Reaching out to the most vulnerable lives in India and lighting them up, one at a time.
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Sweets for Sebs
The youngest members of the Hunter family are leading the way in fundraising initiatives. They raised over £140 for the charity yesterday from sale of sweets outside their front door! Not only did the stall quickly sell out of everything, the young philanthropists gave out leaflets about the Seb’s!
More fundraising events are planned, with lemonade, jelly and more! Please get in contact if you know any young entrepreneurs who would love to lend their skills to raising money to help children living in poorer communities.
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Build a school with 108 Sun Salutations
We are delighted to announce that One Shakti are going to be supporting us with their 108 Sun Salutations charity event this year.
The Sun Salutation is a series of Yoga postures practised in a flowing sequence promoting physical, mental and spiritual health. In most yoga session only a few rounds are conducted. On this day the team of experienced One Shakti instructors will guide you gracefully through the postures and sequences. Having some experience of yoga and Sun Salutation practice will help but is not a pre-requisite - together we will accomplish the 108 sets.
You can see a brief glimpse of 108 Sun Salutations event 2015 on this video. Please link to https://youtu.be/EVQwyXEuHds
The event will be raising funds for a permanent school in the remote region of the Jawadhi Hills, in a village called Thanimaruthur.
To get involved please download the Registration Form below or contact us at [email protected].
We look forward to seeing you. Namaste!
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Belgravia Gallery Director, Anna Hunter, visits India for The Sebastian Hunter Memorial Trust
Anna Hunter is visiting our charity projects in India this week (4 January 2016) for The Sebastian Hunter Memorial Trust. This week, she handed out clothes and shoes kindly donated by friends in London to the delight of the local women and children from tribal villages we support. Some families include seven children and could not have been more thrilled. Needless to say, these donations will be put to good use for the start of 2016! Watch the video below: For more information or ways to get involved, contact us via email: [email protected].
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The Long Road to Health Service in the Jawadi Hills
The Tribal Initiative Programme in Sittiling Valley of Dharmapuri district in Tamil Nadu is 23 years old. During these years Dr. Regi George and Dr.Lalitha Regi along with a team of 45 highly trained members initiated the health service and their programme expanded from Community health programme to Tribal Hospital, Farming initiative and Craft initiative.
The Tribal Health Initiative believes that every community has the resources needed to help themselves. Each village nominates one married woman to be trained as a Health Auxilliary, who can offer advice on good nutrition, hygiene, birth practice and simple ailments, maintain records on important health events in the village and act as facilitators for all Community development work.
Aosada and Sulochana are two young educated married women from the Jawhadi hills of Dhaniyamarthur village. These girls completed their high school education and got married. Asoda’s husband Swaminathan works for Sebs tribal school and Sulochana’s husband is a daily wage laborer. Looking into the school record Asoda and Sulochana were good in their school records yet no opportunity and guidance to pursue their career. The Tribal Initiative Health Programme offered Seb’s to train two tribal girls for a certified nursing assistant course. Seb’s recognizing the talents of these young girls, enrolled them to build their capacities for a better future.
On 28th November, 2015 Asoda and Sulochana started their Journey to Sit tiling valley. The place was so calm and welcoming and the young girls seemed very enthused. Mrs. Prema oriented them about the project and the Nursing course. The admission process was completed on the same day. Asoda and Sulochana started to interact with others on the same day. Both of them said that they wished to complete their two years of training effectively and give back to their community. They said good bye to our Coordinator with lots of Joy and Hope in their face, however holding huge responsibilities in their hearts. Many thanks to Drs. Saramma Samuel Sargeant and Ian Sargeant for supporting this initiative. Periyapannaaparal Village is making great strides to improve its quality of life After the Trust's visit to Periyapannaparai village, the Head man of the community took a lot of initiative to present the matter to the district Panchayat to address the water issue. To all of our surprise, the panchayat sanctioned funding to build a wall around the water source which was great as that was going to cost a lot of money. They also provided a motor to pump the water to the water tank near by. After the wall was completed there was lot of excitement including coming to blows!!! Four of the families had direct access of water supply to their fields and the quantity of water they could avail from the source was reduced. To our dismay the women started taking all their clothes to wash at that site which would continue to pollute the water. One of the problem was they built steps to go down to the water on one side. I have attached a few photographs to help you understand the issues.
The Periyapannai community has certainly come a long way because of the school and the Balwadi. The poultry livelihood program had a few problems initially and now they have started to supply eggs to our school and have begun to do well. We have the CMC doctors visiting the village once a month. All this has created awareness about improving quality of life in the village.
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Laxmi and Bhavani
We are so moved and thrilled for this extraordinary girl, Bhavani (pictured left), who has managed to secure a coveted Diploma in Nursing at the Scudder Memorial Hospital. Through our 'Goodbye to Paper' programme, her mother, Laxmi, was able to gain a livelihood and work while her daughter received an education.
