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Author Archives: Mr. John
February 2025 Odisha Newsletter
Where and how to Donate
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024
Newsletters & Brochures
MARUDYAN BROCHURE 2026 click here for overview of our projects
Year-end Christmas Newsletter 2025 click here
Odisha News February 2025 click here
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024 click here
FOOD DISTRIBUTION 2021 click here
BLANKET DISTRIBUTION click here
Recent Activities
January 2021
Christmas was very special this year. We had received sponsorship from ADP for this programme to have a Christmas dinner for a thousand children, the numbers went way over.
The main Christmas event we celebrated in the heart of Calcutta at the grounds of the Loretto School for the children of the Tangra Slum and everyone came dressed in their very best clothes. This is a predominant Muslim slum area and most of the people are labourers in the leather tanning industries.
We organized this together with Seva Kendra volunteers, who are actively working in this slum. With each group of 15 to 20 children was a volunteer. So it was a well managed event with great fun, games, prizes, carols, snacks and cake for all. An amazing day to remember. The pictures speak for themselves. Upon departure each child took home their Christmas dinner, chicken biryani, to share with their family. The biryani was excellent. I know, because when the cleanup was done and everyone was gone, I sat with my good friend Mr. Sethi under a tree where we enjoyed our Christmas dinner together.
The children in the Gurgaon school all received new sweaters sponsored by ADP to keep warm during the cold winter days. When I was there the temperature fell to five degrees Celsius, which is very cold as the houses don’t have central heating so it is the same temperature inside as outside. Making a bonfire outside helps the neighbourhood to get together in the evenings and warm themselves before tucking in for the night. You can understand the sweaters are well appreciated.
With thanks and appreciation
Disaster Relief
TSUNAMI RELIEF ASSISTANCE
Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Collector Cuddalore together with John 
We were able to sponsors two boats with help from abroad
Through the society we were able to help build a large dormitory for 80 Tsunami Orphan Children
the inauguration of dormitory hall
WHEN AILA STRUCK
Loading the boat with aid for the Sunderbans, where the Aila cyclone struck
The people are patiently yet eagerly awaiting our arrival
Volunteers and staff getting ready for the distributionChristmas & Dignitaries
CHRISTMAS DINNERS FOR THE POOREST OF KOLKATA
That Christmas Day we fed around 2300 of Calcutta’s Poor[/one_third_last]
The food en venue were supplied by the Mantosh brothers
The Christmas Carols and the Life Stable made it complete
This elderly couple wanted to thank us personally as never had an invitation beforeVISITS OF DIGNITARIES
The British High Commissioner Michael Arthur with his wife Plaxy came from Delhi to visit the West Bengal project
The Dutch Ambassador Bob Hiensch came with members of his staff to visit the Haryana Project
Building and Files
BUILDING THE SCHOOL IN WEST BENGAL – LITTLE BY LITTLE YEAR BY YEAR – FIRST WITH THE HELP OF B.H.C., THEN L.I.C., BUT ESPECIALLY APIBiMI WHO IS FAITHFUL TO SUPPORT THROUGH THE YEARS
WHEELCHAIRS AND OTHER FILE PHOTOS
Adult Literacy / ID
The tribal men and women from the Eastern Ghat mountains Odisha are learning to write their name, which is a tremendous boost in their self esteem. As you can see the people are eager to learn, but they are extremely thankful and happy that their children are getting schooling and are learning to read, write and do maths.
Putra Patamajhi the beautiful tribal woman who is learning to read
After giving the women a serious talk on adult literacy they walked us down to the river that our team had to cross. They were shocked when I started splashing them, but within seconds I got a full load back. Amazing, beautiful and fun loving India!
In the tribal village of Kadimaha Odisha we gave the challenge to the women to see who wanted to become proficient in reading. Putra, a strong tribal woman raised her hand. One is all we need. The teacher will teach her one hour daily until she can read and write well. I told her that I would be back to see her again, and that she needs to start reading books to the other village women. She was so thankful that someone showed faith and confidence in her. The village women walked our team of four back to the river, which we waded through. They also came into the water and they were so surprised when this “foreign dignitary” started splashing them. It was only a second before I got a full dose back. Great fun!
The adult literacy class in Sindipang in Odisha
In between harvest times the adults attend
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IDENTIFICATION CARDS
Most of the children and adults that we work with have no identification. The children only know their personal name and their parent’s name i.e. My name is Shanti and my father’s name is Kumar. They don’t know their age nor their date of birth, so we sit with the parents guesstimate their date of birth, which becomes from then on their 
official date of birth. Before they have an ID anybody can snatch them and sell them in the market and there will be no trace of them. By giving them an identification card their confidence and sense of belonging grows as they can show who they are. Before the cards are endorsed by the society office with the proper stamp we put their name in our register, so we have the children and the adults on record.