Sunday, May 1, 2011

Smt. Shanta kumari..... a blessing for old people

             Smt. Shanta Kumari.is the mother for old people. Since 20 years, she has been looking after the deserted old people, who became burden to their own children . She was all alone by the time she started Satya sai old age home near Gachibowli in 1992. She received an award for her work in 2005.
            The way she faced all the upheavals in the initial stages of this old age home runs shiver through spine. After her husband's demise, she moved to Gachibowli and started constructing this little home for old people. No money, no support, no caretaker...still she didn't moved. She strongly decided not to touch another door for help. She started ploughing, yes ploughing paddy fields. She used this paddy grains to feed old people and took milk from cows. Believe me, this is not a movie...but real life. An inspiring real life.
           This is a free home & there is no religion barrier. So far, she is running this old age home on donations alone. This home is in continuous financial need in the process of care taking and maintenance. She is ready to accept donations in any form.
          A sensitive young lady, with strong determination changed her world and became a role model to many.

     Going into details of the Old age home:

Daily schedule :
    5:00 -- all will wake up.
    5:30 -- bath...hot water facility for old people.
    6:00 -- Tea
    7:00 -- Tiffin ( special care is taken for food )
  12:00 -- Lunch ( special care is taken for food )
    4:00 -- Tea
    6:30 -- Dinner ( special care is taken for food )

 Extra Activities:
 Shanta Kumari arranges many extra activites for the mental peace to the old. Few of them are
1) Pilgrimages
2) Yoga sessions
3) Spiritual sessions/activities.

Financial Help is required for the following activities:
1) For the help care of the old people.
               So far, this Old age home made eye operation arrangements for 50 people. There used to be 40 people previously but keeping in view of her deteriorating health conditions, at present she is looking after around 15 old people.
2) Basic needs such as food, clothing etc.,
              There is continuous need for these basic needs in the old age home.
3) For maintenance & Infrastructure.
              Neatness is the very important for this home and their maintenance shows how much care they take to look after the old people. Bathroom maintenance is the main challenge for this old age home.
4) Cremation formalities.
              Generally, Smt. Shanta Kumari will intimate the individual's (old man/woman) relations in his/her last moments. At times, it so happens no one attends them. In such cases, this old age home only will take care of the cremation formalities. So far, they did so for 8 people.

For further details please reach Smt.Shanta kumari @ 040 23005634.
Address: Satya Sai Old age home.
              opposite lane to Botanical gardens,
              Near Gachibowli, Kothaguda,
              Hyderabad.


                                                  Pics taken at Satya Sai Old age home.




                                                      Smt. Shanta Kumari


Satya Sai Old Age Home








                                                             Everything is very neatly arranged
Hall for Old people.

                                                          Kitchen room
                        Old people are passing their time by running a small store inside the Old age home
Rose plants in the Old age home.

                                                      Old people pass their time by doing small works.

Puja Room.
Award that Smt.Shanta Kumari received in 2005 for her work.
Bath Rooms.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Sri Shanti Ashram : Home for deaf and dumb kids

Sri Shanti Ashram - A home for deaf and dumb kids. 
The Ashram was located on seashore of Bay of bengal in Visakhapatnam. It was established in the year 1934.
One can hear the sounds made by the waves from the Ashram. The ambience over there is quite calm, peaceful and charming. It is calm and peaceful because of the surroundings and it is charming because of the innocent smiles of the kids.

The kids got very excited when we are taking the pics. Sky is the limit to their happiness when they got involved in playing.

Going into Sri Shanti Ashram details:
100 deaf and dumb kids and 15 normal kids are taking shelter under this roof. Around 10 workers also stay inside the Ashram to take care of the kids.

