Light A Lamp - Make a difference

A BIG Warm Hello to you all...

How many of us have looked at the poor kids on the street and wondered – how can we help them?

How many of us have seen orphans in the rural areas and thought – wish we could help them?

How many of us have dreamt that I will help them one day – but that dream is still a dream?

Too many questions?

Well, I too had this dream but couldn’t do anything about it. Until one day when I visited this NGO I realized that this is just what I wanted to do and this is where my heart lies.

So my dear friends just like last year this year too I participated in the Fund raising event conducted by Bangalore Cares. My supporting Charity is "Sahasra Deepika International for Education"(SDIE). I am associated with this NGO - Sahasra Deepika for the past 5 years. In the initial years I have been a regular volunteer here and Last year became Secretary at SDIE. What I liked about this NGO is the vision and mission of the Founders Dr TV Ramakrishna and Mrs Vijaya Ramakrishna and the Principles on which they operate.

Dr. Ramakrishna's vision for helping the poor was shaped largely through his own personal experience. His own path is a tribute to the power education can have in bettering one's situation. Sahasra Deepika is a way to provide a first-rate education to children in disadvantaged social classes while also providing them with food, clothing, and a nurturing, safe environment in which to learn.

Sahasra Deepika Foundation for Education, established in 1998, is a nonprofit organization (80G tax exempt) dedicated to enabling impoverished children in Bangalore, India the chance to succeed through education. For details please visit us at: http://www.sdie.org

So come and support me in Lighting "A Thousand Lights of Hope, Love and Compassion for children in need".

I have collected Rs 1,59,416/- for Sahasra Deepika. Thanks to all my friends, relatives and ARM for supporting this noble cause. And we look forward for your support in the future too!!!!

You can contact me by sending email to ubaliga@yahoo.com

Thank you & God Bless,

Usha Baliga

Sahasra Deepika Spelling Bee a Great Success!

www.sdie.org

On January 23, the first annual Sahasra Deepika Spelling Bee was held at Basavanagudi Girlsʼ High School Auditorium in Bangalore. After narrowing the field of nearly 1000 participants to 50 finalists, 42 students took part in the final competition.

Sahasra Deepika provided bus fare for all of the students, many of whom lived far away. Nine schools were represented on stage. The competition was very intense, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. The students had all prepared so well, that after exhausting the 300 words from our dictionary, the remaining 5 contestants spelled words volunteered by the audience. Finally, Hemalatha, a 9th standard student from Honnaganna Hatti High School, won by spelling the word compassion.

Hemalatha is an orphan who lives with her brother and his family. Her victory was a source of great pride for her and for her school, which gets to keep the trophy this year. In 2nd and 3rd place were Deepa and Chaitra from Dodda Gollara Hatti High School;

Madhushree from Honnaganna Hatti High School came in 4th, and in 5th place was Nandini from Kamala Nehru High School. The top 5 finishers all received a certificate and watch. The top finishers from each class received books and the top 3 received a medal. All students received a t-shirt. The significance of the bee goes far beyond the prizes, however. Students in poverty rarely get this type of opportunity to participate in such an event.

The school principals all remarked on what an impact it could have on these children to be recognized in such a way for their accomplishments. We look forward to expanding the program to more schools in the coming year, with your support.

For more information please call me at +91 9886132507 or email tvmarun@gmail.com

We are happy to share our Spelling Bee words list for interested people.

Our Sincere thanks to Mr.Sanket Panchamia from SpectraLinear company (www.spectralinear.com) and Suman Alva from Target (www.target.com).

www.sdie.org

The Students Take a Field Trip to HAL Museum

Sahasradeepika NGO : Bangalore (http://www.sdie.org/)

In October 2008 , volunteers from ARM Bangalore (www.arm.com) took a group of students from SDI on a field trip to HAL Museum and Heritage Center, the aerospace museum in Bangalore. Students got to see military aircraft up close and learn about the history of the aerospace industry in India. They were amazed by the scale of the rockets and planes, and inspired to think about careers in this field. Many thanks to Mr. Arun Kumar from ARM for organizing this educational outing, and to the ARM employees who chaperoned the trip. We also appreciate the ongoing support of ARM Managing Director Mr. Anil Gupta.

Sahasradeepika NGO : Bangalore (http://www.sdie.org/)

Sahasradeepika NGO : Bangalore (http://www.sdie.org/)

Sahasradeepika NGO : Bangalore (http://www.sdie.org/)

Hello all,

SDI appreciates visits from community members and prospective volunteers. Visiting hours are Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please call or e-mail our organization before your visit. In this way, we will be better prepared to serve your specific needs and answer any questions you may have.

You may contact us through the website, or call either Mr. Arun Kumar at 9886132507, or Mrs. Usha Baliga at 9900173232 to set up a time to visit. Thank you!

Regards
Arun

Sahasradeepika NGO : Bangalore (http://www.sdie.org/)

SOUVENIR – WE NEED YOUR HELP

Sahasra Deepika Institute for Education (SDIE)

The Sahasra Deepika Institute, a residential school for impoverished children, is located in a rural setting on 4 acres of land containing fruit trees and surrounded by orchards. The school complex is situated close to the village of Sakalavara, about 20 km from the major Indian city of Bangalore. The trustees and office bearers of the SDIE handle the day-to-day management of the SDI. The main building has been designed to accommodate 100 children with five classrooms and separate boys and girls sleeping areas. At present there are 56 children at SDI under the care of housemothers who stay with them. The children are raised in a positive environment with individual attention. Their English-medium curriculum is one focused on scholarship as well as character and good citizenship. The founders donated the land and the initial building for the establishment of the SDI campus.

The school programme is recognized by the government of Karnataka. Children are taught in English, Kannada and Hindi. Thanks to the generous support of many donors and organizations, the children have a computer lab, library, physical education and instruction in music.

