A new academic year has just commenced at Udayan.Presently we have 306 under care.125 children in our own Udayan Vidyalaya(School) in classes Nursery to Standard Four. 145 in Government schools – standard Five to Ten, 10 in Standard Eleven & Twelve.Four boys are Degree courses – three with honours.Twenty two are taking vocational training courses as Turners, 2 wheeler mechanics,Secretaries,Printers,Commercial Arts,Computer,Tailors etc.
Mr. Partha Sarathi Banerjee and his wife Deepa Banerjee
(both residents of Seattle, USA) are actively involved
with the well-being of the children of Udayan. They have
donated Partha's ancestral property in Jodhpur Park, a
prestigious location in South Calcutta, to set up "Geeta-Kalyan
Center". This center will provide shelter to the
college-going students of Udayan who can not afford accommodation. The center
commemorates Partha?s late parents? names. In 2005,
Partha and Deepa were introduced to Rev. James G.
Stevens, OBE, founder of Udayan by the legendary
Australian cricket captain and Australian of the Year
Mr. Steve Waugh. Since then, Partha and Deepa have shown
their community service spirit by actively supporting
Udayan.
Partha is a successful Chartered Accountant from Price
Waterhouse (India and Australia) and is also a Certified
Public Accountant in the USA. Deepa is a South Asian
Studies Librarian at the University of Washington,
Seattle. Deepa has a Ph.D in American Literature and a
Masters degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS).
She is also a well-known North Indian (Hindustani)
classical musician and vocalist. She has been a disciple
of world famous Indian vocal maestros Pandit Jasraj and
Pandit Rajan Mishra.
Work is in progress on a first for Udayan.
An indoor and outdoor Sports Centre for Table Tennis,Chess,Carrom ( a typical Indian game – a little like billiards with counters rather than balls), Badminton, Basket Ball. This is being funded by the AC Milan Foundation in association with Leonardo De Araujo (ex football player of Brazil and AC Milan).This should be opened by Leonardo himself before the end of August 2006.
Jodhpur Park
A new Boys hostel in the name of Geeta Kalyan Centre was inaugurated by Mr.G.M.Chakraborti, Commissioner of Kolkata Police on 15th November. The flat was donated by Mr.Partha Banerjee. Our working and trainee boys will stay in boys hostel. This hostel will give our boys an opportunity to launch their working career without having to worry about a shelter.
Christmas Celebration
On 22nd December we have our Pre-Christmas celebration. At Udayan we celebrated this occasion with great enthusiasm. Colour papers, bunting, balloons were purchased and used for the decoration. A competition was held and prizes were awarded to the best decorated cottage. This year Gandhi Bhavan became the champion. A special programme was organised and a Nativity Play was performed. We had a special lunch.
Excursion
This year we organised Excursion for our children. We took them to various places such as Science City, The Zoo, Nehru Childrens Museum, Indian Museum, Birla Technological Museum, Gandhi Museum etc. These excursion come as a welcome relief for our children from the routine life of Udayan. The children enjoyed it very much.
Dominique Lapierre Visit
On 7th December our Chief Patron Dominique Lapierre visited Udayan with his wife and friends. It was a lovely day. There was a day long programme. They met a few leprosy patients who were visiting their children. They had lunch with all the students and staff of Udayan. Mr.Lapierre distributed the “Dominique Lapierre” Awards in various categories.
1st Jan
New Year Day – a special feast was organised by Taj Bengal Hotel for the children and staff of udayan. The General Manager of Taj Bengal Mr.Mohan Chandran along with his staff personally visited Udayan and organised the whole thing. The feast was preceded by a Magic Show which the children enjoyed very much.
KOLKATA KONSORT
Father sang with the Kolkata Konsort at St. John’s Church, on 6th February to raise funds in aid of Udayan.
City Ride Mini Bus
Tata Motors has very generously given us City Ride school bus in collaboration with Dominique Lapierre. We thank them.
COLLAGE EXHIBITION
Stacey Clarfied Newman the renowned collagist from New York was with us recently and trained our children in collage They had an exhibition on 10th Feb. at Palladian Lounge , Kolkata.
MUSO MAGIC
This group consisting of Adam, Mel, Bridget, Glenn and Uma spent a hectic 3 days in Udayan and they have along with the children composed a school song for Udayan.
Board Exam
18 Children will appear for their first Board Examination. 9 girls and 9 boys.
We have a spanking new Bus given us by the Friends of Udayan and SMOAT,UK. This is being used to take the children to school and on excursions.
If you would like to know more about Udayan and its work with the children of leprosy sufferers just drop me a line or better still an e-mail.
With greetings from Udayan and its children.
James Stevens
(The Revd.J.G.Stevens,OBE)
Founder/Chairman
Udayan