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Volunteer for the MBKG Pannai Ophanage Jo Pearce, June 2015
Having got the visa and booked the ticket I really didn't know what I was letting myself in for! India hmmm, to be honest I never really fancied going there! I had travelled to different parts of the world for various charities, so this time I was destined for India. A brief conversation with James Hunter had introduced me to The Sebastian Memorial Trust. My 17 year old son wanted to join me, so he came along. We both decided we would stay for a month and if we didn't like it we would go home! I packed 2 suitcases full of pens, books, toys and such stuff for the orphanage. We arrived in India 2.30am. I had made travel arrangements to and from the airport with Emma Koshi. Thank god the taxis was there waiting for us! We arrived at MBKG Pannai Orphanage 4.30am. We were shown to our accommodation. Which was basic but good. Even had a fridge which played the tune of “Jingle Bells” if not shut properly! Later that morning we met the children. That’s when our love and passion developed for the children. We were greeted with such open arms. Their English is good, so we could have broken conversations with them. We meet Ratna who is in charge of housekeeping and catered for our needs. Our first week consisted of travelling to various projects the charity is involved with such as a Leprosy Hospital and remote villages. It was all so humbling. All the villages where so welcoming. We sang songs with the small children. They loved it!
The last 3 weeks of our stay we at the MBKG Orphanage. We were with the children constantly. We played games with them football, baseball, basketball and so on. We gave them the time they needed and deserved. We taught at the local school. I am not a school teacher! So it was just common sense really. Teaching English, role play, helping them with their studies. We did lots of sporting class’s trying to teaching them that boys and girls can play games together! Sometimes it was hard work. But you push through. Some of the children are feral. Some have learning disabilities. But you have to be committed, disciplined and patient to get any end result. If you thinking of using this experience as a cheap holiday don't bother to waste your time or others. These children crave your attention and in return you receive endless gratitude. My 17 year old son fell in love with his experience and is desperate to go back. As am I. Sometimes it can be very harsh but these people are living in a different world to you and I. So be open minded. Change takes time.
Regarding the food! I was worried of a tummy upset. Not once in the entire month did I experience anything of the sort. We ate in the canteen with the orphans, the food was basic sometimes a little too spicy but I have never been a fan of Indian food! That speaks volumes! The children were drinking from a filtered water machine. Which at first I was dubious and religiously drank from bottled water. But by the end of week 2, when in Rome so to speak I started to drink the water from the machine. I was fine.
On my return from this wonderful experience I am still in regular contact with Anita (she works in the orphanage office) who keeps me updated with the child I am now sponsoring. My son has been so humbled by his experience he is taking a course in becoming a teacher of English. So he can go back qualified and offer more to the children.
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Ambassador of the Month: Belgravia Gallery Director, Laura Walford
Belgravia Gallery Director, Laura Walford, will be taking part in 3 events to raise money for The Sebastian Hunter Memorial Trust.
Laura's aim is to raise enough money to build a small school in a remote tribal village in an area known as the Jawadi Hills where many children have never before had access to an education. Children aged 11-13 are often sent far away to work for months at a time with their parents unaware of where they are or who they are with.
The 3 events she will be taking part in are:
The London Duathlon (5k run, 22k bike, 5k run) completed on 20th September 2015 (see photo above) The Royal Parks half marathon in a couple of weeks; An x-treme obstacle race at the end of October.
Every penny of money raised will go to the charity, and Laura will match whatever generous donations are made!
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King's School: Sebastian Computer Lab gets an upgrade
King's School asked us to help them upgrade all of their computers and we were delighted to help!
We were able to donate 22 new computers for the Sebastian Computer Lab. The school can now do more for the local community and vastly improve the quality of teaching computer and IT skills to its students.
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A Bright Mind: Thavaseelan
We are overjoyed for our dear Thavaseelan, a young man from Senji mottur, whose entire college and post-graduate education (Bachelor's Degree, Post Graduate Degree and MPhil!) was paid for by The Sebastian Hunter Trust. Thayaseelan visited our Director, Emma Koshi, with his certificate in hand and a big smile across his face! He received a First in his M. Phil! We are so proud of his incredible achievements.
He is currently trying to get a teaching job in a College for which he has to sit for a qualifying exam. Let's send him our prayers and well wishes for his bright future ahead.
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New Balwadi Centres in the Javadi Hills
We have identified the immediate need for balwadis in the villages of Periyapannaparai and Palamarthukollai and we hope to have these two centres set up by the end of this week. The balwadi in Palamarthukollai will be inaugurated on the 22nd of July and in Periyapannaparai on the 24th of July.
From the 14th to the 16th of July, we conducted a training programme for the new balwadi teachers, a group of 11 young women from all the tribal villages where Seb's Projects works. Over the three days, we gave them information on several important topics such as healthcare for children aged 2 to 5, adolescent girls, pregnant women and new mothers; nutrition; and kindergarten education. We took them to a model balwadi in Vellore District so that they could see for themselves what running a balwadi involves. The staff at the balwadi explained what their duties were, which included measuring the weights of the children to check for malnutrition, giving out nutrition powder and a midday meal, and doing various activities with the children.
