SBS Details for June-July

It's been more than 6 months since AF Mysore started its "Sunday Breakfast Serving" campaign and it's one activity that AF plans to continue for a long long time on a regular basis. But since most of the orphanages in Mysore are covered once, the volunteers have decided to start visiting them again. Given below are the details of all the places visited during June-July '10.

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15th SBS at Balamandira

The volunteers of AF-Mysore visited Balamandira, a Govt. home for boys at J.P.Nagar, as part of their Sunday Breakfast Serving. There were around 40 children from all age groups and they soon assembled at the vast hall where they were served breakfast.

After a sumptuous breakfast, the boys soon gathered again for some fun-filled activities. The

volunteers made them play a lot of games using balloons, and they thoroughly enjoyed every moment. In the meantime, the caretaker of the orphanage informed that one of those boys was selected for an all-India level trekking expedition.

So the volunteers got very interested and soon found the boy and asked him to narrate his experience to all. He was more than happy to recollect and tell us every bit of his trip. He was one of the few children from all over the country who were chosen for this expedition which went on for more than 20 days. He got an opportunity to travel many places in North India and also gain a lot of trekking experience. He even got a memento for participating in this big event which he proudly displayed to the members of AF Mysore.

The volunteers were really happy to know about his achievement and encouraged the other children to participate in such events. Finally they bid farewell to the children with a promise to

visit them soon. Many more orphanages to be visited, more love to be shared, the Aashayein caravan shall go on.

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14th SBS at St. Mary's Girls' Orphanage

The 14th "Sunday Breakfast Serving" of AF-Mysore happened to be at St. Mary's Orphanage for girls near NIE College, Mysore. The volunteers gathered at the place at around 8.30 am as usual, but were surprised to find that none of the kids were present at that time. Since it was a Sunday, they had all gone for their Mass prayers and the volunteers utilized the free time to discuss about the further plans and course of action for AF-Mysore activities. The girls finally arrived at around 9.30 am and were immediately served breakfast which comprised of Idly-Vada-Badam Milk.

Soon after breakfast, they started feeling more comfortable with the volunteers and showed keen interest in exhibiting their dancing skills. They formed many groups and each of those groups danced to the tunes of many English, Hindi and Kannada songs. It was really nice to watch all those kids dance with so much enthusiasm, and it didn't take them much time to pull the volunteers into the dance as well.

One of the girls then came up to thank AF and all its volunteers for spending their time with them and making their Sunday a special one. The Sisters expressed their deep gratitude to the organisation for taking up such tasks and visiting their orphanage and making the girls feel special. They also requested the volunteers to pay many more visits to their orphanage and help the kids with their academics also. After the customary group photograph, the volunteers bid farewell to the little girls and promised to come back as soon as possible.

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HALLI SUMMER CAMP- A Report

It's more than a month now since the Summer Camp came to an end but it is still fresh in the minds of all AF volunteers. To further enhance their memories and for the benefit of non AF volunteers, one of our members, Akhilesh writes a detailed report of the camp, starting from Day 1 till the Closing Ceremony.

Click here to read the first part of the story and then keep clicking on "Newer posts" to find the subsequent parts.

PS: Don't miss the link for the pics of Closing Ceremony.

13th SBS at 'Saptarshi Gurukula'

The thirteenth 'Sunday Breakfast Serving (SBS)' of AF-Mysore was conducted at 'Saptarshi Gurukula Sevashrama', located off KRS road on 22nd May 2010. This was the first time that an SBS activity was being organized at a Gurukula. The SBS is weekly activity in which the members of AF-Mysore visit an ashrama/orphanage and spend time there. Breakfast would be served to the residents. It is an activity wherein the members understand and learn the values and the best practices and offer any possible help towards educating the kids. Empowering the children with quality education is one of the objectives that AF-Mysore is committed to.

The volunteered gathered at around 8.15AM and proceeded towards the Gurukula. On reaching the venue they were startled with what they saw. The Gurukula was unlike any other place wherein SBS was conduced. The place was in the middle of open space and much of the activities were happening outdoors. The volunteers were greeted with 'HARI OM' and offered to sit on the hay carpets under the blue sky.

The seer of the Gurukula, Sri Abhinava Ramanujacharya, then addressed the group of volunteers and his disciples. He explained the values on which his Gurukula was founded. He informed the volunteers that the Gurukula adopted kids from all sections of the society and every disciple of him was entitled to the same standards of education and spiritual teachings. It was learnt that the children attended a nearby government school. Swamiji emphasized the importance of a holistic education that involved an understanding of one's surroundings, sensitivity towards the ecology & the knowledge of the medicinal values of the available herbs/shrubs to supplement the formal education. Knowledge from the Vedas were also taught to the children.

The Gurukula provided boarding and lodging for the children. It was learnt that the Gurukula would support them till their matriculation (10th Std), after which the children would be allowed to pursue their interest.
Most of them, so far, had went on to become Archakas (high priests at temples) or take up appropriate roles within industries etc. The Seer was particularly proud of one of his disciples who has become an Archaka at a temple in Germany and is teaching the Vedas to the localities there. 

After the discourse by the seer, the volunteers served breakfast to the children. Some of them also sat with the children and joined in for the breakfast. The children were served with Idli, Vada and Sambhar. They were also provided with Badam Milk.
It was a different experience altogether to sit together in the open under the blue sky for the breakfast.

Mr. Anil Raj, an active member of AF-Mysore and the sponsor for this event celebrated his birthday by distributing chocolates to the children. He also seeked the blessings of the seer on the occasion. The seer blessed him and other members of AF-Mysore and wished them well in their endeavor to make the society a little better place.



The volunteers bid farewell to the residents of the Gurukula after a group photograph.

More smile to be spread and more hopes to be nurtured. The caravan of Aashayein Foundation - Mysore will continue next week.

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