Support orphaned children at our Sunshine Homes

Hello all,

Love and Greetings from Sunshine Homes!

My name is Sameer* and I’m 17 years old. Being a part of one of the Sunshine Homes run by Udayan Care in Gurugram, I’m glad to connect with you and share the engagements that I and all the other children of Sunshine Homes had over the last few months. We participated in various fun activities and educational sessions, and we also went on excursions to Nanital in Auro camp! But before going into the details of the same, I would like to share the story of my friend Ramesh* with you, who is 15 years old and lived with me at Sunshine Home, Gurugram for a few years. His story is a personification of inspiration for us. I want to share his story to raise awareness among the masses about the superstition of people and the children get impacted and I really wish more and more people support children like us.

Since childhood, Ramesh’s parents struggled to provide for their family due to financial constraints. Ramesh has some issues in his left foot and his parents tried his treatment but couldn’t succeed. Superstitions around the health condition of child Ramesh, the family was forced by the community to leave the child at Temple, in the hopes that the child would be cured there. Ramesh escaped from the Temple in Bihar and found shelter on the stairs of the Temple in Gurugram. He was rescued by the child line and transferred to Udayan Care Home, Gurugram in 2019 for long-term care and protection by the orders of the Child Welfare Committee.

Ramesh was medically unfit at the time of his admission to Udayan Care’s Home. The initial 24-hour health examination was carried out at the Govt. Hospital in Sector 10, Gurugram which revealed that he has acute injuries in his foot. His treatment from a government hospital continued for few months. As the wound wasn’t healing, Ghar staff took him to the nearest hospital where it was diagnosed that the child is in urgent need of amputation of his left foot. His moment was very difficult due to deep wound at his foot. Thereafter through a volunteer, Udayan Care tied up with Medanta Hospital, Gurugram for the surgery, where his foot and toe were amputated in June 2020, and despite regular medication and treatment his wound was not healing, and the infection continued to spread. He was in severe pain, and we all get so sad when he used to shout in pain. He was taking medicine regularly.

In July 2021 Ramesh was again taken to the Medanta Hospital, Gurugram, after a thorough investigation, to stop the further spread of the wound Ramesh requires another surgery in which his affected legs below the knee part has to be completely amputated. Ramesh was provided with a prosthetic leg by an NGO.

During his stay in Udayan Care, Gurugram, he was engaged in basic literacy, through Non-Formal Education (NFE) at Ghar. He actively participated in all the activities of the Ghar. During his stay at Ghar our team was continuously following the childline and police in order to trace his family based on the clues that Ramesh has given to them. Ramesh was too young when his family left him at temple in myth that by serving God his wound will heal and he will be fine one day.

The long search for Ramesh’s family was finally completed as his family was traced, with the help of another NGO. They communicated with the family of Ramesh. Ramesh had also interacted with his family over phone. He informed his family that his wound has been completely treated and he is absolutely fine now. After three years of his stay he was restored to his family (based in Sasaram, Bihar) in November 2022. We are still in touch with him. I miss him very much. However I am connected with him through mobile and used to chat with him once a week.

Despite all the trials that came his way, the support and love of the Home staff enabled him to wade his way through challenges.

Millions of children worldwide are devoid of parental love, care, and support, with their futures at stake. We, the children at the Sunshine Home, want to reach out to people by taking them through Ramesh’s journey of growth so far at Sunshine Home. We want it to echo among people who can extend their helping hand to disadvantaged children. We hope that one day, every child will be cared for, and supported through thick and thin. We hope that one day, every child’s eye will shine with vivid dreams, and have the capacity to turn them into reality. We hope that one day, no child will be left behind.

Well, that’s all about us. Now, let me take you through some of the fun and learning engagements that took place at Sunshine Homes.

GANDHI JAYANTI

Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of the Father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Movie screenings and informative sessions are organised for all the homes and the children are encouraged to make posters and charts around the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.

DUSSEHRA Celebration

Dussehra, a major festival of India also known as “the day of victory”; denotes the victory of good over evil. The children from various homes participated in the community organised celebrations, such celebrations provide the children the necessary exposure and opportunity to engage in cultural celebrations. The children at every Home celebrated Dussehra with great zeal. They were explained about the significance of the festival. The children made effigies of Ravana using Colour papers, sticks etc. We all had fun during festival

DAAN UTSAV

Daan Utsav is a weeklong 'festival of giving' celebrated from the 2nd of October to the 8th of October every year. The children across all Ghars celebrated this festival by giving notebooks, pencils, and chocolates to children living in a nearby open communities. The children understood the significance of practicing the virtue of kindness and sharing in their lives.                   

