Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.
Valerie Swann
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4th B’day
8th Fundraiser
Can you believe it?
I certainly can’t and I have been through it every minute of every day.
I (Tania) would just like to extend a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed so much time and love over the past four years to make One! happen One! step at a time...volunteers, employees, family, child sponsors, donors, EVERYONE!
We have made incredible progress in only four years by gaining the trust of the families through our love and commitment. This will only continue into the future.
I would like to send a special appreciation to Marilyn Spilchen (MOM) who encourages me to continue and takes on more work than is imaginable. She makes it happen.
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Extreme Generosity
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One! International has been blessed from the generosity of so many businesses and individuals that it is impossible to give adequate thanks in this small space. The ultimate compliment for an organization is when people tell other people who tell other people that a good job is being done, and that has happened on numerous occasions.
Volunteer Helen from England told her two brothers who live in Ottawa and Vancouver Canada who sent generous donations.
Attendees at our Bi Annual Fundraiser dinner in Edmonton tell other people who come on subsequent dinners.
Through word of mouth we were able to get the support of Children’s Hope India Inc. in New York who sponsored our social worker/teacher for three years and who have just sponsored an additional amount for medical and dental checkups for our children. Tracy, who told CHI about One! sponsors four children, Saturday lunches and rides for the children.
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The US organization AYA continues to sponsor the sewing and woodworking projects and have invited One! to submit another proposal.
Acrodex in Edmonton sponsors, among other things, the children’s attendance at the boarding school.
We have talked about Wes Hosford school and Yoga For Today. Yoga Passage in Calgary supports five children. Large donations have been received from Joyce, Bedford, Helen, Bennett family and others; numerous donations from so many people; AND we are so excited about our new GCC sponsors: Melanie, Nadine, Audrey, Crystal & Rich, Robert & Dianne, Tracy & Jen, Pat & Lisa, and the possibility of several more in the coming months. Our world wide family is growing and we are very excited.
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Return of the Housing Horror
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Once again, the BMC (municipality) have come around and ripped down all of our families houses (excluding Reshma’s, Jayenti’s and Nilesh’s).
This time is a little more serious than any other time—the police are also involved constantly. They are patrolling the area every day. In fact, three fathers were woken in the middle of the night and taken to jail just for sleeping in the area. They spent 10 nights in jail before a friend of theirs managed to get them out on bail. Luckily they have not touched the women and children.
It is really tough for the families at this time, but it is hard for us to feel sorry for them. We have been trying to convince them to move for years and hope that maybe now it has gotten ‘bad enough’ that they will make the move into more permanent, more safe and more healthy housing. Time will only tell.
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