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