Seva - Thika, Joytown 2013

Joytown Primary School for the Differently Abled. 

The school motto very appropriate "Disability is Not a Inability".

 We are greeted by scores of smiling children, After a few minutes we started wheeling the kids to the chapel room one by one. The room got filled in half an hour with over 250 kids

The mood and tempo increased and more dedications were sung with all the kids joining in. They also sang a couple of songs to us.

Lunch was served and never once did we see the smiles and joy disappear from their wonderful faces

There are no words to describe the intensity of what we all felt. Strong hands quickly offloaded various foodstuff and articles donated by Friends of SVSS-K, a big Thank You to all.

JAI GURUDEV

Seva - Sept 23rd - Mathare slums

Over 15 of us gathered on Sunday 23rd for Seva. At 11am the group joyously departed for the slums, for most it was the first time visit to a slum area. Parking the bus at a secure petrol station nearby, we were met by our guide and we walked cautiously into the slums a kilometre away.

 The reality on the ground on how the less fortunate lived was difficult to digest and absorb by all of us. Few expected to see open sewers passing by the front of the rusted metal sheet houses held by nails, all touching each other with very narrow alleys and accommodating anywhere between 6 to 10 family members in one room size 2 mtrs by 4 mtrs. The only light into the houses was from a clear metal sheet on top. In this particular area it is estimated that over 200,000 people live this way. We were welcomed very warmly into 3 of the houses and we spent some time talking to and encouraging the families who lived there.

An hour later we left and made our way back to where our bus was parked with heavy hearts, the silence on the walk back very noticeable.  A very clear lesson for us to appreciate and not take for granted what we are blessed with. Having gifted some food provisions to the three families who welcomed us into their homes at the secure parking spot, we drove next to Fountain of Life boys home.

On arrival at the boys home we were greeted by Mama Florence who runs it. She gave a brief history of the home, and the food provisions were presented to Mama whilst we were waiting for the lunch to be prepared for serving.  We were given a quick tour of the dormitory and then met the boys who sang a song for us. Food was soon ready and we all started serving lunch to the 50 boys. Before we knew it, it was already 2.30 pm and time to go back to our bountiful homes and lives. Very happy goodbyes were exchanged and we were on our way back.

The feelings and satisfaction felt during this seva could be summed up by a quote from Mother Teresa, 
“Not all of us can do great things, but we can all do small things with great love..”

Seva - June 17th - Joy Town

 Once again about 25 of us got together on Sunday 17th June and departed Nairobi at 10.15am for a seva to Thika about an hour away at 80kph in a hired bus. Something inside of us told us this seva was going to be more special than ever. About 5 minutes into the ride, bhajans and singing started and if there was space to move in the bus some dancing would have happened as well. We took a wrong turning and had a quick tour of Thika town for 15 minutes before we arrived at Joytown Primary School for the Differently Abled. 

The school motto very appropriate "Disability is Not a Inability". We are greeted by scores of smiling children, one of whom shouted for Big B as he came out of the bus. After a few minutes we started wheeling the kids to the chapel room one by one. The room got filled in half an hour with over 250 kids, and we all started with a Happy Birthday song to our Beloved.



 The mood and tempo increased and more dedications were sung with all the kids joining in. They also sang a couple of songs to us. There are no words to describe the intensity of what we all felt. Strong hands quickly offloaded various foodstuff and articles donated by Friends of SVSS-K, a big Thank You to all. We started handing out gifts to these children and before we knew it was past 1pm and time for their lunch. Lunch was served and never once did we see the smiles and joy disappear from their wonderful faces. 


A bright impromptu idea of planting a tree on occasion of His birthday took 25 of us, digging an inch each one after the other, another half hour.



 After a prayer to the planted tree and watering it, we were in the bus at 2.30pm, with delicious bateta vadas being gobbled down as we drove back. The way back was quieter with a lot of reflection on the wonderful time that we had and planning details for the next Seva in October, this time somewhere within Nairobi. 





JAI GURUDEV

Upcoming Seva - Guriji's BDay

Jai Gurudev,


Once again our team calls for a re union in order to serve the needy.
As part of the Guruji's birthday celebrations this Seva is being held on the 17th June 2012.

"Joytown Primary School" is a special school for physically handicapped children. The school is situated in Thika town which serves 330 children currently.

The main service offered at the school is that of correcting limb deformities through a process that involves surgery and physiotherapy. 





The Seva will be held on the 17th June. Transport is being arranged for those who would like to come. Please send me your names, other details as soon as possible for the booking of vehicles.Transport charges will be at minimal fee.





