Danger Boys
I took a little walk outside the hotel while Dad was sleeping. There was plenty to see. I enjoyed the experience of being observed by people who – I know – assumed I was a typical tourist, gaping at INDIA. I was gaping, it’s true, but that has more to do with my perpetual astonishment […]
This is HUGE
Here are Raj Kumar and Harikala, holding their letters of acceptance to a six-month training course in Mumbai for Child Development Aides. What a thrill! We are all so proud of them and so excited at this wonderful opportunity they have been given. The course is being run by our good friends in Ummeed – […]
The Princess Bride
I knew that Nileshwari would be an exquisite bride and that her wedding would an unforgettable experience. I traveled all the way to Lucknow – in the midst of unbelievable work pressure and complicated family issues – because of my affection for this lovely young woman and, truth be told, out of a sense of […]
Shaheen Mistry
Here’s a dynamo. Shaheen Mistry is young, brilliant and very articulate. She is also fearless and a natural leader. Akanksha is her brainchild and it is a rare pleasure to watch her in action with the team of dedicated and creative teachers who have been drawn to her vision of bringing education to children from […]
Akanksha – Be the Change
I’ve been looking forward to this since January – Shaheen Mistry, whom I admire to the point of hero-worship, invited me to come and speak at Akanksha’s annual Education Convention – a colorful, creative extravaganza in which bright, lively young teachers come together to celebrate the Akanksha vision, re-dedicate themselves to its mission and pick […]
Beautiful People
These are my friends Lizzy Bentley and Arge O’Neil, the people responsible for my fund raising forays in Malibu Beach, along with their two beautiful sons Lucan (sipping from his fancy water bottle) and Isaiah (gravely reading from the latest issue of Highlights). Lizzy came to India in 1987 where she worked with SEWA (Self-Employed […]
America
I love arriving in America – especially when I am “received” at the airport by family. Ravi’s sister and brother were there to meet me when I arrived at the ungodly hour of midnight, and it was cold and raining too! We didn’t get home until after two – Nutan promptly fixed me a huge […]
Due Diligence
The Fundraising course I took in Delhi last year catapulted me into some very interesting company. Resource Alliance, the organisation that ran the course, also gives an award, in partnership with the Nand and Jeet Khemka Foundation,to the NGO of the Year. As part of that, I was asked to be an assessor for organisations […]
New Discovery
Check out this website: http://www.muktanganedu.org Muktangan is a great organisation I heard of while in Mumbai. Vibha and the Ummeed team are partnering with them to bring the early intervention concept to the already fabulous pre-school program Muktangan has pioneered in municipal schools in Bombay. I didn’t get a chance to visit them, but have […]
Just Three More from Ummeed!
I can’t help it. I just got a lot of great pictures that day. According to Hetal, this little one’s head tilt translates as “I love you,” so I was wondering if Deepali was saying the same thing to ME below: And finally, let’s hear it for animated mother-child communication!