SADDAC NEWS - JULY 2011

SADDAC has much to rejoice and be grateful to God for the success ushered in by our children in the board exams. Vicky Kasaute, who has been at SADDAC since he was 10 years old, passed the 12^th standard exam with a first class (64.8%) in the Arts Stream from Seth Jyoti Prasad Mahavidyalay, Daund. Making use of the summer holidays, Vicky did a three months course in Spoken English at Don Bosco Technical Institute at Chinchwad. Grabbing the opportunity, Vicky appeared for the campus recruitment and was selected for a job at Tata Sky Company. Along with his studies, Vicky has a plan to complete his graduation.

Rohit Mohite, brought to SADDAC when he was 10 years, also passed the 12^th Standard exam with a first class (63.2%) in the Commerce Stream from St. Sebastian Junior College, Daund. Rohit, though did his schooling till 10^th standard in a government Marathi medium school, in spite of the junior college medium of instruction being in English, has scored better than many of his companions in his class who hail from English medium background. Moreover, Rohit belongs to the first batch of students at St. Sebastian Jr. College; and they have bagged cent per cent results. Rohit has taken admission in Bapuji Salunke College at Miraj for his graduation in Commerce.

Manoj Jain and Puja Pundige, both part of SADDAC but doing their schooling in hostels in Nigdi and Shrigonda respectively made SADDAC proud with their Metric results. Manoj, who was picked up from the station at the age of 5 in the second year of SADDAC, scored a high of 76%. We are trying to get him an admission in Government College, Aundh for the Motor Mechanic course. Puja, an orphan girl, who was brought to SADDAC at the age of 8, is the first girl of SADDAC to complete her Metriculation. She has scored a 55.55%.

While we congratulate Vicky, Rohit, Manoj and Puja, we also wish them 'best of luck' for their further studies!

As part of the 'vocational training' programme of SADDAC two drop-out girls are have joined for the beautician and tailoring course at Don Bosco Technical Institute at Chinchwad. Availing the facilities at Don Bosco Institute we have lined up a few more girls to for training in different courses.

SADDAC family thanks Fr. Bertie Rozario, S.J. (out going Provincial of Pune Jesuit Province) for his support to our works; and, with a congratulatory note, conveys best wishes and prayerful support to Fr. Bhausaheb Sansare, S.J. as he begins his responsibility as Provincial of Pune Province!

--- Sr. Olive Oliveira

2 July 2011

 

SADDAC Daund: News April 2011

It is our joy to see SADDAC growing. In March, Vicky Kasaute and Rohit Mohite, wrote their Std. XII exam in Arts and Commerce stream respectively. John Shinde and Puja Pundige appeared for their Std. X exam. We implore God for their good results. Sr. Olive, with the help SADDAC Women's Self-Help-Group (SHG) and the Coordinator, Jyoti S. Mokoll, organized the inauguration of tailoring and beautician courses on 8 March. The Person-in-charge for SHG from the Municipality, Mr. M. Gund, in the presence of Strimukti Association's Mrs. Poorna Bagadhe cut the ribbon. In his speech, he praised SADDAC for actively cooperating with the Municipal Programmes for women and for availing the facilities at SADDAC for such programmes. 65 women, including a several drop-out girls, took part in this programme. On 25 March the Panchayat Samiti organized an exhibition cum sale event at Daund Market. 10 girls from the SADDAC SHG group put up sales of Papad, pickle and baby dresses.

The Women's SHG Group deeply mourned the death of Mrs. Julie Rodrigues on 11 March. She was an active supporter of the women's activities at SADDAC. The Catholic Women's group organized a special Mass for Mrs. Rodrigues on her 99th Birth Anniversary on 25 March.
--- Sr. Olive Oliveira
1 April 2011
 

Origen music - AVE MARIA - J Caccini

-------------------------------------------------------

OUR CHRISTMAS DAYS AT SADDAC!

-------------------------------------------------------

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.

-------------------------------------------------------

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.

-------------------------------------------------------

MY DAYS AT SADDAC

------------------------------------------------------------

[An experience of a German Volunteer at SADDAC]

------------------------------------------------------------

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

-----------------------------