Meanwhile please details below of the home requirements which have been sent out by the head teacher. If anyone would
like to make a donation from the below list please mail me the list. I propose we can send out all the contacts the proposed list in order to fund 330 children a small donation would even be blessed .




Here are the School needs.
    Blankets
    Bed sheets
    Bed covers
    Mosquito nets
    Diapers
    
DRY  FOOD STUFF
    Rice
    Maize flour
    Cooking fat
    Maize
    Beans
    School uniforms for the children



Your assistance will be highly appreciated.


I look forward to receiving your responses for those willing to come and also donations requirements.


Bansi Shah +254(0)720 053880 .
swamivishwanandafoundation@gmail.com


Khilan Shah +254(0)734699806
svsssevagroup@gmail.com


Bank Details
BANK OF INDIA
Nairobi , KENYA,
WESTLANDS BRANCH
Name: SWAMI VISHWANANDA SEVA SOCIETY
A/C: 01F75014801
Swiftcode: BKIDKENA


Jai Gurudev

Seva - April 2012

Bethsaida Home 

ÒBethsaida Home opened its doors to those in need in June, 2011. It has a maximum capacity of thirty persons but is currently hosting  thirteen. It is located near the town of Isinya, Kajiado County an area called Koromboi.

ÒBethsaida Home is a refuge  that houses only women from all walks of life who are in Kenya and happen  to be aged, physically or mentally disabled and no one to look after them, say family, friends or loved ones.

ÒBethsaida is a home that was established by the Society of Nirmala Dasi Sisters (SNDS) founded by late Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Kundukulam, the first Archbishop of Thrissur in 1971. Considering the needs of the people of the locality where the society was founded, Pullazhy-India, the Sisters of the society started to serve the needy with an open heart without any restriction other than that of  a deserving human being. 

purpose of the Home 

ÒHome for the Aged people: The main objective of caring for the aged people is to provide love, concern, social and emotional security which are basic human rights especially for those with no one to care for them

ÒPhysically Disabled persons:  Most of the handicapped people are from poor backgrounds and are mostly rejected by family as not only are they an expense but also sometimes a shame to the family. In such cases, Bethsaida Home offers the Disabled help by looking after them and in some cases training them to develop self help skills.

ÒMentally ill people: Mentally ill people are not accepted or even cared for in their own families, especially those who are poor. Some of them are ill-treated, physically abused and even cast from the families. In such circumstances, Bethsaida Home offers them treatment, vocational training and other rehabilitation programs.

ÒThe Home keeps going thanks to well wishers from congregations associated with the Home. The congregations include, the churches a round the home and the Kitengela Catholic Church. The home  is not bias about who wants to donate what. The doors to the home are open doors to everyone, both those who give and those in need of help.

Seva - Feb 2012

Children's Home : Nuru Africa Home

Total children - 32 children aged between 5 and  20 years of age. 

Home Location :-Take Lower Kabete Rd from Sarit Centre, Go Past Lower Kabete Campus, KIA a drive   of about  12 km, to Kingeero Junction. Take a  a Left at this Junction drive towards Kikuyu town for a bout 2 and a half (2.5) Km from this Junction, Look for Community Fellowship Church on the Left, up the High Before getting to Muthure Shopping Center. The Children's Home is opposite the Church.

Donations from the SVSS Society is as below:-

PORRIDGE                                   3,870.00 40 PKTS

WIMBI RICE                                 3,700.00 24 KG

PISHORI JUICE                             1,880.00 20 LTRS

HIGHLANDS MANGOES                  320.00   32

MANGOES UGALI FLOUR               3,435.00 36 PKTS

PEMBE COOKING FAT                   2,780.00 20 KG

TILLY POTATOES                         1,000.00 25 KG

PENCILS                                     320.00 32 PENCILS

SWEETS                                     1,235.00 12 PACKETS 

            

They have a very serious school fees Challenge and they always plead with the schools for time as we await any support.

Jai Gurudev

Seva - Jan 2012

Jai Gurudev,

"Happy New Year" to all!  As we continue to serve the divine lord, i pray that he continues to guide all of us in his ways, and may we all open our hearts to his love, embrace this love and continue to be blessed by him.

This month we have chosen an orphanage for the old people which is in Kitengela  called Bethsaida home. The orphanage has 15 AGED PEOPLE who have been taken care by Sister Alphonse. We would like to attend to their needs on the 29th January, 2011.

Thank the lord for his grace and blessing us all through by showing us the way forward and we continue to pray that he will enlighten us more day by day.

I would like to thank the full seva team for all their support.( Kamla aunty, Daljeet aunty, Saagar, Amar, Khilan, Preeyal, Mavika).

