OUR CHRISTMAS DAYS AT SADDAC!

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We reached SADDAC on 21st of December 2006. We were warmly welcomed by Sr. Olive and Mr. Pious Peter.
We had a great opportunity to experience the life style of street children. During our 9 days of stay in SADDAC, we have gained a lot of rich experience. The children were very open and receptive. We could enter into their lives and experience their past.
We took back with us these sad stories the children at SADDAC shared with us about their lives and hardships they faced on the platforms – the way they had to sweat out to earn their bread. It was challenging to listen to their attitude towards life at the platforms and to see how they begin to see a ray of hope as they begin to lead a happy life with dignity at SADDAC.
While we were interacting and becoming one with them we realized that our outlook towards these children was changing – a kind of love and respect for them was growing within us. We also cherish much the experience of conducting games and sports for these children during the Christmas Programme which was arranged for the platform children along with those of SADDAC.
We also had an opportunity to go to the Railway Station everyday and listen to the sad stories of the abandoned children on the platforms. We wish we had more days to spend with them because it was not only listening to them but the mere encounter of the miserable life of these boys and girls at the platforms was challenging our attitude towards them. We began to look at them not as high class people or as outsiders but as their friends; for we realized that the change does not begin with them. Change has to begin with ourselves first before we set out to change them!

Nolan Fernandes, S.J. and Robert Soren, S.J.

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Nolan Fernandes, S.J. and Robert Soren, S.J., Jesuit Scholastics of Goa and Dumka Province respectively, were in their Juniorate formation at Pune. They spent their Christmas holidays at SADDAC, Daund.

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MY DAYS AT SADDAC

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[An experience of a German Volunteer at SADDAC]

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I arrived on the 1st of September 2006 at Daund and stayed there for about four months. Previously I was working for mentally disabled people in Bangalore.
The time that I spent at SADDAC meant for me a total new area of experiencing India. Not only that I was living in a simple town, surrounded by a rural area in the heart of Maharashtra, but also the fact that I got the chance to be with street- children and therefore to be confronted with essential questions of the Indian society; and I regard it as a great opportunity.
Generally, to live with children is one of the most refreshing experiences I had. There´s rarely a moment of rest in them, the unbound energy of life is constantly setting them under fire, their creativity sets no limits and their moods of happiness and suffering each appear in extreme feelings. To face this every day meant for me, to adjust in their way of living – and with great joy I remembered my own childhood, and though unwillingly, turned into one in some situations.
On the fact that they were children from the street I didn´t pay so much attention. Of course, to understand the child’s behaviour, the mood and their being you have to consider their background, which is one of the worst a child can have in life. But I considered my role in this small community not in a therapeutic way. Rather, I felt that it is the best to make them forget what bad they already experienced, and to provide them all those life-essential things they had: lack of love, respect, security and an activity suited for the child – like drawing, games and education. I thought to myself several times, "It is not so important what they do. So let me give myself the duty to let them do something."
After some weeks I realised that the relationship with the kids turned into one of trust and reliance. From the part of children I also felt respected. Gradually, I was growing in friendship with the elder ones. This made me quite happy, since it was the proof of a harmonious living-together; and foremost the pre-condition for a healthy authority towards the children.
Of course, the barrier of language and the different cultural backgrounds (including the way of thinking, judging and behaving) sometimes made situations difficult, but I always, and I think the whole crew of SADDAC also, saw in this fact a great chance to overcome clichés and to approach to each other in an understanding way – because at the end every human being is the same.
About the staff of SADDAC – the workers on the spot as well as the helping Brothers of the ‘Society of Jesuits’, all those many visitors and friends – I really have to say that they are doing a great job: professional with the work, authority towards the children as well as the offer of a friendship, creativity in the solutions of the day by day appearing situations and the never ending enthusiasm to be there for others, in a selfless way!
At the end I have to say that I found many important inspirations from the very staff at Daund, specially Sr. Olive, to learn to lead such a special way of life – and I am thankful for that.

May all of you be fortunate!

Till David Schade,
Germany

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SADDAC NEWSLETTER:

In an attempt to colour the lives of the abandoned!

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SADDAC, Vishwadeep, Pansare Vasti, Behind Tel Exch, Daund, Pune, INDIA. Pin – 413 801
Tel: +91-2117-264880. Email: saddac@gmail.com

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25 December 2006

Dear Friends of SADDAC,

With immense joy and gratitude to God, the SADDAC family wishes you

A Grace Filled Christmas Season

and

A Prosperous New Year 2007!

SADDAC Turns Nine
As SADDAC completes nine years of service, giving life, livelihood and love to the abandoned and displaced children, we would like to thank and appreciate you for your continued support, and we offer our humble prayers for you.