Diwali Celebration

Diwali is one of the major religious festival of India and people celebrate it with greta happiness and joy. The Udayan homes were decorated with beautifuyl lights and children made rangolis and participated in celenrations organised by the residential associations. The children had a real celebration time during Diwali. The mentor parents of all the Homes also come to meet and greet children. The alumni were also part of festival celebrration. Diwali festival is a great reunioin time for all mentors, children, aftercare Young adults and alumini and they celbrater festival with great zeal.

Youth Camp at Aurobindo Ashram, Nainital

A week long Youth Camp fondly called the ‘Auro Camp’ was organized for the Aftercare Youth in association with Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust, from 30th October 2022 to 5th November 2022. The Trust has been organizing such camps since 1977 as one of their Programmes, wherein youth across the country participate with joy to gather knowledge and spiritual awareness. The youth and staff were full of zeal and enthusiasm to experience this adventure as the trip came with a blend of fun and learning.                               

The mornings would start with refreshing exercises and musical games which would give an energetic boost to the children for the fun activities lined up for the rest of the day. After having breakfast, the children would go for awestriking treks, explore caves, and experience enthralling scrambling and rock climbing.

The trip was packed with exciting, adventurous activities and experiences which came across as an opportunity to build a sense of teamwork and strong friendships among the participants. The camp came to an end with moments of enjoyment captured in beautiful and scenic photography. With an adventurous streak of learning, the trip proved to be a vivid one.

Inter NGO Sports Event

On 19^th November, children from both the Lajpat Nagar Ghars and Vasant Kunj Ghar participated in Inter NGO Sports Event organized by Modern School Vasant Vihar. Children participated in all the events like the 100m race, 200m race, 4 × 100m relay race, sack race, hurdle race and tug of war. All the children have participated enthusiastically and were amazed to see the performances by the other children who participated from other NGOs while cherishing the hospitality by the children from Modern School. Two children from Lajpat Nagar Ghars won the Silver and Bronze Medal in 200m race and sack race, respectively. All children have received a Certificate for Participation and refreshments.  

Nakshatra

On 20^th November, a vibrant event called Nakshatra was organised by Bhumi NGO in North campus, DU. This fest provided a platform for children to ‘Dream’- exhibit their talents, ‘Discover’ their potential and ‘Dazzle’ in an atmosphere of healthy competition. It contributes to their holistic development through extra-curricular activities. The children were able to showcase their creativity and skills by participating in various events. Three children from Ghaziabad and Faridabad Ghar also won prizes in various activites. Nandini won 1st prize in Pot Designing, Mahi won 1^st prize in Pot Painting, Soniya won 1st prize in Poem Recitation and Prachi won 2nd prize in solo dance performance Bhumi Got Talent.

FICCI FLO Anshukam

The women's wing of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) i.e., 'FICCI FLO' organized a grand National Level event ‘Anshukam’, a two-day event, with the subject 'Weaving Stories Through threads,' that showcased the work of weavers and craftsmen from different part of the country. Children from our Udayan Ghars enacted various street plays on social issues which were written and directed by the children themselves. Children also showcased clothes designed by Udayan Care’s other project- Udayan Skill Development center.

We would like to thank Jayanti Dalmia, National President, FICCI and Madhuri Halwasiya, National Initiative Head, FICCI for providing our children with this opportunity to showcase their talent.

Hoping to connect again.

Thank you!
Sameer

Hello all,

Love and Greetings from Sunshine Homes!

My name is Kriti and I’m 17 years old. Being a part of one of the Sunshine Homes run by Udayan Care in Greater Noida, I’m glad to connect with you and share the engagements that I and all the other children of Sunshine Homes had over the last few months. We participated in various fun activities and educational sessions, and we also went on excursions to tranquil mountains! But before going into the details of the same, I would like to share the story of my close friend Jane* with you, who is also 17 years old and lives with me at Sunshine Home, Greater Noida. Her story is an epitome of inspiration for us and is an alibi of the impact our society can make. I want to share her story to raise awareness among the masses about children without family care and I really wish more and more people support children like us.

Since childhood, Jane’s parents struggled to provide for their family due to financial constraints. This often led to discord between her parents, which would manifest itself in an unfriendly environment for her. Her family’s struggle to earn forced them to send her far away from home to work as a domestic worker. As she was exploited by her employers and had a very bad experience working there, she left her job soon enough and ran away. Fortunately, Jane was helped by ChildLine officials. Through them, she was brought to Sunshine Home, Greater Noida in October 2016. A ‘home’, in every sense - it proved to be a blessing in disguise for her.    

During the initial few months at the Home, Jane was a little apprehensive about what the future held for her. A little shy to express her emotions with the staff at the home, she wasn’t sure of how others will react to her feelings. However, the staff at the Home, especially the mentors came across as parent figures for her, just like they are for other children at the home. They assisted her in slowly but steadily developing her life skills. With acceptance and affection, the Home staff stood by her side while she flourished.

