SEPTEMBER 2024
As always the third quarter of the year is our busiest. On
the ground in Goa children were back to school at the start
of June and our team were all out making sure children were
equipped for the new school year. There has been a riot of
festivals starting with Eid ul Adha and ending with
Independence Day with Friendship Day, Rhaki Day and some
lesser known celebrations falling in between. In this
newsletter we have included some of these lesser known
events for a change but rest assured we celebrated all the
special days with gusto!
We've also taken the chance to explain a little about our
plans for the future. The economic climate we operate in
remains challenging but we are excited to have a plan which
means we can make the best of all income we receive in this
relatively challenging and unpredictable climate. We hope
you will be as pleased as we are to hear more about our
latest project.
BACK TO SCHOOL
In the first week of June we were back in full swing, first
conducting the start of year parents' meetings and then
ensuring children had all that they needed ready for school
the following week. As always, children received new school
uniforms and school bags stuffed with stationery and
toiletries, together with either a raincoat or an umbrella.
Once they were back at school, they obtained the list of
notebooks that would be required and these were provided
shortly afterwards. There was such a buzz about Mango Tree
House as everyone looked forward to the year ahead.
OUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Having finally achieved our
dream of providing permanent accommodation for Mango Tree in
Goa, we recently took time out to review our objectives.
Apart from striking off the plan to have a permanent base,
they haven't changed since 2012. We are well aware, however,
that post Covid Goa is very different to pre Covid Goa. The
number of foreign visitors has plummeted. As a result, we
have far fewer visitors to Mango Tree which means less
people are likely to bring much needed items, donate after
seeing our work or to sponsor children. Our income for
2023/24 was at a lower level than at any time back to
2014/15. Meanwhile numbers of children rise every year, as
does the number of staff needed and inflation means
everything costs more. We always want to do as much as we
can with the income we receive but recognise we can't commit
to new ongoing projects in this more challenging
environment. In addition to supporting the Mango Tree House
and Chimbel projects we have, however, long held an ambition
to provide a College Assistance Scheme to help young people
who are capable but, through lack of financial support, are
unable to continue in further education and study for a
degree. Our plans are in the early stages but, briefly, we
intend to review our financial position at the end of each
year and agree how many new degree course sponsorships we
can take on in the coming year. Having then identified the
students we will support, we will set aside a sum of money
which will cover all years of their degree so if they start
a course, we know they can finish it. It's a very exciting
prospect and needs quite a bit of work to set up, but we are
delighted to say our manager is already on the case working
with local schools to identify those who require support
well in advance of the next academic year. We look forward
to providing updates to our new project in future
newsletters.
THE REOPENING OF OUR PREPRIMARY SCHOOL
The start of the year is always a busy time at Mango Tree
House, so we always open our pre-primary school a couple of
weeks later. Last year we added a nursery class for the
first time but, as working with such small children was a
new experience for our teachers, we started with a very
small class. This year we added a completely full class
which, together with two lower kindergarten classes, meant
we had a much larger batch of new children than normal.
Pre-primary school is daunting when you are only 3 or 4
years old and never really been anywhere without Mum or Dad,
let alone have to get on a bus with strangers and driven off
to a place you have only seen once or twice before. With
this in mind, our first week is always a week of play time
and getting used to the rhythm of the day. Amazingly, we had
less tears than has often been the case and a couple of
weeks later children were happy to strike a pose on the
steps of the House.
TAKING PART IN INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY
In recognition of its universal appeal, the United Nations
proclaimed the 21st June as the International Day of Yoga.
It aims to raise awareness of the many benefits of
practising yoga and, as in previous years, Mango Tree
celebrated the Day. In the morning, pre-primary children
watched a demonstration by the teachers and followed it with
flexibility and meditation sessions. In the afternoon, some
of our older children gave a talk on the benefits of yoga
and demonstrated various poses before holding a practical
session with the children. Here you can see a session taking
place.
CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE DAY
AT MANGO TREE HOUSE
The Independence Day celebrations at Mango Tree House were
really fabulous, culminating in a wonderful afternoon
programme. All children from the youngest to the oldest took
part in Independence Day art and craft activities, samples
of which are included on the backdrop to our stage. Over 200
children attended the event which was hosted by a couple of
our 6th Standard children. Over 50 of them took part in
either singing patriotic songs, chanting patriotic slogans,
delivering speeches about freedom fighters and their
struggles or dancing to patriotic songs. The programme came
to an end with the singing of the National Anthem and the
chanting of slogans. It was a uplifting programme with
children showing immense pride in their country.
THE MANGO TREE TREE
We loved receiving photos both of the making of this huge
poster and the final result. After drawing and colouring the
whole tree every child, from the youngest to the oldest,
then stuck their photo on in place of leaves. The end result
is a beautiful representation of the whole Mango Tree family
of children and is a lovely addition to the art and
craftwork gracing the walls of the House. If you get the
chance to visit this season there's no way you will miss it!
PARENT POWER AT
CHIMBEL
In the last academic year over half of the children
attending afternoon tuition at Chimbel, lost their place
following a Court Order closed their school and the only way
other local schools could accommodate them was to hold their
classes in the afternoon. It was impossible for the Chimbel
project to accommodate their tuition class in the mornings
as the building was full with pre-primary children. Parents
were angry, not only at the disruption to children's lives,
but that as a direct result children lost the free tuition
class which was greatly prized. They formed a group and have
lobbied continually for the children to go to school in the
morning as is the norm throughout India. We are delighted to
say that their voices were heard and children are back to
school in the morning and back to afternoon tuition class in
the afternoon. The Chimbel project is back to
being completely full this academic year with 60 children in
both the morning and afternoon sessions.
