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A Letter Requesting Support for the Niranjana School
Dear Friends,
Since the moment we received an email from our friend Alan telling us about Niranjana School (see attached email), we have felt it our duty to do all we can to support the school, to support life and nurture hope in very trying conditions. This seemed a perfect extension of the DLRC's mission of alleviating suffering around the world. This year we had the pleasure and great fortune to visit Niranjana and solidify our friendship with Siddhartha, the school's founder and director. The days spent at Niranjana and surrounding villages drew us closer to the warm-hearted, dedicated children, children given a chance, children nourished in a loving oasis surrounded by a desert of hopelessness. Niranjana Public Welfare School and Orphanage is in Bihar, the poorest state in India, a state where none of the markers of progress show signs of hope. While many parts of India are developing at a remarkable pace, Bihar, according to all standards, finds itself falling further and further behind.
Yet, here in Bihar we experienced great joy and connection. As we looked into the children's sparkling eyes, as we saw how so many of these dear children are blessed to receive what we take for granted — an education and a nourishing meal — we saw how easy it would be for us to make an astounding difference in their lives. For instance, a $20 donation was enough to ensure that two children, who hadn't ever walked due to polio, would be given crutches and braces as well as therapy to assist them in taking their very first steps. The train station in Gaya looked like a refugee camp, and this was no emergency situation; nightly, masses of people, young and old, sleep on the platform, often using newspaper and cardboard for blankets. Siddhartha is helping save children from this fate, children who have been abandoned at the station by their families, children who have no recollection of what village they are from. These children's first memories are often of the station.
We are intent on raising $15,000 as a starting point. This is enough money for Siddhartha to build an orphanage to house sixty to one hundred more orphans, children now living in the streets or in the railway station. This money will also allow Siddhartha to build more satellite schools in surrounding villages. As you can see in the video, while these schools are very basic, they are also powerfully life affirming. Children in these villages are now walking two to four hours a day simply to go to school, and with the exception of the one satellite school Siddhartha has already built, those who are too tiny to endure such walks go without an education.
"Even a little bit goes a very long way." We are hoping many will join us in realizing this easily attainable dream. Whatever you can give will provide profound upliftment in a place so direly in need of a boost. We are grateful for your consideration, and these children will be undoubtedly grateful for our generosity.
The Divine Life Renewal Center, An Integrative Teaching Resource Center for Self-Actualization, (the DLRC) is a section 501 c. 3 non-profit, educational and charitable organization committed to alleviating suffering as well as uplifting human consciousness. The DLRC serves as the sponsor for both the aforementioned fundraising efforts and for beneficial relationship building within our global community through a children's activist program known as Peaceful Planet KIDS Club. The act of gathering resources from those who have enough for those who are in great need combined with the opportunity of children and families here in our part of the world directly coming to know, love, and understand children in other places, such as these here in Bodh Gaya, describes an effort that surely shall leave all of us touched, uplifted, and empowered.
All donations for building the orphanage for Niranjana should be made via checks payable to DLRC. Receipts of your tax-deductible donation shall be sent out in a timely manner.
If you are interested in learning more about the pen pal project to connect children and families to the Niranjana children, through the Peaceful Planet KIDS Club, please contact Tim or Julia, the Founder of the DLRC.
Blessings and sincere best wishes,
Tim Rose
Co-Director
Niranjana Project
timrose999@gmail.com
434.249.0741
Jill Rose
Co-Director
Niranjana Project
jillrose999@hotmail.com
434.249.0743
Julia Devi Claire Jondahl
Founding Director
DLRC
434.989.5929
About Niranjana View Photos of the Niranjana School. A Letter Requesting Support