Jane faced various challenges in keeping up with her academics. In order to ensure her holistic development, the Home Staff organized her psychological assessment. Through the results of the same, the staff of Sunshine home got to know about her requirements better as they took the right steps for her growth. Soon, she was enrolled in a Special Education School, where she bloomed with learnings and skills acquired.

While I worked on her educational skills, Jane also got the opportunity to explore sports, something that she has always cherished. Recognizing her knack for sports, the Home staff and the mentor parents encouraged her to pursue her interest in sports and soon, she started practicing volleyball. She loved the sport and practiced volleyball with resilience and diligence for more than a year. Volleyball became her passion as she honed her skills in the sport. She found her purpose in it as she proved to be a prodigy. 

This year, her untiring zeal for Volleyball shone brightly as she got shortlisted for Special Olympics Bharat Volleyball team (National Level). She will also be attending preparatory camps for World Summer Game 2023. We are so excited about it!

Despite all the trials that came her way, the support and love of the Home staff enabled her to wade her way through challenges. She found her own path with this sunshine, building her identity from scratch.

Millions of children worldwide are devoid of parental love, care, and support, with their futures at stake. We, the children at the Sunshine Home, want to reach out to people by taking them through Jane’s journey of growth so far at Sunshine Home. We want it to echo among people who can extend their helping hand to disadvantaged children. We hope that one day, every child will be cared for, and supported through thick and thin. We hope that one day, every child’s eye will shine with vivid dreams, and have the capacity to turn them into reality. We hope that one day, no child will be left behind.

Well, that’s all about us. Now, let me take you through some of the fun and learning engagements that took place at Sunshine Homes –

World Environment Day

World Environment Day was celebrated across all Sunshine Homes with children making posters on environmental awareness and participating in a plantation drive. A session on environmental issues, such as global warming, and marine pollution, among others, was conducted by the staff for the children. With the hope of a better tomorrow, all pledged to preserve the environment. With this, all children made posters and wonderfully acknowledged the importance of the environment. The children also participated in cleanliness drives that were organized in nearby parks and painted old, used glass bottles, making them reusable as colorful, creative show pieces.

Trip to Auro Camp, Nainital (9th June to 15th June’22)

A weeklong trip to Auro Camp, Nainital was organized for the children in association with Sri Aurobindo Ashram. A total 31 children and 9 staff members went for the camp that was held at Van Niwas, situated at a height of 7400 ft on the top of a hill in a serene retreat, nestling among the Himalayan peaks of Uttarakhand, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The week-long summer camp to Nainital was truly a relaxing adventure of the summer. Being the first group trip post-Covid-19, with participants from all Sunshine Homes for Girls situated in Delhi NCR, children and staff enjoyed this adventure with zeal and enthusiasm. To ensure the safety of children and staff, it was made certain that all the participants going on the trip are fully vaccinated and adherence to COVID protocol was ensured.

At the Ashram, the mornings would start with refreshing exercises and musical games which would give an energetic boost to the children for the fun activities lined up for the rest of the day. After having breakfast, the children would go for awestriking treks, explore caves, and experience enthralling scrambling and rock climbing. On 14th June, 2022, nearing the end of this wholesome trip, the last night at the camp was relaxing. A bonfire party was organized wherein, everyone had a special dinner while recollecting the sweet memories made during the last few days. The children enjoyed the final moments at the camp with fun, music, and dance.

The trip was packed with adventurous activities and experiences which came across as an opportunity to build a sense of teamwork and strong friendships among the participants. With an adventurous streak of learning, the trip proved to be a vivid one.

Trip to Dalhousie and Amritsar (17th June to 22th June’22)

A trip to Dalhousie and Amritsar was organized for the children of five Sunshine Homes. All the members of the trip thoroughly enjoyed the trip which included visits to beautiful spots and places of historical significance. The child also had the opportunity to enjoy some scrumptious dishes of the native cuisine. To make it engaging for the children, the trip was full of fun games, group activities, and bonfires.

Children enjoyed the scenic beauty of the mighty mountains and the low-lying clouds in Himachal Pradesh. The benevolent nature of the locals made the trip much more memorable for the children. One of the places where the children visited was Khajjiar also known as “Mini Switzerland of India”. In Khajjiar, children enjoyed the open blue skies and the scenic beauty of the location with games, and group activities. Seeing the cleanliness and lush green valleys, the children understood the importance of keeping one’s surroundings clean and being responsible for the environment.

After leaving Himachal Pradesh, the trip continued to Amritsar. The children experienced the spiritual aura of the Golden Temple and the energetic beating retreat of Wagah Border, which instilled a spirit of patriotism in children. Children returned to their Sunshine Homes safely with beautiful memories and interesting stories to share with their friends.