  A special team of youngsters from the university of nairobi committed themselves for this seva by not only coming to serve the orphanage but have also contributed K Shs 30,000/-  for the next seva. I thank you all on behalf of our team and welcome your full support in helping us to make our vision come true for serving the needy. ( Dr Nejal Sonigra, Mansi Bhatt, Dr Dhaval Shah, Guarav Patel, Lawson, Dr Bhavin Patel).

Seva - Dec 2011

Seva - Hidden Talent

A group of boisterous volunteers from the Swami Vishwananda Seva Society met on a sunny Sunday, the 18th of December at 9:15 in the morning and proceeded onwards together into the scrawling slums of Kawangware in Nairobi, midst of which lies Hidden Talents Academy and Orphanage. This highly positively charged group had planned to provide food and educational materials to over 150 children from ages 4 years onwards to 18 years on the Sunday.



The volunteers were introduced to the children by the Pastor in charge and everyone were amazed at the various commendations and trophies in sports and education that this talented group of children had achieved in their current circumstances. A lesson for us, " Where there is a Will, there is a Way".



The food and educational materials were then blessed and some of the volunteers proceeded into the makeshift kitchen to cook the meal whilst some remained to sing and play with the children. A number of songs were beautifully sung by everyone. The feelings of love and affection grew so strong during this short time that some of the volunteers started dancing in joy and soon the entire group of children and volunteers joined in and made merry.





The meal was soon served and before anyone realised, it was almost noon nearly time for the goodbyes. The words of thanks and appreciation from the hearts of the kids made many of us tear in joy.

We all left reluctantly past noon having definately gained much more than we could have expected in  the blessings and love received and felt during these 3 hours in comparison to the material items that we had left behind.

The next Seva planned for January 2012 was already being discussed as we were leaving, details of which will be circulated in the next couple of days. 

Mama Fauzia’s Childrens home

Swami Vishwananda Seva Society did a seva at Mama Fauzia’s Childrens home. The home was originally started in 1989 at Majengo Estate opposite Pumwani District Officer’s Office and it re-located to Kasarani/Mwiki village in early 2006. The founder member Mrs Muthoni Hasan Fauzia

Who comes from Vihiga district started the home with 2 children after acquiring some basic training as a social worker at Crescent Medical Aid. She attributes her motivation to start the home to herhumble family background where she grew with 16 siblings. The first child that she started with was 4 months old and today she provides a home to over 32 children.

We arrived at the Home at 12 noon and started assisting in cutting of vegetables and preparing the lunch
for the children. This was the first time our seva group had visited this children’s home. The home takes care
of children from all backgrounds of culture mostly abandon children, children whose parents are suffering
from disabilities. Mama Fauzia has ensured to assist the children in the best possible way and in some
cases she has managed to arrange for the children to study in States, Turkey etc.
Recently, Mama Fauzia had undergone surgeries and has not been feeling well. Our sincere prayers for her
to get well soon.

JAI GURUDEV

February Seva

OUR RECENT SEVA WAS ON 20TH FEBRUARY 2011

Swami Vishwananda Seva Society did a seva yesterday at joy town primary school which is based in
thika. This school has about 400 children suffering from either mentally challenged or physical
disabilities.
The seva group bought bread, juice, sweets, milk and clothes for the children. We received donations from
Canada which was equivalent to Ksh 15,000. The donations were through individuals and collected by
Satish.
The children were so happy and excited to have us there. We have done almost 4 seva in this place since last
year. It was beautiful to receive this love from them.
Just before we had this seva, someone popped this question to me - What do we mean by seva? And it made
me wonder!!
Seva actually is to serve all selflessly, with love just as you would serve the divine because he lives in all of
us. It could be from making someone smile to sending healing!!
When we visited the children, so many thoughts run through the mind, that how the grace of the divine has
been with us that we are so blessed to at least be in a state that we can understand the gift of life. Yet, we are
always unsettled, we want more? We never satisfied. Then what would I say about the kids?
We request all those who will read this report, to take a moment, and visualize these children and pray for
them to heal. Take a moment to reflect your life, and feel the grace of God that has always been there with
you.

Seva Updates

UPDATES NEWS:

We will be celebrating one year since swamiji had arrived in Kenya in March 2010.

 Since his arrival we have had the following milestones;
o    Registration and incorporation  of Swami Vishwananda Seva society

o    At least 20-40 individuals actively involved in our seva programs who have coordinated at least 10 sevas in 2010.

o    Santusta recently traveled to South Africa and has had the blessings of Swamiji to start OM HEALING in Kenya. The group will be mentored through the courses.


At our temple, we started a new intiative of feeding children and people from our neighbourhood every thursday.
Food (bhog as we say) is offered and blessed by Baba. After which bhajan and prayers commence.

 Jai Gurudev.