We had a guest speaker from the local government child services unit (ICDS), Ms Shanthi, who conducted a full day of sessions including the importance of a balanced diet, indicators of malnutrition, nutrition supplements and ensuring that these are given out by the government in each village, and ante-natal care.
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North Bridge House Schools & Chiswick and Bedford Park Preparatory School
We are collaborating with North Bridge House Schools Community to raise funds for our Trust and thanks to their incredible fundraising efforts in June with their annual Summer Fair - raffle prizes and an art auction(!) - we have raised enough funds to build a tribal school. We will be working closely with Chiswick and Bedford Park Preparatory School soon as well. Trustees, Anna and Laura, have visited both schools to talk about our charity and how we help provide education to children who would otherwise not have access.
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Metro article on leprosy
It is often thought of as a biblical disease but leprosy still affects hundreds of thousands of people worldwide every year. Metro talks to the British charities and researchers trying to halt its spread.
Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/news/newsfocus/918514-search-for-leprosy-vaccine-continues-as-disease-still-affects-thousands#ixzz2Cr6nBCrl
The Sebastian Hunter Memorial Trust works with the Schieffelin Institute of Health, Research & Leprosy Centre and the community at Shanthigramam in Karigiri. More than anything these projects need volunteers to lend their time and expertise and help move research and rehabilitation forward for those affected by Leprosy in Tamil Nadu.
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Photos from Jawadhi Hills!
Here are three photos posted by Laura. The photos were taken while visiting the tribal villages in Jawadhi Hills where HEAL, the Sustainable Livelihoods program, and many other education projects affiliated with The Sebastian Hunter Memorial Trust happen!
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Meena and Vitamin A
Meena is a cheerful 11-year-old girl who attended the Seb's Tribal School in Thattankuttai until 2011, when she was taken away to labour in another state with her family. When she returned she started to go blind, and within weeks she was completely unable to distinguish shapes and see light. Seb's Health and Development Workers, notified Seb's staff and rushed her to the Community Health & Development Hospital in Vellore, where she was immediately referred for treatment at Schell Eye Hospital. Both Meena's eyes were ulcerated, weeping, completely clouded and white. She was in a lot of pain and very scared. The doctors diagnosed a severe Vitamin A deficiency which had caused ulcers to eat into her eyes. They predicted Meena would be completely blind in the left eye, while the right would suffer serious long term damage. She received treatment for 7 days and upon discharge both her eyes had recovered with only minor photosensitivity.
Not all cases are as dramatic as Meena's, but some can be much worse. This case study illustrates the need for aid in these tribal areas to raise basic awareness of proper medical intervention and nutritional issues. Most of the health problems faced by the villages in Tamil Nadu are nutrition-related. Vitamin A deficiency is very common. Vitamin A is an essentien nutrient which keeps skin and eyes healthy and plays a vital role in phototransduction. A lack in Vitamin A can not only cause blindness but also diminishes the ability to fight infections.Vitamin A deficiency is estimate to affect approximately one third of the children under the age of five around the world.
Vitamin A is found in food sources such as fish oils, eggs, dairy, and orange and yellow fruits and vegetables. In Tamil Nadu, the staple diet consists of rice and pepper/tamarind water (rasam). Vegetables are only eaten twice a week, with meat and dairy products hardly ever eaten at all. The best way to treat Vitamin A deficiency is through proper diet management. In an attempt to get the villagers eating more vegetables HEAL workers encouraged the villagers to grow their own vegetables. Research has shown that a 60 meter squared plot will feed 14 people and will reduced what the family needs to purchase at market. So far, they have planted chillies, aubergines, ladies fingers, cluster beans, tomatoes, and snake gourds..
Vitamin A deficiency is easily avoided and Meena’s story shows why porjects like HEAL are so importnat in these areas. Helping and teaching families to understand the importance of treatment and nutrition can avoid serious health risks for their children. In order to build the capacity of The Sebastian Hunter Trust's Health & Development Workers, the Seb's Projects hold monthly awareness community meetings in their villages and the monthly health camps.
Our ability to supply Health & Development Workers for such health camps and training sessions are reliant upon the generous donations from our sponsors. A big thanks to all of you who have already donated, even the smallest donation makes a HUGE impact. If you would like to donate, please click here. Furthermore, if you are interested in volunteering as a Health & Development Worker, please click here.
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Indian Summer Party
Our most recent fundraiser was an Indian Summer Party with a special talk from our guest of honour, Emma Koshi, Project Director of Seb's Projects India, who flew all the way from India for this special occasion. She provided updates on Seb's Schools with a beautiful and informative presentation.
Held in the beautiful gardens at Chinthurst Hill, this year's summer fundraiser was an incredible success.
Thank you to everyone for joining us on this lovely day.
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Anna and Laura off to Tamil Nadu!
Anna and Laura are currently visiting our SebHunter Trust projects in Tamil Nadu. Watch this space for updated information, news, and photos along with new projects and fundraising opportunities.
If YOU are interested in visiting or volunteering with The Sebastian Hunter Memorial Trust in India, please visit our volunteer page for further information. One of the best ways to help us is by donating your time.
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