International Yoga Day

The children of Sunshine Homes celebrated International yoga day with structured yoga poses and came to know about several asanas such as Bhujangasana, navasana, etc. They learnt about the history of yoga, being an important asset of our culture. Children came to know about the prominence of meditation and pranayamas by performing anulom-vilom. They chanted the Om mantra and felt the energy within, it spread positive vibes in each and every one.

Independence Day celebration

Rejoicing in the spirit of patriotism, freedom, and creativity, children and staff across Sunshine Homes celebrated Independence Day on the 15th of August. The children celebrated Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav with various activities such as dance, poem recitation, and poster making.

Teacher’s Day celebration

The children celebrated Teacher’s Day by paying tribute to their teachers on 5th September. Staff at all the Homes conducted an activity with children where they made a card thanking that one special teacher who inspires them to be better and achieve more. Few elder children prepared a skit through which they reflected on education as a treasure, which only a teacher can provide. Some children wrote poems for their teachers where they express gratitude and respect for them.

This was a peek into the fun and learning engagements during the past few months. The last few months were really fun for all of us as they were packed with fun-filled activities. Ensuring our holistic growth, Sunshine Home Family ensures that every child is able to take small but steady steps of development in every aspect. These steps to betterment build a positive perspective in life. Which for all of us as growing children is the ultimate achievement. 

This is all that I had to share on behalf of the children and team at Sunshine Homes. With this, I thank GlobalGiving and the associated donors for their sustained support which has helped us to continue to flourish in our Sunshine Home family. 

Hoping to connect again.

Thank you!

Kriti

Hello all,

Love and Greetings from Sunshine Homes!

I am Isha. I am 13 years old and currently staying at one of the Sunshine Homes run by Udayan Care in Faridabad. I am delighted to connect with you and share updates about the fun that I and the other children of Sunshine Homes had during the last few months, by engaging in various activities and sessions. Before going forward, I would like to introduce myself!

It’s important for me to share my story because I have achieved a lot of things, big or small, since I became a member of Sunshine home, Faridabad. I’m voicing my story with people so that children from humble backgrounds, who are devoid of basic necessities, even a family, get help to reach out for their right to celebrate their childhood, with proper care and education.

In 2019, I came to Udayan Care along with my younger sister, Shivi. I was only 10 years old while my younger sister was 8 years old when I came to Sunshine home in Faridabad. This was after our parents left me and my sister to be taken care by our maternal grandmother. My grandmother was growing old and due to the financial constraints, she couldn’t look after us for long. My younger sister and I were deeply affected when we were cut off by our parents which affected our overall development, it took away the charm from our childhood. However, the stars aligned for us when we become a part of Sunshine Home in Faridabad. The care and support provided to us by our lovely Sunshine Home family added colors to our life.

My family at the Sunshine Home gave me so much love and care that it strengthened my well-being and I was able to build a better version of me. The love & affection of the Mentor Parents and the staff at the Ghar did not, even for a moment made me feel alone.

I along with my sister soon started going to school after a long break. I got the opportunity to learn new things and made so many new friends! Along with educational development, I honed my extra-curricular skills by taking part in the activities that were organized at the Sunshine Home as well as the school. Over the years, I have developed a confidence in my capabilities which gave me the courage to dream about a vivid future! All the members at my Sunshine home, especially the staff put in relentless efforts over the years to enable me to do my best in order to achieve my aims.

Today, as I strengthened my academic base, this academic year, I became a part of one of the most prestigious boarding schools in India that is not only known for its academic curricula but also has a wide range of extra-curricular activities ranging from swimming, horse riding among others. I always look for opportunities to get exposed to new and different experiences which help me develop my personality. A plethora of opportunities have opened up for me and going forward, I’m so excited to know what’s in store for me!

Well, that’s all about myself. Children like me, can touch the sky if they are provided the support and love needed to flourish. I hope my story raise awareness among the masses about children like me and I really wish more and more people support children without family care.

Now, let me take you through some of the fun and learning engagements that took place at Sunshine Homes –

adidas-Udayan Care Virtual Winter Carnival

Keeping up the spirit of oneness and being together even in the tough times is what defined "Umang - adidas-Udayan Care Winter Carnival 2022". The virtual event on 21^st February 2022, consisted of children grooving to their favourite songs and preparing fun advertisements. The event was filled with fun with the mind- blowing magic show, zumba and interesting energisers. Sparky dance performances and creatively amusing AdMad acts put together by the children and staff of Sunshine Homes, added zest to the carnival. Over 250 kids and youth, 100 staff members and mentor parents, volunteers from adidas India team and numerous guests came together to enjoy the day filled with fun and excitement.

Women’s Day Celebration

On the occasion of Women's Day, the children of Sunshine homes celebrated the achievements of women. Stories of various successful women who fought patriarchy in various ways- culturally, politically, socially- were presented to the children, while discussing the significance of Women’s Day. The children expressed gratitude to all women who take care of children and resonated that the carers are Pillars of Strength. The children prepared a skit, had a dance performance and prepared cards for all.

