From The President’s Desk

The busy season sets in

This month we organised a get-together of all those who participated in the trek to Kulu, along with the parents. We screened a video of our trip and shared photographs taken during the trip. Navkshitij Friends and volunteers shared their experience at the informal function. Parents were delighted to see on video, their children participating in adventure activities and to find them so relaxed playing cards, volleyball, cricket and musical chair. On the eve of Nagpanchami, we had a special mehendi session for the women and girls at Navkshitij. They also enjoyed indulged in playing traditional games and feasting on puran poli. This year Mitali tai and her mother Mrs. Geeta Mangesh Dande drew beautiful mehendi designs for our Friends. Our Friends went around gleefully showing their hands to everyone in the campus.

Friends from the Day School, Day Workshop and Autism workshop went on a day’s monsoon outing to Tamhini in the Western Ghats.

Preparations for Ganapati festival has begun at Navkshitij. We have begun the exciting activity of colouring Ganapati idols.

This month, we organised a drama workshop for the teachers and staff from schools that are to participate in our annual Natya Mahotsav, which has been scheduled on October 4. This year, special educators from other places such as Latur, Nasik, and Ichalkaranji also attended the workshop. They shared good feedback about the workshop conducted by Mr. Prakash Parakhi and Mr. Dnyanesh Bhilare. The busy season has been set in motion now.

Carrying back memories of Navkshitij to Germany

Navkshitij is a home for the mentally challenged. This and some more information were the only things I knew about the place I was about to live in for a year. Was it going to be good or bad? Somehow I was convinced it would be good, at least better than my boring hometown. At the beginning, it felt it was hardly worth its name. Home is supposed to be a place where you feel comfortable and safe. Where everything is familiar. Where you can be who you are. When I arrived, nothing was even close to this. How do I shower without an actual shower? What do all those meals contain? I don’t know what is behind the gate. Would I be able to adapt to this place as my home? My doubts dissolved with the first warm and welcoming hugs of some girls. They learnt my name faster than I could recognize them. Watching Zee Marathi in the evening became a daily routine when I spent time with my companions even though I didn’t understand anything. The visits to Divekar Maushi’s house for learning Marathi and listening to interesting stories became regular. After a while, I dared to go to the kitchen asking if I may help. Attempts like this continued. Step after step, a lot of things became familiar. Inside and outside Navkshitij. Pune is a metro city. Initially, I was confronted with difficulties everywhere—the transportation system, where to eat next... Nowadays many things have become normal. The uncertainty of the unknown is gone. Of course, there are still surprises—festivals I haven’t heard of, vegetables I haven’t seen before, habits I’m not used to. I got used to these too. Now I am more myself than at the beginning. I can communicate with the people around me more casually. I feel I can be myself here. Navkshitij feels much more like a real home than I would have ever expected. The life I am living here feels so familiar. I can hardly believe that I have been here only one year. I am leaving this behind but I am sure all the experiences and memories will stay in my heart.

By Laura Stranzl, Resident Volunteer from Friends of Waldorf Education, Germany

Upcoming Happenings

• August 6: Friendship Day
• August 7: Rakshabandhan
• August 15: Independence Day & Gopalkala
• August 25: Ganesh Chaturthi
• August 26: Monthly Trek
• August 29: Ganesh Visarjan

Month’s events

• July 10: Gurupoornima
• July 15: Get-together with the families of Kulu trek participants and volunteers
• July 19: Traffic Awareness Program at University Chowk
• July 23: Workshop on Ganesh Idols Painting by Mr. Prabhune
• July 26: Workshop to help prepare for Natyamahotsav
• July 26: Mehendi program on the eve of Nag Panchami
• July 27: Nagpanchami
• July 28: Day School, Day Workshop and Autistic friends trip to Tamhini Ghat

Navkshitij now needs:

• 2 Extra Large cotton mat (Sataranji) – Approximate cost Rs 8,000
• 1 Garden Bench – Approximate cost Rs 10,000
• 2 2-Seater Park Swings – Approximate cost Rs 20,000
• 2 Radio + Tape recorder with USB jack – Approximate cost Rs 6,000
• 24 CFL Bulbs – Approximate cost Rs 4,800

Thank you from Navkshitij to:

• Mr. Abhay Khanapure
• Mr. C. Venkatesh
• Mr. Suresh Kharpodikar
• Mr. Shivaraman Somasundaram
• Mr. Amrut Borgaonkar
• Mrs. Prachi Pardale
• Mr. Ganesh Bhumkar
• Mr. Arun Kumar Pajnoo
• Mr. Nitin Patel
• Mrs. Akanksha Sane
• Mr. Chandrashekhar E. Potnis
• Mr. K. Venkatarayan
• M/S Flextronics Tech (India) Pvt. Ltd
• Mahesh Professional Forum, PCMC.

(A monthly newsletter published by Dr. Neelima Desai and edited by Kanaka Cadambi on behalf of Navkshitij)