Here's our latest newsletter - enjoy!
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In January, 2016, Barbara Young went to Pune to study at the Iyengar Institute. Whilst there, she visited Jagruti along with two other Canadians. Of her first visit she says, "It was amazing, as always. The occasion was the handing out of Health Care Assistant certificates for a program Jagruti runs in co-operation with local hospitals---the young women, mostly illiterate, do three months of classroom work (since they are illiterate, much use is made of plastic models, photos, demonstrations, oral transmission of knowledge etc by Jagruti's doctor Sunita) and then three months in one of the surrounding hospitals. The energy is as vibrant and positive as ever."
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On November 14th, 2015, Friends of Jagruti volunteers set up a Diwali Fair at Pathway Yoga Studio and sold numerous different items made by the women at Jagruti, such as tablecoths, napkins and aprons, as well as gift bags and luggage tags sewn by stalwart seamstresses from the Friends of Jagruti sewing group (new members always welcome). Patricia Kirby donated her exciting art, there was a silent auction, an online auction and Ann Van Regan once again decorated a small tree with her exquisitely made ornaments. There was a used-book table, T-shirts in all colours and sizes, made of 100% cotton, and refreshments. A cheerful, happy time was had by all and over $2500.00 was raised.
As a Canadian not-for-profit organization, FRIENDS of JAGRUTI cannot issue charitable tax receipts.
Recently, a Pune chapter of the Soroptimist's Club presented several cash awards for education support. The Soroptimists provide grants to young women from the JAGRUTI "family" who are attending university, often against all odds. Receiving her award in the photograph on the left is Pratibha Avsekar, whose parents are farmers. Their village was totally destroyed in an earthquake in 1995. Pratibha lost the use of her eyes when she was buried under the quake's debris but was miraculously saved. She passed her first year of a programming diploma for the blind with first-class honours, and is now in her second year. She and two other young blind women, who also received awards, live in JAGRUTI's hostel.