Setting up Upcycled Edible Gardens at Sunshine Homes

With an initiative towards environment sustainability which would children closer to nature by inculcating a sense of ownership and responsibility, team adidas and Udayan Care have come together to build upcycled edible gardens at Udayan Ghars. The upcycled edible garden means a garden which has been set up using waste material such as bottles, tyres, drums etc. to grow vegetables, fruits or other edible plants within a confined or limited area. In association with Ashim, an environmental consultant, children were sensitised on Upcycled Edible Gardens and set them up in their Sunshine Homes.

Trip to Agra and Bharatpur

In the month of March, children of Sunshine Home in Faridabad, went for a 3-day fun-filled trip to Agra and Bharatpur. The marvelous Taj Mahal and Agra Fort were visited. We enjoyed this educational visit, as a guide explained them the history and some interesting facts related to the Taj Mahal as well as the Fort. After spending the night at an aesthetic and peaceful hotel in Bharatpur, the following morning, we visited Keoladeo National Park, where we saw many species of migratory land and water birds. We also learned the names and nature of the birds they saw, with the help of a guide. Visit to this ‘Bird Paradise’ was a unique experience for us, as we had never witnessed anything like this before. After returning from the park, Holi was celebrated at the hotel with vibrant colours and playful shenanigans, this was the first time that we celebrated a festival outside the home, since the pandemic. The trip was truly wholesome in every aspect!

Holi Celebration

From tainting each other’s cheeks with colours to relishing sweets together, the festival of Holi is celebrated with exuberance, every year. The festival of colours always brings joy to the children. Celebrating Holi in the true spirit, this time it was even more colourful with everyone coming together to play with natural colours and enjoying a special meal.

Earth Day Celebration

On the occasion of Earth Day, officials from MG Motors visited Boys Sunshine Home, Gurugram. The day was marked special as MG Motors officials brought various saplings for the children to celebrate Earth Day by planting them together. All the children along with the staff representatives and MG Motors officials planted the outdoor plants in the open ground available in the home. During the plantation drive, the officials got to know the children better as they worked together to do their bit towards long-term ecological sustainability. The interaction also touched upon the need to preserve earth and cherish the beauty of Mother Nature. This synergy to make the home greener was captured in vivid photos.

Trip to Golden Temple

A city with historical significance, Amritsar is one city of India which attracts many worldwide. After the long time spent indoors due to the Pandemic, in April, children from the Greater Noida Sunshine Home went for a one-day trip to Amritsar where they witnessed the sanctimonious Golden Temple and also got a chance to be at one of borders of India taking them through the stories of Partition. The children enjoyed the trip and came back with a bag full of knowledge.

Art Workshops by ArtReach India Foundation

Art is the expression of the mind and translating this expression on paper is the essence of the workshops by Artreach India Foundation. These workshops facilitate catharsis with colors, for the children. Children across the Sunshine Homes engaged in creating masterpieces while experimenting with collages, abstract art and portraits.

This was a peek into the fun and learning engagements during the past few months. After two years into the pandemic, two years of not being able to go for an outing, children of many Sunshine Homes were able to go out on much-needed rejuvenating trips/outings during the reporting period. In a way, these jaunts lauded our resilience and patience, which helped us overcome various unfamiliar challenges that came our way, over the past two years. Settling into the ‘new normal’ has made me appreciate relentless efforts of Udayan Ghar Family and support from like-minded people/organizations, to provide us with the best healthcare, education and support, all the more.

This is all what I had to share on behalf of the children and team at Sunshine Homes. With this, I thank GlobalGiving and the associated donors for their sustained support which has helped us to continue to flourish in our Sunshine Home family.

Hoping to connect again.

Thank you! 

Isha

Love and Greetings from Sunshine Homes!

Hello friends! This is Ravinder, once again. I hope you all are doing well.

It seems like the third wave of COVID pandemic is all set to roll in. I, children and team at Sunshine Homes pray for everyone’s safety and wish you all a good health.

We had gradually adapted to the New Normal long back and it has helped us to continue to work effectively towards providing care, protection and education to children in Sunshine Homes. During the period Oct-Dec’21 a total of 70 new children came to Homes. A total of 72 children moved out of the Ghars out which 59 were rehabilitated or restored to their immediate or extended family and 13 were transferred to other child care institutions. As on 31^st Dec’21, 198 children lived across 17 Sunshine Homes.

Though the pandemic situation and the no. of COVID cases diluted gradually after the second wave, the risk of catching the infection and fear of having an outbreak situation at Ghars kept us gripped all the time. There has been a continuous and conscious effort to keep the children and residential caregiving teams safe at Sunshine Homes. Refresher sessions to maintain and follow COVID appropriate behaviour at the Homes were regularly conducted with children and staff. Systems for preventing and managing the COVID infection were further strengthened. By the end of Dec’21 over 250 alumni, aftercare youth and team members were partially or fully vaccinated.

