Nav-Jeevan

Annual Reports 2023

The first part is written by Aneeta Patel, chairman of Nav Jeevan Sanstha Nagpur

January 23, 2024

Welkom in 2024

We’ve finally said goodbye to 2023 and joyfully welcomed 2024!

This past year, after many delays, we constructed the new Boy’s Hostel we’d been planning for three years. A project which had been beset by so many obstacles – from battling against the corona virus in 2020-2021 to struggling through 2022 when Nagpur experienced one of the hottest summers ever! The new hostel is financed by AFAS and I’m sure our Dutch partners must have found all the delays very frustrating. But that’s the reality in India – delays are inevitable. Everything is dependent on the human factor - as Annelies and Tom have finally learnt after their many years working in India. But as they say “All’s well that ends well”. Our new hostel building stands tall and sturdy and has opened up its doors for our male students.

We try to instill a deep sense of patriotism in our children so Independence Day which falls on August 15 and Republic Day on January 26 were celebrated with equal gusto. On Independence Day we were fortunate to have Major General Sanjay Vidhyarthi, the General Commanding Officer, as our Chief Guest. He also presented us with food rations for the school.

In October we were honored by the annual visit of our Chief Patrons – Annelies and Tom. This time an added attraction was that they were accompanied by Annelies’ daughter Swatee, Swatee’s 13-year-old daughter Isabel and sixteen-year-old son Pepijn and their friend Niek who’d never been to India before. The last time that Swatee had visited the project with her family was when Isabel was three and Pepijn was 6! It was wonderful having them. We’d constructed a new guest room in the new Hostel for Annelies and Tom while the others were housed in the guest rooms in the old hostel.

For Swatee’s two kids visiting Nav-Jeevan was a revelation. We were apprehensive how they would react, but they were like fish in water! Isabel was busy devising dance routines with the girls while Pepijn was playing football with the boys. This time we were even able to organize a visit to the historic Sitabuldi Fort which is controlled by the army. The Fort is many hundred years old though it is still a military installation and packed with history.

On August 6, 2023, the new railway station at Godhani was inaugurated. It was a big event with the Minister of Transport, Nitin Gadkari, as the Chief Guest. It would also be addressed live by the Prime Minister of India via Zoom. A few of the neighboring schools were asked to present a cultural event as entertainment. We decided to present a “Laavni” which is a local dance performed by peasants. It was a huge success. The organizers asked us to present it twice as the first performance was not seen by all the audience.

 

 

During Annelies’ visit she took the children in the hostel to Maharajbagh Zoo. A long time ago, we used to often take the children on picnics to the Zoo. However, the visits stopped as the number of animals in the Zoo began dwindling. This time we were really surprised – the number of animals has really shot up and for many of the children this was the first time they were actually seeing these animals in real life.

 

 

December is usually the month where we take the children for outings. This is before the school goes on Christmas break. When school reopens in the new year the children have to buckle down to serious studies as they prepare for their final examinations. This year we decided to take the children for picnics. We divided the students into two groups – Nursery to Class IV and Class V all the way to Class X. This picnic venue was decided on the basis of what would appeal to which age group and the amount of knowledge they could derive from their visit.

The younger children were taken to the Railway Museum. They enjoyed a ride on the Toy Train and looked at models of various trains in the museum. After eating the lunch, which we had brought from the school, they played in the pretty park.

The older kids were taken to the Eco Park in a village nearby. Eco Park is an initiative of a national Coal Mining company which is based in Nagpur because the majority of coal mines are situated in Central India around Nagpur. The objective of the park is for entertainment and to increase awareness of people of this controversial industry and the steps taken to ensure that it does not endanger nature. Children visited the museum where they saw miniature models of coal mines and watched a short informative film on the growth, development of the Coal company.

Lunch and snacks were provided by the school and the children visited the Ayurvedic Botanical Garden and were informed of various medicinal plants which are used in this ancient medical practice. The whole area is maintained as a botanical garden and the students and staff enjoyed being one with nature.

Our annual Sports Day was also held on December 21st. The Chief Guest who was an officer of the Government Tribal Department was impressed with the sports performance of our young athletes. They also impressed all those present with their march past skills.

 

 

The final entertainment was the Annual Bal Bela. This is normally held in November to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Rajendra Prasad – India’s first President and a teacher by profession but since it clashed with the Diwali holidays it had to be postponed to January 19. All students’ teachers and neighbors participated in this fun event. We provided free coupons to our hostel students so they would not miss out on the festivities.

 

 

Now the students are back to studying hard and teachers are conducting intensive classes before the final exam. This year we are proud that we were instrumental in placing three of our students in good paying jobs. Anil Jadhav is the son of a Rag Picker – someone who picks through others’ garbage to find something salvageable to either sell or eat. He lost his mother when he was a baby. He’s been with us since he was barely two or three – even before we had opened a hostel. He’s a very hardworking multi-talented boy. We supported him all through school and college. He’s been living with us all these years as his father’s hut in the slum without electricity was not conducive for studying. As he became older, he’s conscientiously been helping out with the younger lot in between studying for his exams. He did very well both in school and college and I thought him getting a good job was a foregone conclusion but that was not so. In today’s tough job market, you need to know someone to make it happen. I told everyone that getting a qualified employee is not hard but getting a good one is. Through my contacts I was able to get him a good job in the HR department of a manufacturing unit and I’m proud to say he’s doing very well.