OUR LAND OUR FUTURE
- RECOGNISING WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
To encourage awareness about the challenges facing Mother
Earth and the need to protect the environment, World
Environment Day is celebrated on 5th June each year. There
is always a theme along with the general focus on the
importance of sustainable approaches and ensuring we do our
bit in saving nature. One of the simplest ways that anyone
can contribute to a greener planet is to plant a tree. Even
though school had only just restarted we managed to
celebrate the day. The landscapers who created our gardens
came along and gave a talk to a hall packed with children.
We had planned an afternoon of planting in the garden but
the weather had other plans for the day. Instead, the
landscapers gave a talk on how to take cuttings and pot up
plants. Then it was time for children to get stuck in and
have a go themselves. It was a thought-provoking session and
a lot of fun too.
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LISA'S WONDERFUL FIFTH FASHION
FUNDRAISER
Many of you will know about the support we
have received over the years from our Italian
friend Lisa. We are fortunate that this support
continues and we are delighted to say that in
June Lisa's LQV Design, together with the Citta
a Matita association, organised a 5th
fundraising Fashion Show and Sale. The event
took place at the Villa Bernadini near Lucca.
The gardens were alive with models wearing LQV
Design's beautiful Indian made outfits, some of
which you can see here. We are hugely grateful
to have received 1,350 Euros as a result of the
event and say a huge thank you to LQV Designs,
Citta a Matita association and all those who
supported the event in any way.
RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY
Each month Mango Tree House has a theme and many of our
extra curricular activities revolve around that theme. In
July our theme was rain and it couldn't have been fitting.
The monsoon was in full swing. All classes made rain themed
craft creations, including those above, and our smallest
members also made paper boats which they enjoyed floating
outside in the puddles.
CELEBRATING VAN MAHOTSA AT CHIMBEL
Quite separate to
World Environment Day, India holds its own
festival which promotes the benefits and
importance of trees and tree planting. The week
long festival takes place in June. This year the
Chimbel project recognised the week and asked
parents to send a plant in with their child if
they could and to explain about it's benefits.
It was a great success with a huge amount of
plants turning up on the day. Here are three
eager children clutching their exhibits.
ANOTHER FABULOUS FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE
FUNDRAISER
We were thrilled to
learn that another hugely successful Fantasy
Football League fundraiser had taken place and
to receive a donation of £590 as a result. The
fundraisers have been organised annually by
Chris, a kindhearted supporter who visited Mango
House around five years ago and still chooses to
take the time and trouble to set up and run the
League. Over the years, the League has gone from
strength to strength with an amazing 118
participants taking part in the last League. We
say a huge thank you to each of them and a
special shout out to Christ for continuing to
invest his time and talent to benefit Mango
Tree.
OUR HANDWRITING COMPETITION
This year, for the first time, we have added
some monthly competitions into our programme.
This is a common activity in schools and
children love them. One such competition was a
handwriting competition amongst 4th and 5th
Standard children in July. As you can see, they
took the competition very seriously and after
completing the set task, anxiously awaited the
announcement of the winners. In the event six
children were rather proud to be presented with
a Best Handwriting Certificate.
PRE-PRIMARY INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS AT
CHIMBEL
One of our favourite celebrations at the
Chimbel project is the Independence Day
celebration at pre-primary. Every year we are
delighted to see an array of esteemed freedom
fighters and politicians. This year was no
exception, though with a larger military
contingent than we have seen in the past!
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL FUN
FUNDRAISING DAY IN JUOAC, FRANCE
Many of you will know that we have been very
well supported over the years by the village of
Jouac, France. The support first began thanks to
our French trustee Gill and husband Richard and
over the years fundraising activities in the
village have grown. We were delighted to hear
that the Annual Fete would take place in August
and that Mango Tree and a local children's
charity would be the beneficiaries. The day is
an amazing fundraiser starting with bacon
butties, a table top sale, a raffle and auction,
petanque and a fish supper amongst other things.
Entertainment was provided by a local rock choir
and friends who sang a hilarious sea shanty or
two with less than traditional lyrics - photo
above! We are delighted that we will receive a
fabulous 800 Euros from the event and say a huge
thank you to Gill and Richard, Rhonda and Neil
for hosting the event at their Le Weekend
restaurant, to Dot for unbelievable raffle
ticket sales, the ladies who baked, those who
gave prizes and everyone else who contributed to
making the day such a fun and enjoyable success.
OUR RHAKI DAY CELEBRATION
The Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan honours the
special bond between brothers and sisters, or
those who are like a brother or a sister to a
person. Traditionally, girls make a decorative
thread, a rhaki, which they tie to their
brother's wrist to honour him and, in return, he
promises to protect her. The ceremony involved
in doing so is beautiful and one that we always
arrange at Mango Tree. Here you can see
"sisters" sitting in front of their "brothers"
holding a specially prepared thali plate
containing a candle which was used to perform a
prayer, a sweet which was fed to the brother,
kum kum which was used to place a tikka on his
forehead, a flower which was placed behind his
ear and finally a rhaki which was tied to his
wrist. As ever, the ceremony was beautiful and
earnestly carried out by our "sisters".
CELEBRATING FRIENDSHIP
Friendship Day is widely celebrated around the
world but this essential relationship was
celebrated in India long before the United
Nations designated 30th July as World Friendship
Day. In India friends are celebrated on the 1st
Sunday in August and we always celebrate on the
previous Friday. It's a good tradition for
everyone to take a step back and think about
what their friends mean to them and to let them
know. For the Mango Tree children it's a good
chance to remind them of the importance of their
friendships and to encourage them to think about
what makes a good friend and how they can be a
good friend. All children got involved in the
making and exchanging of friendship bands or
cards and left for the weekend in great spirits.
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