As the COVID variant, Omicron, started to spread and a surge rise in the number of cases were reported in India especially in Delhi, the centralized COVID Response team at Sunshine Homes got into action. Complete halt on visit to Sunshine Homes by non-residential staff members, stocking up of ration, medicines and other essentials, refresher session on prevention and management of COVID, monitoring of daily vitals (temperature and oxygen level) etc. was all set in place. Simultaneously, the team also worked towards getting the children, in the age group of 15-18 years, vaccinated.

During the period we have also been able to organize various capacity building workshops for all our stakeholders and engaged the children in many fun and learning activities. Let’s have a look at some of the activities we did during the reporting period –

Virtual Gandhiji Celebration

The second in our Series of Inspiring Idols, Virtual Gandhi celebrations were in full swing on 2^nd October 2021. The series put together by children, marking the 152^nd Birth Anniversary, took us on a journey of Gandhiji while revisiting some of the core values that we all aspire to imbibe in our life. The day gave an opportunity to honour and felicitate stakeholders who have been our guiding light as a support to us over the years. The children were highly appreciated by all present for their creative expression.

Diwali Celebration with team Taco Bell, India

Diwali this time got an exciting start where the team from Taco Bell joined in with children through a virtual celebration. With an inaugural speech by Kiran, the children soon got into a fervor of activities. From rangoli making to dance moves, children were seen to be decorating the Homes in their favorite colors and also putting diyas and lights making it an extravagant celebration.

Diwali Celebration across Sunshine Homes

Decorating with fairy lights and lighting the oil lamps, Sunshine Homes this Diwali were illuminated with a positive energy of a hopeful tomorrow. With the pandemic bringing in long periods of indoor time, during Diwali, children got to meet the Mentor Parents and other dear ones. Moreover, Diwali also brought in lots of exciting decorations made as part of “Best out of Waste” along with relishing traditional sweets. All the children at their respective Sunshine Homes also offered prayers, expressing gratitude for a healthy life and the continuity of a safe future ahead.

Virtual Children’s Day Celebrations

On 14^th November 2021, Children’s Day celebration was at its peak with children and staff immersing in a joyful time together. From grooving to the sounds of music, to revisiting the journey of Nehru, learning from the anecdotes about his love for children, the day was filled with inspiration. Extending heartiest gratitude to our esteemed donors, children presented “Thank You Messages” to all recognizing the bond built over the years and sending across the message of being one big family. The Children’s Day could not have been done in a better way where we acknowledged the support of donors who have stood by children as pillars of strength over the years.

Let’s be kids again; Virtual Children’s Day celebration with team Adidas

Children’s Day was made even more special when team Adidas brought in surprises for the children. An online event was conducted by Adidas with an exciting quiz competition, curiosity raising scavenger hunt and a creative spree of “recreating a scene”. The event closed with one of the favourite activities, the cookery competition where children with available groceries at the Homes prepared mouth-watering dishes relished as snacks during the event. The event also brought in exciting prizes, best wishes and an experience of being a master chef.

Christmas Celebration

Commemorating the birth of Jesus, this time children across Sunshine Homes, left no stone unturned to celebrate Christmas with full zeal. The generosity of donors brought to children a Christmas tree of their own to decorate along with a Santa costume to create an ambience of the festivity. Decorating the tree with knick-knacks, dressing up Santa sharing thoughtful messages, the gifts under the tree added to the surprise. The messages reflected oneness, gratitude and the greatest of all, cherishing the family bond.

Art Workshops by ArtReach India Foundation

Art as an expression of the thoughts in the mind, always have encouraged children to share their feelings and emotions. This time, the drawings made by children reflected the current situation along with imagining a better tomorrow. From drawing fairies to the animated version of the corona virus, children’s expression had no bounds when they picked up their favorite colors to draw.

Parakram Celebration

The children and team at Sunshine Homes went on to celebrate Parakram on 23^rd January’22. The 123^rd birth anniversary of Bose was celebrated with children reciting poems penned by themselves, presenting group dance and singing patriotic songs. The children and team also shared some unknown facts about Netaji.

Impact story

Missing girl reunites with family after 3 years

While struggling to remember her way to her home, her family, child Tamanna went missing at the tender age of 8 years. She travelled and continued to wander on the streets until the local police in a colony near Ghaziabad rescued her and produced her at the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Ghaziabad. Since no whereabouts of her family or home could be found, Tamanna was transferred to a children’s Home in Ghaziabad itself. She was then transferred to Udayan Ghar, Ghaziabad in May 2019.

Tamanna while being at the Ghar was provided with much needed care, affection and opportunities to grow and develop. She was enrolled in a school for the first time where she was helped to strengthen her academic base. Observed soon was her improved social skills and she started to adapt well in the Ghar environment. But deep down, for her knowing that she has a family who she cannot find and meet again, left a void. Tamanna often used to cry missing her mother and her gentle and affectionate touch.

