Aprons4action - creating a better future for the people of Erampatti

Next year we're planning to launch our first major fundraising appeal called aprons4action.  It will involve hundreds of aprons being sent out on a journey to share the story of what we're trying to do through our project and raise funds for education, sanitation, medical camps and small business loans to help the people of Erampatti Village.  The launch will be held at Bundaleer Rainforest Gardens in Brisbane on Sat 10 May 2014, and ladies in Tasmania, Brisbane and Melbourne have been busy sewing and collecting an amazing range of new and vintage aprons.  We still have much to organise, but we think its going to be a fun and unique fundraiser that will join people from many places in a circle of exchange that has at its centre the goal of creating a better future for the women and children of Erampatti Village.  For more details visit www.aprons4action.org.au

Weekend visit by Russ Foundation

This weekend a group of girls and boys from one Russ Foundations Children's Homes came and spent the afternoon at Shalom.  It coincided with my birthday so they enjoyed birthday cake,  chicken biriyani for lunch and then played lots of games.  Everyone had a wonderful time and they're keen to do it again.  Russ foundation does fantastic work with families and children effected by HIV and are organising our first medical camp which will be held at Shalom in January.  A team of doctors and medical staff from Madurai, will give free health checks and medicines to people from the village and assess everyone for a range of diseases including TB, diabetes and high blood pressure.

The boys got early to take a photo and wish me happy birthday

Aunty Karen's birthday cake

Ps Daniel welcomes the visitors from Russ Foundation

Some of the crowd with Shammah House in the background

Enjoying a tasty lunch of chicken biriyani

Next time everyone will be able to sit at tables in the new dining hall

Sharing time

The older boys played volleyball while the rest played chasing games

Only one more room left to be sponsored

This week we received a cheque for sponsoring our 7th room in Shammah House.  This is very exciting and leaves only one room unsponsored - Shekinah, one of the guestrooms.  If you'd like to sponsor our last remaining room, please email hales@shalomhomeindia.org   Room sponsorship costs $5,000AUD (tax deductible) and a plaque with your name will be hung outside the room.  We thank all those who jumped in to sponsor the different rooms in Shammah House.  What a generous and lasting legacy you are leaving for future generations.

Dining hall lintel work

Waterproofing work on the roof slab

The carpenter constructing cupboard doorframes

Money for new school toilets

A big congratulations and thanks to the students of Payne Road State School for their fantastic efforts in raising $5000 to construct new toilets at Erampatti Village School.  The school sold novelty toilet paper and iceblocks, held sausage sizzles, had free dress days and collected money in a large toilet to reach this figure.  Work will start early next year with the builders and village families working together to build the new toilets.  We look forward to posting photo updates once the work starts.  New toilets will improve hygiene at the school and help reduce absenteeism amongst teenage girls.

Erampatti Village School