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8 TH March, 2010
YR 2010 INDIA TRAVEL TRIP PART-6
Sent: Fri, February 5, 2010 9:59:14 PM Subject: MY TRIP TO SALAAM BAALAK DELHI MY VISIT TO SALAAM BAALAAK......DREAMS ARE A REALITY ! Kiran Modi , Angelina Grin and myself visited SBT together. Kiran Modi's driver did not know the way, so we got lost in an ocean of traffic, bullock carts, buffaloes and street vendors. I am amazed at how people drive in Delhi.......totally c/o HP We finally reached the dumpy , gloomy ,dilapidated place called Salaam Baalak It was very dark and gloomy as we entered,the staircase looks worn out,there are open electric wires poking out from every corner....just ready to electrocute you! Finally we reached the HOPE/YAAKOV LIGHT COMPUTER LAB... Like I mentioned in my last year travel journal...what struck me most was the shoes neatly lined outside this very impressive sign that says HOPE COMPUTER LAB ,SUPPORTED BY YAAKOV LIGHT. In India when ever one sees shoes neatly lined outside a room ....it denotes RESPECT...for a TEMPLE and this temple is the Hope Computer Lab....and the Goddess is KNOWLEDGE and the offering (prasad) to this Goddess is HOPE ! There is a certain serenity/peace which we all experienced when we entered this hole in the wall computer lab. It is spotless and the students are so intense...their faces glued to the computer screen. It was nostalgic !...last year I visited this lab with Angelina Grin when it had just started.....Today , one year later...(as PCO Shilpi had mentioned in her report)....9 YOUNG ADULTS HAVE JOBS..out of which 2 ARE GIRLS...WOW ! What quick results.....a true Miracle ! Each person is earning a minimum of Rs 5-7K/month.....wow ! Angelina Grin was visibly moved. She interviewed , Iqbal....who has just started his job with NIIT. Young Nawab had an interview tomorrow in the Media Sector. The teacher was training him for the interview. Who would believe that these same boys....few years ago were on the streets...living the HORRIFIC existence. Most of these boys were LOST kids.One of the boys had lost his parents at the age of 5yrs...when the train took off with out them. This could happen to any one of us . He got off at a random station and remained LOST for 3 yrs ...till SBT found him ..This just broke my heart ! During those 3yrs...one family used him as a servant, where he was abused and barely given enough to eat...These are the kind of kids HOH is helping !Today Thanks to the HOH computer Lab...this young boy is a proud graduate of the Hope Computer Lab ..with a bright future !..I will reiterate this many many times All of us at HOH and the supporters who support us should feel proud ! Your donations are making a difference ...the proof is in the pudding ! I also had the distinct pleasure of meeting, Praveen Nair...the mother of famous film maker...Mira Nair . Angelina was very impressed by the energy of this spirited 79 year old distinguished lady. Mrs Nair explained the origin of SBT...from the movie Salaam Bombay ..where they used the street kids like in Slum dog Millionere.....and took care of them since then thro SBT. Mrs Nair was very upfront with Angelina ..and asked for an additional 5 computers to expand the lab.... I loved her Spunk !!
Posted by Nilima Sabharwal at 4:17:21 PM, EST
Sent: Fri, February 5, 2010 9:59:14 PM Subject: MY TRIP TO SALAAM BAALAK DELHI MY VISIT TO SALAAM BAALAAK......DREAMS ARE A REALITY ! Kiran Modi , Angelina Grin and myself visited SBT together. Kiran Modi's driver did not know the way, so we got lost in an ocean of traffic, bullock carts, buffaloes and street vendors. I am amazed at how people drive in Delhi.......totally c/o HP We finally reached the dumpy , gloomy ,dilapidated place called Salaam Baalak It was very dark and gloomy as we entered,the staircase looks worn out,there are open electric wires poking out from every corner....just ready to electrocute you! Finally we reached the HOPE/YAAKOV LIGHT COMPUTER LAB... Like I mentioned in my last year travel journal...what struck me most was the shoes neatly lined outside this very impressive sign that says HOPE COMPUTER LAB ,SUPPORTED BY YAAKOV LIGHT. In India when ever one sees shoes neatly lined outside a room ....it denotes RESPECT...for a TEMPLE and this temple is the Hope Computer Lab....and the Goddess is KNOWLEDGE and the offering (prasad) to this Goddess is HOPE ! There is a certain serenity/peace which we all experienced when we entered this hole in the wall computer lab. It is spotless and the students are so intense...their faces glued to the computer screen. It was nostalgic !...last year I visited this lab with Angelina Grin when it had just started.....Today , one year later...(as PCO Shilpi had mentioned in her report)....9 YOUNG ADULTS HAVE JOBS..out of which 2 ARE GIRLS...WOW ! What quick results.....a true Miracle ! Each person is earning a minimum of Rs 5-7K/month.....wow ! Angelina Grin was visibly moved. She interviewed , Iqbal....who has just started his job with NIIT. Young Nawab had an interview tomorrow in the Media Sector. The teacher was training him for the interview. Who would believe that these same boys....few years ago were on the streets...living the HORRIFIC existence. Most of these boys were LOST kids.One of the boys had lost his parents at the age of 5yrs...when the train took off with out them. This could happen to any one of us . He got off at a random station and remained LOST for 3 yrs ...till SBT found him ..This just broke my heart ! During those 3yrs...one family used him as a servant, where he was abused and barely given enough to eat...These are the kind of kids HOH is helping !Today Thanks to the HOH computer Lab...this young boy is a proud graduate of the Hope Computer Lab ..with a bright future !..I will reiterate this many many times All of us at HOH and the supporters who support us should feel proud ! Your donations are making a difference ...the proof is in the pudding ! I also had the distinct pleasure of meeting, Praveen Nair...the mother of famous film maker...Mira Nair . Angelina was very impressed by the energy of this spirited 79 year old distinguished lady. Mrs Nair explained the origin of SBT...from the movie Salaam Bombay ..where they used the street kids like in Slum dog Millionere.....and took care of them since then thro SBT. Mrs Nair was very upfront with Angelina ..and asked for an additional 5 computers to expand the lab.... I loved her Spunk !!
Posted by Nilima Sabharwal at 4:17:21 PM, EST
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