During a casual interaction with the social worker, Tamanna once mentioned about studying in a Madarsa while she lived with her family. When further explored, the child also shared some of her vague memories and named some locations. It was the turning point for both Tamanna and the social worker and soon the Ghar team got into action. Collaborating with the local childline team and taking along the child, the ghar team started to visit different spots mentioned by her. The teams also visited the spot from where the child was rescued and enquired in every single Madarsa in the Colony but nothing substantial could be found. Upon asking the locals, the team got to know that the place she has mentioned is in Meerut. The team got in touch with childline team and some local people in Meerut and within a couple weeks, arrived a news of her family getting traced. Connected over a video call, Tamanna broke in tears recognizing her mother and finally it was in October 2021, almost after 3 years, that the child reunited with her family.

Tamanna is now happily living with her family in Meerut and wish Tamanna and her family the best of joy and prosperity.

So friends, this is all what I had to share on behalf of the children and team at Sunshine Homes. With this, I thank GlobalGiving and the associated donors for their sustained support which has helped us to continue to provide care and protection to children and youth at our Sunshine Homes.

Hoping to connect again.

Regards,

Ravinder

Love and Greetings from Sunshine Homes!

Hello friends! This is Ravinder again, heading the Sunshine Homes at Udayan Care. Hope you all are safe and keeping healthy. I also hope that you all have got your vaccination.

The time indeed, has been difficult but also blessed for us. Team Sunshine Homes has once again worked rigorously and successfully curbed the pandemic outbreak. India being one of the few countries worse affected by the ferocious second wave of COVID pandemic, we at Sunshine Homes kept ourselves prepared, strong and battled hard for our safety and survival. With first positive case in April’21 at one of the Homes, the virus continued to infect several others in different Homes. In the first week of June’21, a total of 32 COVID positive cases were there in the Sunshine Homes. Out of this, 20 were children, 10 were care staff and the remaining 2 were aftercare young adults. By the end of June’21, Sunshine Homes had 0 positive cases and with all team’s efforts and prayers of our supporters and well-wishers we continue to be all safe and healthy.

The team Sunshine Homes simultaneously also worked towards getting its team members and aftercare young adults vaccinated. So far, 71 ground staff out of 79 and 35 young adults out of 47 have been partially and fully vaccinated. The remaining members have booked their slots and shall be vaccinated by October’21.

Well! This has all been about preventing and managing COVID pandemic. During the period we have also been able to organize various capacity building workshops for all our stakeholders and engaged the children in many fun and learning activities. Let’s have a look at some of the activities we did during the reporting period –

World Environment Day

Conscience towards the environment was instilled in the children as they engaged in activities such as best out of waste, planting saplings, engaging in theatre to spread the message of conserving Mother Earth. Some of the children also watch a movie showcasing the relation between man and tree. Through the narrative children were motivated to take their sensitivity towards environment protection to the next level.

International Yoga Day

The global trend of staying healthy and rejuvenated is the motive of each individual in today’s world. Yoga comes as one which not only ensures physical fitness but also address the growing mental health concerns during the pandemic. As part of their routine children practice Yoga each morning. On 21^st June they made it even more special sending out the message of fitness, mindfulness and a relaxed mind as key to well-being.

Independence Day Celebration

Reflecting the patriotic spirit and immersing in the colors of freedom and creativity, children and staff across Sunshine Homes celebrated the Indian Independence Day on 15^th August. From engaging in drawing, flag hoisting and fun games, the celebration was at its peak with the Sunshine Homes Cookery Competition. While the team got into the creative spirit, the dishes reflected the tricolor while enriching everyone with their mouthwatering dishes. The day culminated in the entire Sunshine Home teams appreciating the dishes and enjoying the virtual treat.

Happiness Workshop

Optimism, focus and being thankful in life are some of the core ingredients towards happiness. The workshop conducted by Neeraj, renowned motivational speaker and photographer at the Times of India in association with Art of Living, enabled children to develop a sense of gratitude, incorporate the spirit of meditation and living in the present as the path to a successful life.

Virtual Teachers’ Day Celebration

To honour the support from our eminent educators over the years, on 5^th September 2021, Teacher’s Day was celebrated online where children, staff and mentor parents came together to felicitate and acknowledge the efforts of all teachers who have overcome the challenges of online classes. The event graced by eminent guest Gowri, recipient of the Padma Shree Award, encouraged the children to consider education as a medium to soar high and fly. The event also marked the beginning of our series of “Inspiring Idols” where children through skit, song, dance and oration reflected on education as a valuable treasure which a teacher can provide to their students. The online gathering was made grandeur with the presence of principals, directors and head of schools encouraging the children and admiring the tribute to the teaching fraternity. The children poured their hearts out with “Thank You” messages for the eminent guests for being the agents of change for a better tomorrow. The celebrations culminated with the children along with the Mentor Parents felicitating the guests with thoughtful citations making it a memorable evening.

