Project Report
| Jul 8, 2019
Changing the World One Child at a Time
By Shana Greene | Executive Director/Village Volunteers
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Dear Supporter,
The great quote by philosopher Margaret Mead takes it best. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed it the only thing that has."
When I take a glimpse into New Light, the NGO in Kolkata that educates and shelters children in the red light district, I can't help but think of the staff and of the founder and fearless director, Urmi Basu. This charismatic woman has managed to transform the lives of children who had nothing more to look forward to but slavery and degrading, often violent life paths. When you go to New Light, its a matter of understanding the inevitable path these children who have taken if not for Urmi. Helping the oppressed is Urmi's calling and she does it in a way that instills confidence in children who saw no future but to become prostitutes, pimps or drug dealers. Now when you ask children what they want to be when they grow up their eyes light up and they say, a policeman, a chef, and one bright boy with the aptitude to go into engineering. Not one child in the care of New Light has gone back to the streets because of Urmi. So, indeed, we see time and time again we shouldn't underestimate the power of a single individual or a small group of people to change the world.
Recently, Windsor Johnston from NPR visited New Light through Village Volunteers and was able to capture the essence of New Light. Windsor went on to win several radio awards for her work at New Have a listen. Light. https://www.npr.org/2018/11/23/670373258/calcutta-woman-helps-children-of-sex-workers-break-the-cycle
Thank you!
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Apr 12, 2019
The Success of Nuturing
By Shana Greene | Executive Director, Village Volunteers
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New Light success
Dear Donor,
The key to the success of the New Light shelters has everything to do with nurturing and treating each child as an individual. Loving behavior combined with teaching and guiding has been a successful component of New Light. With a continuum that works with children through school, New Light has assisted the most vulnerable child to stand tall and know they are precious. Each caregiver and volunteer understands the responsibility they have in being as loving, caring and firm as if they were the parent.
We encourage those who donate to also volunteer in India at New Light to see how their donation dollars have been spent. We ask that volunteers behave professionally and to respect the rules set forth put in place to protect the child. We ask that volunteers don't visit parents unless given permission although rarely granted. The children are from challenged backgrounds so try to be emphatic towards them without being sympathetic. Your respect is our respect.
Once you meet the children, you will always understand how important your donation dollars are and how much integrity New Light has in working with the children of trafficked women or women from inter-generational prostitution. New Light does its job by breaking the chain of sex work to provide children with an understanding of their worth.
Thank you!
Shana Greene
Write me for more information at shana@villagevolunteers.org
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Jan 15, 2019
Because of you, this year will be stellar for the children.
By Shana Greene | Executive Director of Village Volunteers
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Dear Doner,
Last year we saw the children thrive at the shelter. With the issues that plague the red light district children, New Light has once again provided a year of growth and healing for the children of sex workers, pimps and drug dealers. To be at the shelter, you have to remind yourself that these happy and busy children live in a red light district and are aware of all that goes on around them.
After they are in the care of New Light, they are educated and nurtured to never fall to the pit of despair around them. They love their mothers and their mother's love them enough to want them to have a better life than they have. Its only because of the donations that come in that the children are educated, provided with nutritious meals, healthcare, and a nurturing environment. Even when they graduate from high school, they are often placed in vocational schools or college to become all that they can become.
This would never happen without you and the other generous donors. We can't thank you enough for your continuing support to stop the cycle of abuse.
Warmest regards to you and yours,
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