As mentioned in the article on Board Planning “One! International is doing what it should be doing and being successful doing it”. It has been five years since Tania returned to Canada from a year work in India with a vision that One Person can make a difference in the life of One Child. She had befriended Vinod and his three younger siblings and had been influential in gaining a secure home for the three young children.

Following the formation of One! International on the 29th of January 2001, Tania and Pallavi Metkari began teaching 8 children on the street opposite their slum houses. The teaching had to start from pre-kindergarten concepts and the meaning of symbols. But the children were like children anywhere—they wanted to learn and they were like sponges in the process.

It has been an incredible journey for everyone involved. We now have: a 2 apartment size school, three full time paid teachers, 1 full time paid social worker, Tania, 3-4 volunteers at a time from all over the world, part-time employees and—Vinod as a teacher of the young kids.

We started with 8 children and now have more than 80! We have grown ten-fold!

Vinod’s younger brother Santosh who had a broken leg when Tania met him, is now attending school regularly. The organization has certainly come full circle from its roots.

WOW! - what a fantastic six months. We have found sponsors for ten children and our One! family now includes: Olga, Kim and Reena, Shemina, Jason, Cynthia, Francine, and Paula, with Yoga Passage taking on an additional three children.

Alliance for Youth Achievement has continued their support of the woodworking / sewing project. Children’s Hope India, on top of their continued financial sponsorship of one teacher and one social worker, helped to cover the costs of the flood damages.

Helen’s Scotland Walk, in support of One! spread the word and raised friends.

We had a laptop computer donated in the ‘nick of time’ as ‘Alfred’ (our friendly laptop in India) was not well.

Our major financial donors have been soooo generous: Bedford, Lynn (aforementioned laptop as well as monetary), Kim, Tracey and Glen, and Helen.

Other generous people such as Marg and Peter, Phil and Alice, Doris, Linda Lee, and Paul have been there since the beginning.

Wes Hosford Elementary School in Sherwood Park and Glenmary School (our newest partner) in Peace River had item donation drives and collected four big boxes of needed school supplies.

AND where would be without the ongoing material donations from: Nadine, Audrey, Tina, Linda Lee, Tracey, Vijay, Colette and Kim, Colleen, Tara, Gayle, Spice Center, India Garden, and H&W Produce.

There are many others who have donated money and items, sorry that this space isn’t big enough to list everyone...or else we definitely would!!!

One person does make a difference and we greatly appreciate each ONE of you!                                                 MARILYN