Daily routine of the kids:
06:00 AM to 06:45 AM - Prayer
07:00 AM to 08:00 AM - Milk + Breakfast
08:00 AM to 12:00 PM - School
12:00 PM to  01:00 PM - Lunch
01:15 PM to 03:30 PM - School
03:30 PM                      - Snacks followed by games
06:00 PM to 06:45 PM - Prayer
07:00 PM to 08:00 PM - Dinner followed by study hours

For any queries please contact Shri Ramani Garu, who is the present incharge for Sri Shanti Ashram and her contact number is 9949964949.

Address of Sri Shanti Ashram:
Lawson's Bay Colony, Visakhapatnam - 530017
Ph : (0891) 2538689
queries can also be posted to srishantiashram@gmail.com
  • Donors can donate for milk, Breakfast , Lunch, Snacks or Dinner. 
  • They are also looking for people to help the kid's educational upliftment. So, one can render their services by teaching the kids in free time or in weekends. Mainly Ashram heads are looking for someone who renders computer knowledge to the Deaf and Dumb children.
  • Educational fund for a particular student can also be donated. 
More info about the founder @ http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2003051201170200.htm&date=2003/05/12/&prd=mp&

-Vamsee


Pics taken @ Sri Shanti Ashram:













Wednesday, January 19, 2011

A day at PAPA home

Starting this journey with the visit to PAPA (Public And Police Association ) home in Visakhapatnam.

PAPA home is an organisation started by police authorities for street boys. Lakshmi is the lady who takes personal care of these kids and these kids call her 'Amma'. Phone No: 08912533866.

My experience at PAPA home is marvelous. There, each kid is special with his own story. The innocent catchy eyes makes us hard to believe the pain that the kids are undergoing at that tender age.
Had some personal talk with few kids :
Indu Kumar (11 Yrs) , Manoj (7 Yrs) , Akhil Kumar (5Yrs) , Jeevan (10 Yrs) , Rakesh (9Yrs)...All of these kids lost either one or both of their parents and were joined in PAPA home for various reasons, which will bring tears.

Above all, their contiguous cute smiles are the best part of my visit.

Presently there are 68 children in PAPA home and 10 staff members to take care of them.
Though 4 used computers were already donated to PAPA home, since their condition is not good kids knew nothing about a computer. Also, there is a library which requires many amendments.
Lakshmi, requested me for some basic things like bulbs, tubelights classroom benches etc., So, anyone who are interested can help them in this regard.

For more details please visit  www.papahome.in.

-Vamsee. 

Kids posing at the welcome board


Teacher Swarna with a Kid

Akhil Kumar(5Yrs)


Indu Kumar (11Yrs)
I call this 'The Best Pic' for the cute expression

Manoj(7Yrs) another cute expression

Fun Time

Lunch Time

Kids thank the person who sponsored them that day's meal and pray to the God, before having their lunch


Kids at their mundane duties

Study time

Together with friends

Kids at their high pitch saying 'Byee akka' when I'm leaving PAPA home

Sunday, January 16, 2011

-Intro to The Tool for Helping Hands

Hi Friends,

As the title states - this is the introduction of my blog.
May be there are many blogs like this - I dont know. But, I know that there are many people among YOU who really want to help the needy. Okay, lemme say real & genuine needy.
Wondering what is so 'genuine' in needy...?? I would have almost transferred some money, falling for a false appeal "to help" advertisement. Thanks to my friend who checked out in the hospital before my money transfer. So, that is how I got this idea of starting a blog to give proper & genuine info of the real needy to the extent possible from my end.

Here goes my plan how I'm going to proceed. I would be visiting the places (to the extent possible) and only after confirming that the appeal is real, I will post the details in my blog. I request you people to join your hands with me in doing this. You as well can share the information about the people those who are in real need and help others to locate the genuine need.

Even if there is one single help done to the actual needy from this blog, I will consider that my idea of this blogging is success.
Let us make the HELP reach the appropriate NEED.

Again, there might be a big ocean of websites/blogs etc., doing the same job. Still, how about this tiny drop joining that ocean?

I hope helping hands will find this tool handy in rendering their help to the genuine needy.

-Vamsee.