Many can teach
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only a special few can reach.
Anon
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School Update
Well, believe it or not, two months has turned into four and most of the work has not even been started. The construction at the school seems never-ending, as we continue to suffer without our classroom.
The classroom that we are using is way too small, but I am far from complaining. Without the generosity of the leader of the organization that runs the classroom, who knows where we would be.
The children are practically sitting on each other while they are studying...please keep your fingers crossed that the construction will finally be over soon.
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Our First Loan — Family Rikshaw
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At the end of August, we took another big chance. We decided to give our first major loan.
Fatima (the mother of Reshma, Bismilla, Dilshaad, Mallika, Rukshar, Saif, and Muskaan) approached us about help for the family to buy a second-hand rikshaw. Normally we say no immediately—never giving money, always giving material things.
Since we knew where the money was going, and the family agreed to pay us back as well as other conditions, we decided to take the chance and give the money.
Having their own rikshaw will at least double their earnings in a month. It will be difficult to pay back our loan and the remainder of the loan to the bank that is still owed on the rikshaw, but once that is done it should be smooth sailing.
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We were very hesitant, but have great confidence in this family. They have embraced One! with always open arms since the beginning and have never caused any trouble. Out of respect they deserve a chance.
Also...you don’t know if you never try.
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Baroda Business
Janine, Pallavi and I were offered to go on our first Business trip!
In the middle of September, we had a fabulous meeting with the men from Acrodex Inc., an Edmonton based company that has always supported One! and that has funded a school outside of Baroda, a town in Gujarat State. (About 8 hours from Mumbai.)
On top of giving a very substantial monetary donation, They wanted for us to go see the school, where possibly we could send some of our kids.
The three of us went, and had a great time. The people at the school treated us like gold.
The school itself is well equipped and seems to have a very decent quality of education. There are well over a 1000 students at the school in two different mediums (Gujarati and English), at all grade levels—right up to graduation!
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Our children would have to work very hard to get their English up to that level, but their vocabulary seems to be growing every day and they can differentiate all of the alphabet sounds.
This could be an incredible opportunity for One! and our children. Hopefully the partnership can be formed.
In the mean time, we would like to give another thanks to Acrodex Inc. for their generosity over the last three years. They have nto only given numerous monetary donations, but also donated our laptop computer.
Thank You, Thank You!
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