Deepalaya - Enabling Self-Reliance

Raghu Rai

I feel ashamed for not giving enough time for the cause of children. I wish if I was PM or Minister for Social Welfare I would have ensured free schooling, books and food. I always liked to be actively involved with a cause but in this age of material values we are constrained of time and I willingly admit of being selfish too. You know, if I don?t work I won?t be able to contribute for such cause. I always believed ?Action should Manifest? NGO?s should come together and fight elections.

This will pave way to transform NGO movement as people?s movement. In the process NGOs will set up standards for the society.

I have a suggestion to make, Deepalaya shouldn?t be unnerved to work under limitations, you should work with an eye on possibility, use the very basic and explore the non expensive means.

I wish Deepalaya all the best and hope many more successful decades.

Ms Sharon Lowen Renowned Odissi Dancer has extended her support to Deepalaya. Asked about her reason for association with the cause of the underprivileged, Sharon remarked that she essentially came from a socially responsible family where she learnt that as a human being she should not only be a taker / consumer but also a giver. Sharon came to India art, Sharon is also the Coordinator of Indian Studies at the American Embassy School.

Sharon first heard about Deepalaya in 1996-97 through the University Exchange Programme when children of the Deepalaya put up a cultural show at the American Embassy School. Sharon’s first impression of Deepalaya “I was impressed by the children’s behavious and personality they were no way different from the children of any good public school of Delhi. At that time I realised the impact of the organisation on the lives of these underprivileged children. Since then Sharon kept in touch with Deepalaya facilitating other cultural shows. She readily agreed to join the Friend of Deepalaya group as she was happy to do whatever little she can to further the cause of the organization. She visualises her role as that of a catalyst in brain storming sessions of the Friend’s group. She whole heartedly supports the idea of the friends group referring Deepalaya to corporates / companies etc and to make joint presentations & marketing Deepalaya.

Thanks indeed Sharon for your support !

Avinash Pasricha, noted photographer, has been associated with Deepalaya since 1998, when a mailer reached his home seeking his support for welfare activities. His association grew stronger when he visited Deepalaya School and the projects, he said, “I was impressed by the joy on the faces of children and the sense of responsibility of the teachers and social workers. However, I was quite upset to know the school is facing major hurdle of recognition.” He went further to mention how he found a way out in his quest to do something meaningful and satisfying for the society. “I usually relate social work to my photography, this profession beside giving me a name and satisfaction has made me to contribute for the society. I always search for organizations doing worthwhile services for less fortunates of the society.”

“I am glad to see, Deepalaya is taking care of all aspects be it health, income generation, gender equity but, what impressed me most is the focus on education. Education would be a catalyst to the understanding of Health & Family Planning aspects among the slum community.”

Shovana Narain, renowned Kathak Dancer said, “I recollect, meeting Mr Mathew in 1994 at Lok Nayak Bhawan. This meeting further strengthened my belief that everyone in the society should look beyong their worlds.”

“In the year 1995, I took up a sponsorship of a girl child, Urvashi Kukreja who was then 4 years old, the family lives in Transit Camp and her parents are daily wage workers. Today I understand the child is in IV std and I believe with Deepalaya’s intervention the child will develop into an independent educated citizen, able to judge what’s right or wrong.” She further said, “I believe organization like Deepalaya can bring a tremendous change by actually educating children, paving a way of setting a strong foundation for creating a better society.”

She started her experience when she came to Deepalaya first time as Chief Guest in one of the functions, she was particularly impressed by the fact, “Girl” outnumbered boys in terms of participation in the cultural programme. She feels the need of the hour is to educate more girl children, this would lead to a balance in the Indian Society. Education should empower the girl child to think for their own well being and they should realize that they are not just a commodity but have a back bone and a spine too.

I wish Deepalaya the very best in its mission of developing worthy citizens,” she added
.

I got to know about Deepalaya in the year 1992 through the father of my colleagues, who was doing some voluntary work for the organisation. He gave me some material to read and that created the interest. That was the beginning,”said Mr Jyoti Sagar, Managing Partner J. Sagar Associates.”

According to him Deepalaya is an excellent organization with a huge commitment to the causes it has chosen to work for. Deepalaya is running programmes which make a difference to the social and economic problems that our country and society face. There is no doubt that lack of primary education and primary health facilities cause a multitude of problems in the long run. By focusing on these areas, Deepalaya addresses the causes and not the symptoms. It has become a role model for others to emulate.

I have been supporting Deepalaya over the past six years - through a regular monthly contribution as also for specific projects like the Kalkaji Extn. School building. I wish that I could devote more time to Deepalaya activities-because I feel that more than just monetary contributions, it is the involvement with the activities which is required. I am endeavouring to do that and accepting to be a “Friend of Deepalaya”.

Manpreet Brar noted beauty paegant came to know of Deepalaya during a fund raising event. “When I saw the children and their eagerness and enthusiasm in their eyes I was prompted to visit the Deepalaya School nearly five years back. It was then that I deceded to become a sponsor parent and support a child to get educated.”

“During my maiden visit I realised students in this school have the urge and desire to come to school probably due to the love and care the teachers give to each child.” I wish to congratulate Deepalaya on completion of two decades, and I am confident you would have many people supporting your project.”

Manpreet attributes her success to the education she has received since childhood. At Deepalaya, I found that the children, despite living in adverse conditions, had the motivation to attend school and get educated.”

On the condition of the girl child she said,”A marked change has come about during the last 2-3 years when professionally and academically, girls have been rubbing shoulders with their male counterparts. There are many homes in India, where girls are bread winners today.”

She assured her support to promote the cause of Deepalaya in the media “I feel we should empower children to take up issues related to their future and allow them to make the choice,”Ms Brar added.

“I write a column in the Newspaper “People like us”, a column which seeks to highlight Individuals and organizations which are in their own little way trying to make a difference around them. In my search for such organizations, Deepalaya figured among the first.

Since then, Mr. Mathew kept in touch with me and together we masterminded to set up a group “Friends of Deepalaya”.

This was followed by my visit to Deepalaya school, I see this visit as important for nurturing of faith that even in today’s cynical, obsessed and materialistic world, there is an organization which symbolizes care and concern. It was particularly an invitation to joy, seeing the children in
Deepalaya. Infra structure came as a surprise ! It was a proper school with proper class rooms and teachers, it was just right environment.

I am also sponsoring two Deepalaya children, I feel happy and a nice experience too, but I do feel I am not doing enough. I often motivate others to sponsor and think of doing more. Well, it is a nice feeling to give back the society in a small way.

I would like to congratulate Deepalaya and wish Deepalaya should grow further, become more aggressive in raising funds, should continue to remain transparent as it is today. Every one working with Deepalaya should get over the notion of completion of two decades and look ahead with confidence and with lot of ambition for many such decades.”