Effective Caregiving; A virtual training programme for caregiving staff at Sunshine Homes

During the difficult times of the Corona Virus Pandemic, the people who have been constant figures to the children to sail through have been the team of carers. From developing an understanding about the pandemic to ensuring a positive environment, the carers have come across as parent figures to the children. While it is essential to keep growing and know more about the children in need of care and protection, the team of carers was taken through an extensive training programme encompassing the legal mandates while working in a Child Care Institution to understanding the mental health concerns that surface while the child is worked with to manage their past trauma. Along with this, the training programme focused on expected protocols to be followed with a visitor, welcoming a new child at the Home culminating into imbibing the essentials of caregiving.

Apart from the above fun-filled and fruitful engagements, children and team at Sunshine Homes have also been able to make some outstanding achievements.

Achievements

• Arushi, aged 13, from one our Sunshine Homes for Girls has won 2^nd prize in a singing competition organized virtually by our partner. She has received a tripod stand and a mic as her prize.
• Deep, aged 12, from one our Sunshine Homes for Boys has won 3^rd prize in a singing competition organized virtually by our partner. He has received a mic as his prize.
• One of our Sunshine Homes for Boys has been awarded as the ‘Best Child Care Institution’ in Gurugram, an urban district in the state of Haryana. The award was conferred by the Governor of the Haryana state.

Moreover, I’d like to emphasize that despite having such challenging times here in India, we have been able to continue to provide the required care and protection to all our children at Sunshine Homes. The impact story of one of the children from our Sunshine Homes for Girls reflects the kind of individualized care we have been able to provide to our children. You must read it.

Impact story

Name: Rosy*

Age: 8 years

Date of Joining: 25^th November 2019

Going through the agony of wandering on unknown streets of Badshahpur all by herself and with the diminishing hope of reaching back to her family, Rosy was shattered feeling alone on the crowded streets. Rescued by the authorities and repeated attempts by the Police to trace her family was in vain and destiny had her to be placed at one of the Sunshine Homes. Since the child has come to the Home in 2019, in the wake of her situation, the team made efforts to understand the child’s memories about the home she once called her own. A child with special needs and no family to look forward to, for Rosy, soon the Sunshine Home became family. Picturising and conceptualizing so much was quite unsought for Rosy but within her she has that unrecognized zeal & determination to sail through.

Initially, it was important for the Home team to get her psychological assessment done to understand the conceptual level of the child. The assessment report recorded an IQ of 58. Moreover, the child was also having difficulty in speech as well as struggled functioning in daily life. The support of caregivers was inevitable for the child to ensure she leads a dignified life for herself.

From handholding in eating, bathing and cleaning to managing her emotional outbursts together were a great challenge. For the child unable to process her emotions, aggression was a coping mechanism for every situation. With little language to express, Rosy often resorted to violent behavior as if wanting to convey something. This behavior not only impacted her mental health but also had immense influence on the relations she could have otherwise built with the children.

With lack of clarity in speech, good communication was a far-fetched dream for the child. However, establishing the bridge of communication was something that the team dedicatedly worked towards. From practicing speech development techniques with the child to connecting her with a speech therapist, the first brick towards communicating was laid.

Conducting sessions on basic life skills along with occupational therapy were the second important aspect for child development. Uninterrupted practice of drawing and coloring were part of the counseling sessions helping her develop concentration. Moreover, imagery was incorporated to help her imbibe knowledge of basics such as body parts and things around her.

Seeing Rosy’s journey from one facing separation to now being in a family, the team is proud about the developmental change in her. Considering it natural to be unaware about her family, did not lead Rosy to do away with sentiments of attachment and belongingness. Today, Rosy is seen to be one who has started opening up with people, comes forward to sit in a circle and share. This is also reflected in the attachment she has formed with few elders and young ones at the Home.

Rosy’s story is a testament to the fact that true faith and determination can move mountains. From being a child who was deprived of love to now one who has developed social relationships, Rosy is an example that the spirit of change is not inevitable. The round the clock work done by the team at the Home has brought tremendous change in temperament of the child. The greatest achievement while working with a child with special needs is the responsiveness through the sessions. This has been possible with Rosy and is the reason for the team to keep going with the child upholding the notion that depth of strength, tenacity and resourcefulness are powerful tools for a bright life.

So friends, this is all what I had to share on behalf of the children and team at Sunshine Homes. With this, I thank GlobalGiving and the associated donors for their sustained support which has helped us to continue to provide care and protection to children and youth at our Sunshine Homes.

Hoping to connect again.

Regards,

Ravinder