Shalom's New Video Channel Now Online

Thanks to a lot of help from our friend Paul, we now have our very own Shalom HomeIndia video channel on youtube where you can see some short interviews in which Geoff and I talk about how we got involved in Shalom, what's happened so far, and our plans for the future.  New videos will be added as they become available, and I'll gradually upload some of my old ones from previous visits over the next few months.  So please click on the Shalom HomeIndia Video Channel link in the right column to watch our videos, and if you subscribe to our channel, you'll be updated when new videos are added. 

Artworks Auctioned To Raise Funds

During August the Chapliancy leaders from Payne Road State School worked together on two beautiful Indian inspired collages which were auctioned at the School's annual art exhibition to raise funds to buy resources for Erampatti Village school.  The colours and images were stunning and Peter from Darra Custom Framing donated his time and some materials to ensure they would be a beautiful, ready to hang, addition to anyone's house.   We'd really like to thank, Peter, Chris and the chapliancy leaders for all their hardwork and generous hearts.

Chapliancy leaders from Payne Road State School with one of their artworks

 

Each elephant tile was done by a different student

Unfortunately the photos don't do justice to the artworks

The Faithful 40

Would you like to help us build a new rescue centre for baby girls and widows? 

In July we launched our new partnership program called The Faithful 40. We are looking for 40 people who share our passion to help some of India's abandoned baby girls and are prepared to faithfully give $40.00 a month for a period of 2 years.  The money donated by The Faithful 40 will be used to buy building materials and fund training and employment programs for local villagers from Erampatti, who’ll help construct cottages and other buildings to accomodate rescued girls and widows at Shalom.  

So far the response has been great and we'd like to thank all those who've already signed up to be part of The Faithful 40, what a blessing you are. We now have enough funds donated and pledged to start work on our first cottage.  If you'd like to partner with us as one of The Faithful 40 please contact us using the email link in the right hand column.

Village Tutoring Program Underway

After many months of planning and negotiations our new tutoring program is finally underway.  The village President offered one of his buildings as the venue and on the first night 23 students and their families came along to see what was happening.  Everyone was so excited and very thankful for this opportunity for their children to receive extra help with their studies.  In just 2 weeks the number of students attending has grown to 40 and we now have 3 tutors helping.  We'll be working closely with the school to identify other children that need help so they can be invited to come.  The tutoring sessions run for 2 hours, 5 nights a week.  It is a free service to help students from poor families and those that are struggling with their studies.  Every student who attends is presented with a set of notebooks and some families will be invited to participate in our next village goat rearing group.

Some of the girls with their new notebooks

The children and their tutors preparing for their evening studies

Latest Construction Works

The main building activities during August have been completing the interiors of the new bedrooms, construction of a shelter near the front gate for visitors and farm workers, and earthworks to change the levels and contours of some of our land to improve drainage during the heavy monsoon rains. In coming months we'll be building an additional toilet and bathroom block and working on preliminary designs for our new buildings and cottages to accomodate baby girls and widows.  It's exciting to see the new buildings take shape and our construction activities provide much needed employment and income for workers from our village.

Men from the village constructing the thatched roof of the visitor's shelter

Visitors and workers now have seperate area to wait away from the children

50 loads of sand were delivered and spread out to help improve drainage

Tiling work being done in the new upstairs sleeping areas