As is the case every year, come June the children have to change gears from vacation mood to school mood. Shankar gave most of the boys a haircut at the Shelter, while some of the boys had one at a saloon close. They now look all prim and proper.

 

The children have been provided with all the school items like school books, school bag, raincoat, rain sandals, school uniforms and stationery, etc. We are glad to say that all this was provided through our need list to which our well wishers gladly donated. St. Xavier’s College President, Mr. Joshua Silveira and his team donated Compas Boxes containing pencils, erasers and rulers.
 

We also had a meeting with the parents to inform them about their duties to their children. We also informed them to be present for all the Parents Teachers Association meetings and to keep an eye on their children with regards to their neatness. In addition, a Vaccination drive for DTP, Polio, Rubella, TT was conducted for the children at L.A. using their Health Card. Deworming medicine was given to children going to Don Bosco’s School and Iron tablets will be started for all the Shelter children from the next month and this will be facilitated by the Candolim Health Centre.
 

Another boy, Krishna, from Apna Ghar has joined us and is now learning Conversational English and Mathematics. Nagamma’s younger sisters, Shilpa & Puja have been admitted into the House of Kathleen. Meanwhile Nagamma is still undergoing treatment with Dr. Pascal. He has informed that she is improving and should soon recover fully.

A Mock Fire drill was conducted by 52 children and 7 staff. This time however, it was the bigger children, led by Shannappa, who conducted the drill under the supervision of the staff. Shannappa impressed upon those gathered the importance of the drill.
 
Emma Stack and Gill Boatwright volunteered with us and taught the children a lot of things. They helped teach the children some craft work and accompanied when they went to the beach / ground to play. The children enjoyed the times spent with them and we will surely miss them.

Another of our well wisher, Michelle Meisuria, also visited the shelter and spent time playing with the children and also taught Spoken English to some of our staff.
 

We are extremely grateful our supporters and especially to Francis Rodriguez and Denis from Kripa Foundation who donated clothes, footwear, bags for the children.

In the coming months we are looking forward to starting more slum schools and reach a wider area so that we are able to provide care, protection and education to many more deprived children.