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NAV YATRA - a search for an alternative
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Ratheesh, a boy with
physical and intellectual disabilities we work with in the village. |
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The Crafts Place in Nav Yatra - Trainings in handmade paper
and paper art and craft, terracotta, batik, candle making, weaving, natural
soaps and shampoos. |
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The Crafts Place at Nav Yatra – Training persons with disabilities in
handmade paper, cards, lamps, diaries, calendars, murals, screen printing,
terracotta, batik, candles, natural soaps and shampoos. |
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307
swathi nagar
west fort
trivandrum,
kerala,
india
e-mail: keith@navyatra.org
695023
Some
weeks ago, I sent an update of our work to you along with a request for
support and I trust that you received this. I write this letter asking you
please to help us. Our need for funds is critical as we have started day
programs for persons with disabilities in the Nav Yatra facility prior to
conducting more intensive trainings of a longer duration. If, in the
meantime, you have made a contribution, I’m thankful to you.
It was a deep desire of mine to return to India to do this work and I now rely on the support of
relations and friends to run our programs. For me, all my energies are
committed to this effort to make it a special place for those who come here.
I'm fortunate to have with me a small group of skilled people in this
effort.
I request you please to send
your donation to The Stanley Francis Foundation, 22 Rustywood Drive,
Toronto, Ontario M3A 1R8. The Foundation is a registered charitable
organisation and tax receipts will be issued to Canadian donors. We're
required to send detailed monthly reports of our activities and expenditures
as a condition for receiving funds. Moreover, the Foundation is run
completely on a voluntary basis with no part of donations going towards
administrative expenses.
If you are not eligible for a
tax receipt, you may - if you so wish - send your donation in my name to my
address: 307 Swathi Nagar, Trivandrum, India 695 023. Nav Yatra cannot
directly accept foreign funds for the time being as it does not have the
required registration for this.
I wish to tell you that the
people who've come to the facility have commented on the uniqueness of its
concept, design and aesthetics and on the diversity of possibilities that it
offers for trainings and workshops. This pleases me greatly as persons with
disabilities are among the most marginalised people in Indian society,
stigmatised and cast aside as they are. I send you some images of Nav Yatra
below.
For me, the building of a
"Community of Friends of Nav Yatra," consisting of relations and friends
from different parts of the world who support us, would give added meaning
to our work here in South India. It would also give us encouragement and
strength to know that people spare a thought for us. I request you please to
help us.
With Gratitude and Love,
Keith
May 2002
It was at about this time last year that I made an appeal for
funds to complete the
buildings at Nav Yatra after running out of my savings. The facility is
almost ready. There are only three months to go before we open our doors to
welcome persons with disabilities and children – primarily persons with an
intellectual disability, working children, street children, orphans. While
awaiting the completion of the buildings we’ve been working with disabled
persons outside the facility and this work will now be based within Nav
Yatra together with the full complement of our programs.
Its a most beautiful and unique facility, I dare say.
Built along ecological lines, gracefully blending into the hillside
terraces, integrating rainwater collection, alternative energy and organic
planting of fruits, vegetables and medicinal herbs. Speaking through its
very design the message of beauty, joy, life, hope that we wish to bring to
those that society here has cast aside. Designed to be multipurpose,
accommodating anything from a training workshop to a dance program to an art
and craft demonstration/exhibition, a volleyball game, a cooking class or
quiet places for meditation, yoga, acupressure or therapeutic massage.
Meaningful work, dance, music, family support, social integration, normal
life experiences, nutrition, recreation - all part of the programs of Nav
Yatra to assist persons with disabilities to live more dignified, self
reliant and fulfilling lives. And at a more purely medical level, we have
elicited the skills of an ayurvedic physician and a homeopathic doctor and
have entered into a collaboration with a reputed organisation here to place
neurologists, speech therapists, psychologists and physiotherapists at the
service of disabled people and their families
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What
prompted Laurie Baker,
85, one of India's most renowned and radical architects, to choose Nav
Yatra
as the last work of his eventful life, God alone knows (He’s lived
through
the Indian Independence struggle, coming to this country from England in
1945 after Gandhi asked him to build here for the rural poor). He told
me he
liked the vision of creating a community with persons with
disabilities and
nature. I've not compromised as I've searched to bring this vision to
reality - I don't intend to give up the search. |
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We could not
have completed the buildings without the assistance we received last
year
from relatives and friends who now journey with us in a visible way
through
these beautiful structures. But now, we need your help to run our
programs.
Several people have suggested that we try to build a 'Circle of Friends
of Nav Yatra' consisting of people who would make a contribution to us
each
year. Some people are already organising a garage sale, charity BBQ and
dance for us. Some have sold our handmade cards. This really encourages
us.
Our annual need is $16,500 Cdn. ($10,000 U.S.). Our commitment to
simplicity
makes it possible for us to run a facility of this scale on this size of
a
budget. The Stanley Francis Foundation, a registered charitable
foundation,
has obtained approval for Nav Yatra to be included as one of their
charitable projects and can therefore issue tax receipts to Canadian
donors.
Funds raised are released to us on condition that we submit detailed
monthly
reports of activities and expenditures, making us accountable for monies
we
receive.
The Foundation
was started by Stan Francis who on retiring from his business practice
committed himself to doing something for the poor in Africa and in
India,
the country of his birth.
I request you please to send your donation to The Stanley Francis
Foundation, 22 Rustywood Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3A 1R8 noting
'for the work of Nav Yatra' and your name and address on your cheque. I
prefer that your donation goes through the Foundation but if you do not
require a tax receipt and if you so wish, you may send your contribution
in my name to India (307 Swathi Nagar, West Fort, Trivandrum, Kerala 695
023). On my part, I assure that I will continue to work at this effort
with determination and sincerity. I'd also be really pleased if
you came to visit us here in south India.
With Gratitude and Love, Keith
CONTACT INFORMATION
Nav Yatra (New Journey) attention Stanley Francis
22 Rustywood Drive
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3A 1R8
Telephone 416-444-9171
Email:
stanfrancis@cslcomputers.com
Or
Keith Saldanha
at :
keith@navyatra.org
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