Update from India 37

Firstly, our apologies for the late publishing but we delayed for a reason, we had to wait to confirm an events result. Details in NGO.

This Month:

Comment

Garden

Rotary club

Monsoon

NGO

Comments from Kris

Comment.

This month I would like you to read Rajiv Vij’s piece In the Times of India.

I found it interesting and very thought provoking.  

As a foreigner in India I really read ‘Speaking Tree’, I find it insightful and it helps me understand my adopted country a little better.

Yes I admit to still making complete blunders here ……especially with my feet and or shoes, I’m not going through the list of do’s and don'ts, but I have had to apologize a few times but friends are a great help, and very tolerant of my mistakes and accent.

Learning Hindi, well that’s another matter that we are working on, "we are trying", or should I say ‘Hum Kosish Ker Rahe Hai’.

Garden

Well we have seeds just popping up, Leeks, Carrot, Beetroot, Cucumber, Cauliflower. We will now sow and sow and sow. This is our food straight from our own garden again….yummy.

Seeds coming up hooray!

Chris up a tree securing new garden structure

As usual all bamboo

Getting there

The finished framework

The cover is on hold for a few days as work calls at Buddha Institutes. Really solidly built and fitted with straining wires. Posts set 18” deep. Next will come wire net and all the support wires. Remember, this has to be Monkey proof.

This is where the cesspit lives, a concrete hump so we built beds on it. Steps and a path to the back garden.

 

  

Rotary Club

We were invited to attend the inauguration of our friend Girish Vaishnav as President of the Rotary Club Udaipur Udai. It was brilliant to see someone who does so much good work becoming President. The Rotary Clubs here are a tremendous help to Society and especially the needy. It was an honour afforded to few non Rotarians to be invited to such an important Ceremony. We are forging links that in the future will benefit both The Rotary Club and HDS.

Mr Girish Vaishnav 

Girish taking his oath of office

Receiving Presidential Insignia

Honoured Rotarians

Mr Girish Vaishnav President of the Rotary
Club Udaipur Udai & local MP
Mr Arjun lal meena
who was extremely interested to hear about the
work HDS is doing for the needy.

As honoured guests we were officially
recognised by the Rotary Club and given
a symbolic gift each.

Their Anniversary Cake

This little girl has been adopted by the Rotary
Club, and was presented with a new bicycle.
The Rotary Club will pay for all her needs,
including education until she has married.
Isn't that amazing?

Here comes the food this is just the starters
 and the food was delicious, lovely 5 Star Hotel

Our Symbolic gifts

It was a fantastic evening event, we enjoyed ourselves very much, a rare treat indeed for us to eat in such a superb Hotel, the food was simply spectacular. Girish has been a friend since the day he and Chris met and talked Bullets (Royal Enfield Motorcycles) who we bumped into at the local Resort. Chris was attracted by his bullet outside so we had to go in and meet the owner. 

He has become a truly supportive friend who wants to help HDS in any way he can. He is a kind, generous and hugely energetic person. We wish him well in his Presidency.

Monsoon

 It has arrived.

New Lakeside View

Hey look its raining!

Drive washing time!

HDS

 Breast Cancer seminar held at pannadhay Government Ladies Hospital

This was the scariest Seminar I have ever given, it was in front of Medical and Nursing Staff so all professionals in their own right. 60+ attended (I lost count at that point). It was well received and we are forging new links with the hospital. This was the first event of International Breastfeeding Celebration Week. The event was catered which gave me an opportunity to talk to those who attended. A great event for HDS, and we even got a mention in the Hindi newspaper the following day for the good work we are doing.

Getting prepared!

Just a few of those that attended

Discussion with a Senior Nurse Breast Cancer
 Treatments and outcomes here in Rajasthan. 

Lots of discussion following Seminar

Entrance to Hospital 

Please note we have banners in Hindi

And English

International Breastfeeding Celebration Week

We were invited to attend the Conference by the Head of Gynaecology Dr Rajrani Sharma. It was on a Tuesday so we were supposed to be working, I (Kris), took the day off to attend, Chris went off to work to find his class had been put back by one week (first years, new semester) so luckily he could come with me. 

Deputy Superintendent of Police speaking on
the importance of Breastfeeding  to develop
a bond with the baby, and the importance of
Colostrum Milk in protecting the baby so it
receives antibodies "natures best inoculation"

Audience gathering

Opening Ceremony

This is a traditional ritual to open any Hindu
Event or Celebration

The Honoured Guests

Dr Rajrani Sharma Head of Gynaecology
speaking on the importance of Breast
Feeding and the dangers of milk powder
mixed with contaminated water.

The Principal of Pacific University receiving
an award for her efforts in supporting
Breast Feeding

Deputy Superintendant of Police receiving her
award for her efforts

Then this happened our names got called...........
Total Shock
This is us receiving an award for the work HDS is doing
in early Breast Cancer Detection
We were completely blown away by this, we had no idea
that HDS was going to be given an award recognising
our efforts to reduce the number of undetected Breast Cancers
with our Self Examination Seminars

Still gobsmacked!

The award given to HDS in recognition of its
work to reduce unnecessary deaths from
Breast Cancer by educating Indian women
in the technique of Self Examination

To have the work of the NGO recognised in this way was not only a huge surprise to us but also a very great boost to our morale knowing that we are being recognised for the work the NGO is doing. This was a very proud moment for us. Tears were held back, however we didn't go to bed until 2 am because we were so excited and had to be up at 6.45 am at the latest for work.

Comments from Kris

After that what can I really say? 

Blown away doesn't really cover the month we have had. 

In another piece of news HDS is in the process of setting up a website thanks to the fantastic efforts of our President Sahiba and other members of the Governing Body (thanks Ravi for your technical skills). It is still in the development stage so forgive any errors the link is hdsudaipur.org

Wow!!!!

For us this is a dream that began when we visited India on holiday in Nov 2011. We still remember vividly praying for guidance with Andrew in the Park at Rani Road. From that day our lives changed completely as many of you will know. Our journey continues.

God Bless you all

Chris and Kris