ang Bee Yian
Lee Sze Uarn & family
Raymond Tan Chong Hock & family
Pema in her nursing uniform in front of the hospital she works in
4) During HHDL's teaching in Dharamsala, Spiti Girls' Hostel asked for help since they are short of running fund. They are housing and providing girls from the villages where higher level of education is not available. So not only they house the girls but also teach them skills like computer and crafts besides going to the nearby high schools daily.
Through a group of kind hearted volunteers, they set up a stall during the teaching to sell malas, little trinklets and even cookies for the hostel.
On the other hand, through the mass messaging, we also managed to get the following local donors to donate the following sums to help by giving them a base amount to start with. Many thanks to the following kind hearted sponsors who has come out with the following amount:-
Yik Choi Pneg $100/-
Arnold Loke $100/-
Angeline Chan $50/-
Chua Sock Keng $100/-
