Before we moved to the U.S.A in 1983, we used to live in Guntur, India. This place also happens to be our native town. During the years 1980 --1983, our first daughter Anasuya used to attend a local private school named Sri Venkateswara Bala Kuteer. She was in 1st to 3rd grade during that time. The principal of that school was a well known educator in Guntur, named Ms.Manga Devi. In addition to academics, she was also very interested in fine arts. During those years, we remember her writing many dance dramas and plays and encouraging school children to participate in them. As Anasuya was a good dancer, Ms. Devi took a special liking towards her and used to cast her in main roles, in her dance dramas.

Ram and I started developing a special affinity to this school too, year by year. Then in 1983, we took the decision to migrate to U.S.A and that was the end of our connection to Sri Venkateswara Bala Kuteer... ....or so we thought!

When we returned to India in 2010, we were exploring seva opportunities in and around Guntur and we came to know that in addition to Sri Venkateswara Bala Kuteer, Ms.Manga Devi has also been running an orphanage named Chetna in Chodavaram, which is about 15 km from Guntur. When we approached her with an idea of volunteering at her orphanage, she received us with open arms, remembering us as "Anasuya's parents"!

Thus started our association with the Chetna children. For more than two years, we were going there once a week, to spend time with the orphans, teach them Human Values through fun stories, songs, games etc. We used to do these sessions with almost 100 kids each time. It was a very satisfying seva giving us a chance to build up a loving relationship with those kids.

In the second half of 2012, Ms. Devi made a special request - for us to counsel the college kids from the Chetna group. She said those kids were finding it hard to deal with issues like study stress, career plans, peer pressure, discipline etc like most other teenagers, but it was even more tough for them as they didn't have parents to advise and guide them. So Ms.Devi wanted us to try and fill that void, if possible.

So we started meeting these college kids on alternate Sundays and spending some time with them. Ram and Nageswara Rao (a dear cousin of ours) have been working with  the boys while I have been working with the girls. Most of these kids are in their late teens and are pursuing Polytechnic or Engineering courses.

We have chosen to make the format of these counseling sessions quite informal. We encouraged the kids to share their thoughts, feelings, experiences, frustrations, plans, goals, dreams etc. At first they were reserved but week by week they started opening up, as the trust got built up gradually in our mutual relationship.

Over the weeks, we happened to touch and discuss thought provoking topics like discipline, safety,  social evils, hope, caste system, reservations, career goals, self employment, gratitude, giving back to the society and so on. Lately they have started sharing experiences of how they were able to apply some of these concepts in their daily lives :)

Helping prevent child labor through Nandana

NANDANA is a school established by Sri Venkateswara Balakuteer for Child Labourers. It is located inChodavaram near Guntur, surrounded by stone quarries, zinning and spinning mills, tobacco companies etc. The school staff meets the parents of the children being turned into child labourers and tries to make them understand the value of education. They try to convince the parents about the need for these children to be sent to school, for a better future. This way, Nandana is trying to break the shackles of child labour and generate a ray of hope in the lives of these children. Once they join Nandana, these children are provided with free education, mid-day meal, free books and uniforms.

Since 2014, we along with our family & friends, have been providing financial support needed to educate some of these children. Thus we are trying to help Nandana team in a small way, to fulfill their mission. Some of the children we have been supporting are mentioned below:

1.

Bhagya Lakshmi was born on 05-01-2006 in a very poor rural family. She belongs to Uppara caste which is considered to be very backward. Her father, Mr.Reddamma works as a Mason. Her mother, Thirupatamma is a daily wage worker in a cotton zinning mill which is very hazardous health wise. The parents found it difficult to feed the family with the meager income they earn. The Nandana school staff came to know about the sad situation of this little girl. They met the parents and made them understand the value of Education. They were able to convince the parents about the need for the Girl Child to be sent to School for a better future. That’s how Bhagya Lakshmi was brought to this school. If Nandana did not take the initiative Bhagya Lakshmi would have become a child labourer.

2.
Pujitha was born on 16th July, 2002 in ponnur to Sreenivas and Parameswari. The mother died of Jaundice when Pujitha was 8 months old. The father married again. Unfortunately the new mother did not accept the little Pujitha. Then Pujitha’s maternal aunt Adiseshamma took the baby into her lap and brought her up. She is also very poor. Because of poverty she wanted to keep Pujitha in work. But Pujitha who is very bright very much wanted to continue her studies. Then the neighbours took pity on Pujitha and admitted her in a school in Ponnur at the beginning of this year. Aunt Adiseshamma became very furious at it and kicked out the girl. In this helpless situation Pujitha was brought to Nandana. Now she is studying 6th class and is very bright in studies. She is good looking, accommodative and friendly.
3.
Chaitanya was born on 27th September 2000. He lost his mother Bharathi when he was months old. After one year his father Chandra sekhar also died of heart disease. He was brought up by his old grand parents. His grand father was paralized in 2005. He could not do any work. His old grand mother Lakshmi was depressed with the calamity. She found no way to bring up the little boy and to take care of the disabled husband. Her daughter who was already married refused to take care of the boy in that pitiable situation. In this situation, Chaitanya was brought into Nandana. Now Chitanya is studying 8th class in Nandana. He is a bright boy. Because of the childhood trauma, he used to have a withdrawing nature. But now he is picking up confidence. Though he is being brought up with utmost care by the school, a supporting hand with love at this stage, is giving him a lot more strength and confidence.
4.
Deva Harshini hails from a very poor family. She is studying 5th class in our school. Usually stands in the first five places. Her father is a lorry driver and the mother works as servant maid. She had two brothers. One is working in a bakery. She lost the second brother in road accident recently. By joining Nandana, she is able to progress towards a bright future.
5.
Triveni is Studying 3rd class in Nandana. Bhavani is studying 7th class. They are cousins. Triveni’s father Apparao and Bhavani’s father Veeranjaneyulu are brothers and work as Masons. Triveni’s mother Sujatha learned tailoringrecently and started working. Bhavani’s mother Madhavi brings clothes from a wholesale shop and sells them in the neighborhood. Triveni has 2 sisters and Bhavani has one sister. All the girls are now studying at Nandana. They are bright and active. At Nandana, Triveni and Bhavani are now able to continue their education free of worry.

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