Thanks to generous donations from supporters in California, across the country and in Europe, projects undertaken by Sahaya International in recent years are truly making a big difference.
Davis-based Sahaya International (www.sahaya.org) has as its motto: “You CAN make a difference” and in the case of a village called Andimadam in Tamil Nadu, Southern India, a huge difference has been made in a number of ways.
Sahaya supporters are sending Vasanthi, an Indian student, to nursing school; are providing low-interest loans for families to construct private toilets in their homes; are sponsoring 100 children – including many AIDS orphans – so they stay in school, and are supporting the construction of a beautiful new primary school. And these are just some of the many ongoing Sahaya projects.
“I couldn’t do it without the support of many generous Yolo County, Calif., residents and my family and friends in Europe,” said Koen Van Rompay, the founder of Sahaya International.
Van Rompay recently returned from a monthlong visit in Southern India where he was reunited with many children and young adults he has gotten to know over the past decade. He also conferred with D. Selvam, the director of READ (Rural Education and Action Development), Sahaya’s Indian partner who oversees many on- the- ground projects in Andimadam.
Here’s the status of just some of the ongoing Sahaya projects:
Vasanthi, the nursing student
“I met Vasanthi for the first time two years ago,” said Van Rompay. “Selvam introduced me to her, explaining that she was near the top of her high school class and had been accepted to nursing school in Chennai but her family couldn’t afford to send her.”
A fund-raising “Tea for Vasanthi” was held at International House in 2006 and nearly $6,000 was raised. Vasanthi entered nursing school.
“When I met Vasanthi again this past January, it was as if I met a different girl,” said Van Rompay. “She has completed two years of school and is near the top of her class.”
She is ranked No. 4 in a class of 50. Her classes are taught in English, a language she was not familiar with before she entered the Chidambaram College of Nursing.
Vasanthi, now 21, has become a self-confident and poised young woman who is already using her practical education.
In careful English, Vasanthi described helping at a clinic in Chennai (formerly Madras) earlier this year where Rotary International polio vaccine’s were distributed. She will graduate in two more years.
“We’ll keep you posted,” promised Van Rompay. “A ‘Tea for Vasanthi II’ will be held later this year at International House.”
Toilets, too
Sahaya helped raise $5,000 to start a toilet fund for the village. When Selvam polled members of women’s self-help groups about what kind of toilet would be most useful – a large municipal toilet complex or private at-home toilets -- the answer was clear. Families wanted to build out-houses near or at their own homes.
About 100 people have borrowed about $120 each to build an outhouse.
“This is a successful project,” said Selvam.
Mother Theresa School
“For about the past four years we have been raising money to build a new school,” said Van Rompay. “In January, I got my first good look at what a beautiful building it will be. It will be ready for the new school year that begins in June.”
Van Rompay said the whole village is excited about the new school, which replaces a very modest two-room structure.
“Contributions have come from several Sahaya fund-raising dinners and from St. James Community Gifts, among others,” said Van Rompay. “I wish you all could see this beautiful structure.”
It cost $5,000 to buy the land and $35,000 to construct the school, which will serve 100 children.
Davis resident Valentina Joske and her husband donated $2,000 for a classroom to memorialize her late father-in-law, Henri Joske, a Jew who fled Germany and became a highly respected judge and educator.
100 sponsored children
Over the past five years, the number of sponsored children has grown from fewer than 20 to 100.
These children come from impoverished families, many of which have been devastated by AIDS. They would not be able to stay in school were it not for help from their sponsors, said Van Rompay.
It costs $30 a month to sponsor a child. A portion of that money – which is used to pay tuition – is set aside so that at the end of a year the child’s guardian (usually a single parent or grandparent) will have enough capital to buy something that generates income, like a sewing machine or a few goats.
For more information about Sahaya International and how to sponsor a child or support other projects, contact Van Rompay at kkvanrompay at primate.ucdavis.edu. One-hundred percent of all donations go directly to Sahaya projects.
-- Reach Elisabeth Sherwin at gizmo@dcn.org and watch for more writings to be featured biweekly to monthly at this web site.
For More Information, Visit These Links:
www.sahaya.org
More Photos From India by Elisabeth Sherwin
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