SADDAC - a Home
VishwadeepOnce only a shelter for the boys of the nearby railway station, Vishwadeep at Daund today has grown into a home – an abode with a family environment – with basic facilities, better health care, nutrition and access to education. The new building, Vishwadeep, has the facility to accommodate about 50 children. At present we have 24 children who enjoy a secure life at Vishwadeep. These children not only feel the companionship of each other, but also experience the bond of family relationship with staff and among themselves. It is their family– their home.

SADDAC – Ongoing formation
It has been a long journey inculcating the values of love in these children. We can see a glimpse of smile on their faces and a ray of hope to lead a decent human life. They have imbibed the qualities of cleanliness, self-discipline and self-reliance. They grow as companions sharing and caring for each other with a special concern for the younger ones. One will really wonder whether these children were once the dirty, rough-spoken children of the platform who had to fight for their survival.

SADDAC – finding the lost
If this is the story of the settled inmates of Vishwadeep, there are dozens of daily cases of the home-placement of the runaway and abandoned children. Our team of Social Workers visits the railway station regularly and identifies the new comers on the station. Most of these boys are runaway cases due to family problems. They come to the station thinking they will lead a free life. Once on the platform, the hardships of hunger, exploitation and even the sexual abuse leave a psychological shock on their tender minds. We bring these children to SADDAC for a few days. During these days, we enquire about their whereabouts and prepare them mentally to get back to their families if we get enough details of their families. After a thorough medical check up, we reach them back to their families. The emotional outburst of these re-unions that we witness in many families is beyond any expression.
The ones who have no one to care for are kept in Vishwadeep to lead a new life.

SADDAC – mission ever expanding
Rooted in Daund, SADDAC is growing and expanding to the neighbouring districts of the Maharstra. Fr. Luis Rebelo, S.J., the founder of SADDAC, is in action as Field Director reaching out to Manmad railway station in the north and Miraj railway station in the south. He has set up a shelter in Miraj as an extension of SADDAC.

SADDAC – Growing Needs
The August 2006 FloodSADDAC is growing and expanding; and so are its needs. Twenty of our boys are going to the nearby schools. With the limited facilities we have, it is commendable to mention that most of them are doing very well in their studies. Our dream is to give them all facilities for their education and at the same time to enable them to enjoy their childhood fully. We have a plan to set up educational infrastructure like computers so as to equip them to get an employment and stand on their own feet once they complete their schooling.
Though Vishwadeep has grown as a home with the present rehabilitated inmates, we also have new comers coming in everyday who are taken care of till they are home-placed. As these children are mentally disturbed by the hardships on the platform, they tend to be rough in their behaviour and language. It becomes difficult for us to cater to these children along with the already rehabilitated ones at Vishwadeep. There is a greater need to have a separate building to shelter such cases. Therefore there is a proposal to buy a new piece of land and build a shelter for these children.
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!” Since the present Vishwadeep is situated in a small plot, there is not enough space for our boys to play. We need to buy some more land adjacent to the present plot for a play ground.

SADDAC – Activities
SADDAC staff and boys were the first ones to reach out to rescue our neighbours in need during the great floods at Daund in early August this year.

This reaching out also became an opportunity to bring the people of the neighbourhood together for the celebration of the Independence Day of India on the 15th of August.
The meaning of Raksha Bandhan - girls tying thread on the wrists of their brothers, symbolizing the bond between brothers and sisters - was brought out by the ‘Savitry Bai Phule Women Training Center’ when they invited our boys to celebrate Raksha Bhandan and showed their solidarity with us. They also demonstrated the art of candle making and flower making during this programme.

Children’s Day was celebrated on 11th November arranged by Gus Mallier and family along with LTS (Lay Training School) members. The event was marked with Eucharistic Celebration, and an entertainment programme by the SADDAC boys, followed by a sumptuous meal together ith the guests.

SADDAC – Volunteers
This year we had two volunteers from abroad, Teresa Eyckler and Till Shade – both from Germany. Teresa finished her six months voluntary work in January 2006. Till is here for four months from September 2006.
The Jesuit Scholastics from De Nobili College, Pune, visit Daund every week-end. They take up the tuition for the weaker boys and spend time with them, mostly listening to their life stories, helping them build up their self-esteem and accompanying them in their process of self-realization.

SADDAC – in Gratitude
We sincerely express our gratitude and appreciation to you for your continued support and encouragement in giving life to these little ones to live their today with a hope of a secure tomorrow.

May every smile on the face of these children bring you abundant blessings!
May the Peace and Joy of Christmas stay with you through the coming year!

With Love and Prayers,

Sr. Olive Oliveira
Person-in-Charge, SADDAC.

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