Mission

Sahasra Deepika Foundation for Education, established in 1998, is a non profit organization dedicated to improving the live of impoverished children in Bangalore, India through education. This will be accomplished via:

§ A residential boarding school for selected impoverished children;

§ Partnerships with local educators, business and community leaders to provide resources and mentoring;

§ Enrichment and outreach program for children in the larger community;

§ Pooling the talents and resources of dedicated volunteers from the U.S.A and India to enrich student’s educational and personal experiences.

Students will be encouraged to develop their intellectual, social and academic potential for self-empowerment and contribution to the community at large.

SOUVENIR – WE NEED YOUR HELP

We are publishing a commemorative book in honor of our 10th anniversary (August 2008). The book will be a history of Sahasra Deepika Institute for Education, from its conception by our founder to the present day.

Our hope is to make a beautiful souvenir covering ten years of our school, which we will share with you. The souvenir book will feature many articles, stories and photographs of the students, their daily life and extracurricular activities. It will also showcase the work of the many dedicated individuals who have helped Sahasra Deepika to make a difference in the lives of children. It will tell you about our life’s little moments of joy and our success stories. It will show how we have overcome many of the challenges. Please show your support for this worthy organization by sponsoring an advertisement in our 10th anniversary souvenir book.

PLEASE REMEMBER

• We receive no Government aid or other institutional funding from anybody
  

• We want to expand our service and be open to taking in more children who are in need of care and support
  

• All contributions to us have tax benefits u/s 80G
  

You can join us by sending your best wishes messages and photographs on the pages you sponsor. All materials and artwork should reach us by 20 th of July.

Your donations and contributions can be made by Cheque/Drafts in favour of

Sahasra Deepika International for Education

SOUVENIR RATE CARD FOR SPONSOR

Position/Size Suggested Contribution (Rs.)

Full page 10,000

Half Page 5,000

Quarter Page 2,500

Front Inner Cover 20,000

Back Inner Cover 15,000

Name Listing Minimum 1000

CONTACT DETAILS: S.Arun Kumar/ Dr.T.V.Ramakrishna/Vijaya Ramakrishna

+919886132507 /+919901047727

For more information on Sahasra Deepika Institute for Education contact Arun (9886132507/ tvmarun@gmail.com)
http://www.sdie.org

Prince Andrew launches ARM’s social programme (Sahasra Deepika Institute for Education) in news

Bangalore : Duke of York Prince Andrew Thursday launched chip designer ARM's corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme here that will benefit hundreds of underprivileged children in India's silicon hub.

Andrew, second son and the third child of British Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, dedicated 6,000 hours of ARM employees' work to three social organizations - Ashwini Charitable Trust, Sahasra Deepika Institute for Education and the Marathalli government school, located in and around Bangalore.

"I am pleased to support ARM's CSR initiative with the local community and specifically children, with a commitment of 6,000 hours of the company time to three projects over the next two years," Andrew said after inaugurating the new design centre of the ARM India subsidiary.

The CSR programme, christened Anvas, which means "to reach out" in Sanskrit, will support a range of socio-economic, educational and health initiatives.

"We will contribute a financial amount matching the personal contributions of employees to encourage Anvas," ARM Holdings vice-president (HR) Bill Parsons said on the occasion.

The Prince also lauded ARM for setting up India operations and expanding its facility to become the largest chip design centre outside its headquarters in Cambridge, about 120 miles from London.

"I am delighted to visit ARM in Bangalore and impressed by what is being achieved here. As a leading British firm, ARM produces key business-to-business solutions for the electronic world," Andrew said in a statement later.

The $514-million firm, formerly Advanced Risc Machines (ARM), designs processors (semiconductor chips) for advanced digital products spanning wireless, networking and consumer entertainment solutions to imaging, automotive, security and storage devices.

Andrew, who is on a week long visit to India beginning March 9 to promote bilateral trade and investment between the two countries, called on Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur earlier in the day.

He also visited state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), IT bellwether Infosys Technologies Ltd and British technology firms including as Logica CMG and AstraZenaca.

http://www.indiaprwire.com/businessnews/20080313/28476.htm
http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/Business/20080313/909076.html
http://www.twocircles.net/2008mar13/prince_andrew_launches_arms_social_programme.html

Regards
For more information on Sahasra Deepika Institute for Education contact Arun (9886132507/ tvmarun@gmail.com)
http://www.sdie.org

Sahashra Deepika Independence Day celeberations

Sahashra Deepika school organized a very good Independence Day celebrations.

Another organistaion called ashwini trust from Ulsoor, Bangalore also attended the celebrations.

The function was really well organized & highlight was the excellent performance by the kids of the home and students of Ashwini Charitable Trust. All the events were well practiced and performed. We were back to our good old school day celebrations.

Our sincere thanks to Dr.T V Ramakrishna and Mrs. Vijaya Ramakrishna, founders of Sahasra Deepika school, who had invited us and gave us an opportunity to see the kids perform. The function ended with a great lunch arranged by SDI.

We also interacted with founders of Ashwini Charitable Trust Mrs (http://ashwinitrust.org/index.html) and their students.

A note has to be made on Dr. T V.Ramakrishna, who is a very inspiring person. Leaving a lucrative career in US as professor, he headed home to help the underprivileged. Today he has 60 kids from different parts of the country. In fact he is even willing to give full administration guidance to those who are willing to start school for Orphans/Underprivileged. We were very much inspired by his vision & clarity of thoughts !

It was a memorable 60th Independence day for us ! It is our responsibility to extend all the help we can for the school !!

For the photos please visit :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/90208175@N00/

I Forget to tell ..Vijaya Ramakrishna celebrated her birthday with us.

http://www.sdie.org