Two other of our wards Isha and Simran were both put into nursing school after finishing Junior College. They’re both orphans and have been with us from the ages of 3 or 4. They both did very well in their nursing exams. Since then, they’ve been desperately looking for jobs. They are both very deserving. They don’t have a science background. They did their 11th and 12th classes in Accounts! In fact, Simran did it in Hindi medium. But despite this, Simran came second in the nursing school with Isha close behind. Yet again it was through our efforts that they’ve been inducted in a big hospital as assistant nurses. After receiving training they’ll be absorbed full time! I’m very proud of these children who are now standing on their own feet and will soon be able to give back to society. Similarly, we have many other children who did their schooling with us and we’re still supporting during their further studies since they don’t have any fall back at home. Hopefully they too will soon be standing on their own feet.

As another year rolls by we are filled with gratitude to all those who have helped to make a stable and productive world possible for our young wards. From those who raised money to construct the new building or just to run the day-to-day activities of the school. We find sponsors everywhere – someone provides milk for the kids. We had one sponsor who was giving us eggs daily to supplement our children’s diet. Unfortunately, that sponsor is no longer with us but we’re looking for someone else. There are those who sponsor individual meals for our students or give treats to make them feel special. I always say the best advertisement for the school is the school itself. Let that tribe ever increase!

 - - -  So far the contribution of Aneeta Patel - - - 

Tribals and Junior College

Fortunately, the Tribal Department has started giving grant amounts again in 2023. They have also signed up 10 new students for class 1. It's not like before, but it's a start. For the coming school year, we have already recruited 15 ourselves and we expect another 15.

As of September 2023, the education system has changed and exams will be cancelled after class 10 (high school) and exams can only be taken after class 12 (Junior College). In 2023, we made a request to start the Junior College. This is important, because we are no longer a school if the children cannot take exams. In the course of 2024, it will become clear whether we will receive permission. Again, extra money is needed for this. For example, a chemistry and biology classroom has to be set up (costing about 12,000 euros). We already have a physics classroom. We will continue to do our utmost to achieve this status, both through fundraising in the Netherlands and by continuing to put pressure on the authorities in India. There are also major maintenance jobs that need to be done. The pipes in the entire building have to be replaced (cost 20,000 euros) and a shelter has to be placed on the hostel for drying the clothes. Fortunately, we have already been able to find a number of funds for these projects so that we could start all projects in 2023. However, money is still needed for the pipelines.

A shelter will be placed on the roof of the new hostel.

 

 

A lot of work is being done on the chemistry and biology classroom. In the meantime, all supplies have also been ordered.

 

 

The plumbing work has also started. The pipelines throughout the school building need to be replaced. They started on one side so that the children can still use the toilets on the other side.

 

 

Further Education

For Isha Dhurve and Simran Shrivas, the third year of nursing training was also successful. As well as the final year of the Bachelor of Commerce and Computer Application course for Anil Jadhav and the training to become a preschool teacher of Swati Khobragade. All 4 students have found a good job. Isha and Simran work in the hospital, Anil works in an HR department and Swati teaches the little ones at our school. Muskan Ansari also passed the computer training and Saloni Dhurve passed the re-exam of the nursing course.

Isha Dhurve

Simran Shrivas

Anil Jadhav

Swati Khobragade

Passed High School diploma in 2023

In 2023, all 21 students passed their High School. We are extremely proud of this achievement.

Financial Situation Nav-Jeevan

The total cost is € 160,000,-. In the past year, we have asked the various funds in the Netherlands to contribute to the meals and medicines for the children. This has been very successful.

In 2024, we expanded the applications to include school supplies and uniforms and sportswear to child-related costs.

Coverge Plan

Budget and coverage plan on an annual basis

In India, many donations are made in kind: such as rice, eggs and milk. For 2024, we are looking for a contribution from a number of funds for the child-related costs.

Financial Statement Nav-Jeevan 2023 (in euro)

Thank you for your contribution

We would like to thank our sponsors:

• Calder Holding for doubling the donations of its staff and the contribution to the salaries of the staff.
• Beuys for her contribution to the salaries of the staff.
• The Imelda Nolet Foundation and the Bear for Help Foundation for the furnishing of the classrooms for Junior College.
• Dirk Bos Fund for the shelter on the hostel so that the children can dry their laundry.
• Serra Foundation, WM de Hoop Foundation and Dirk Bos Fund for the replacement of the pipelines.
• DJDGS Johanna Donk-Grote Foundation for the purchase of a generator for the hostel.
• Capabel Education Group, den Brinker Foundation and the van Helden Tucker Foundation for the contribution to the further education of our students.
• Imelda Nolet Foundation for the CCTV cameras.

We would also like to thank all the funds that contributed to the costs of meals and medicines:

• Julia Foundation
• Serra Foundation
• Bear for Help Foundation
• Caritas Foundation
• Casterenshoeve Foundation
• Huibert van Saane Foundation
• Mundo Crastino Meliori Foundation
• Paulien Foundation
• van Helden Tucker Foundation
• Terberg Foundation
• Unesco Foundation
• Vincentius Association

And finally, of course, we would like to thank all our regular donors.

We hope that 2024 will be as successful as 2023.

On behalf of the children and staff of Nav Jeevan Sanstha, we would like to thank you very much for your donations.