Newsletter for June 2011
Sewa
International Houston Chapter
T o g e t h e r w e c a n s e r v e b e t t e r.
Sewa Houston Newsletter Together we can serve better.
In this issue: New GIH Interns ASPIRE Picnic on June 11 Medical Drives on June 9 and 13 You are invited to our Annual Fundraising Gala on September 10, 2011
Greetings, Summer is in full swing and Sewa has
These young interns will gain invaluable
welcomed the newest group of summer
experience
interns. As in the past, the young students
successful members of society.
and professionals participating in the summer Get Inspired Houston (GIH) internship will engage
in
various
Sewa
empowerment
programs.
that
will
shape
them
into
What we do would not be possible without the help of our supporters and volunteers. So it is with gratitude that we send you this monthly newsletter to inform you of our past
We are excited to have 10 interns who will be working in the areas of women empowerment, children activities, youth mentorship,
and upcoming events. We look forward to your responses, queries and feedback throughout the year.
public relations and grant writing. This year we are also adding a lecture series as a new
Sincerely, Sewa Houston Team
experiment to the internship.
Click here to like us on facebook!
Team of Sewa interns and volunteers with patients at the Medical Drive at Los Arcos apartments
2
Sewa Houston - www.sewahouston.org - houston@sewausa.org
Sewa Houston Newsletter Together we can serve better.
Announcements Orientation for Summer Interns The Orientation for summer interns was held on June 4th at the Sewa Office located on 3908 Westhollow Parkway, Houston, TX 77083. Ten interns will be working in the areas of children‘s activities, women‘s empowerment, youth mentorship, public relations and grant writing throughout the summer. Wish List Empowering low income families through education is one of the main purposes of Sewa. As we work with children and families, we are always looking for supplies to support and improve our programs. We would greatly appreciate donations, whether they are newlybought items or supplies that have been lying around in your home.
Educational materials and supplies
TAKS prep guide for teachers (two sets)
Books for reading assignment class - (two novels/ books for each term, 15 students)
ESL books for students (15 students, level 1 and level 2 books)
ESL books for instructors (6 books)
Copying machine
Educational board games for small children (Math and English)
Two small white boards for classes in the apartment complex
Colors, papers, pencils etc. for art classes for small kids
Candle making supplies for vocational training class for women
New Sewa interns Nikki, Anu and Sarah (from left)
Volunteers Needed for After School Programs We are in need of volunteers for after school programs. If you are able to lead/teach English, Computer, Reading and Comprehension classes or serve as a one-on-one mentor, please let us know. There are opportunities to volunteer in the evening on Wednesday or Saturday and Sunday.
Click here to read our blog about the Get Inspired Houston Internship
Volunteer to teach ESL If you have an interest in teaching English as a Second Language and have a background in ESL teaching & curriculum, please email us at houston@sewausa.org. New Facebook Page Facebook is a great tool to raise public awareness for our cause. Since Facebook will archive all old groups soon, Sewa Houston moved to a new page: www.facebook.com/sewahouston Please "like" it and suggest it to your friends. You may also help us by contributing pictures or comments to our page.
Sewa Houston - www.sewahouston.org - houston@sewausa.org
3
Sewa Houston Newsletter Together we can serve better.
This month‘s events About ASPIRE Assuring Student Performance in Refugee Education (ASPIRE) is Sewa Houston's initiative to provide motivated kids with extra academic help. ASPIRE aims to provide practical support that kids need in order to successfully graduate from high school and pursue a college degree. ASPIRE is addressing the different learning needs of refugee kids. Current sessions of ASPIRE are focused on helping kids get through the TAKS exam. The course offers reading sessions, TAKS lessons and one on one mentoring. ASPIRE Picnic on June 11, 2011 On June 11, 2011, Bhutanese students from the ASPIRE program met at the Arthur Storey Park for a picnic with their teacher Shivangi Tomar,
the President of the Houston Chapter of Sewa International Manju Gupta, and volunteers from Sewa including Esther Ok, Allissa Abdelwahed, Amelia Parsons, Brianna Deutsch, Kriti Dogra, and others. Throughout the day, the boys played cricket, while the girls enjoyed three-legged races and limbo. On that hot Saturday morning, the children ate sweet watermelon while engaging in conversation. We enjoyed delicious Indian food for lunch and wrapped up the picnic with an Awards Ceremony for the children. All ASPIRE students received certificates for participation. The two graduating seniors were congratulated, and two others students with perfect attendance to Shivangi’s classes were awarded a certificate and a backpack to encourage them as they further their education. The picnic was a success and we look forward to other events with the students.
Dr. Raman Sewa Scholarship Sewa Houston is very glad to introduce the Dr. Raman Sewa Scholarship, sponsored by Dr. Jay Raman and Dr. Viji Raman.
Teacher Shivangi Tomar (back row, far left) and her ASPIRE students with certificates
4
The scholarship is set up to support Bhutanese students financially in their full-time undergraduate studies for four years. Candidates can apply until July 10, 2011 at: www.sewahouston.org
Sewa Houston - www.sewahouston.org - houston@sewausa.org
Sewa Houston Newsletter Together we can serve better.
Medical Drives on June 9 and 13, 2011 Sewa Houston collaborated with the Mobile Clinic of the Texas Children’s Hospital to host two free immunization drives for children of low-income families. The first drive took place on Thursday, June 9, at the St. Cloud apartment complex and the second one on Monday, June 13, at the Los Arcos apartment complex in Southwest Houston. In total, 42 children received free immunization and many of their family members got a medical check-up.
The greatest challenge for the Mobile Clinic workers and volunteers was communicating with the patients. The families who have benefited from the drives are immigrants and refugees from countries such as Bhutan, Nepal, Kenya, Somalia, Mexico and Colombia. Most of them speak little to no English, therefore volunteer translators greatly contributed to the immunization drive’s success.
Click here to see new videos and pictures of Sewa Houston!
Girl gets free immuniation at Medical Drive
First “Lead Houston“ Lecture on June 24, 2011 As part of the leadership training for the Get Inspired Houston internship, all interns were invited to attend a lecture by Dr. Bobby Kapur at the Emergency Center of the Ben Taub General Hospital. Dr. Kapur is currently director of the Emergency Medicine residency training program at Baylor College of Medicin. He also developed and implemented emergency medicine training programs for international physicians and healthcare workers. Dr. Kapur’s projects have included establishing training programs in Beijing, New Delhi, and Kolkata. Sewa interns with Dr. Bobby Kapur at the Ben Taub Hospital
Sewa Houston - www.sewahouston.org - houston@sewausa.org
In his lecture, Dr. Kapur talked about his own career path , encouraged Sewa interns to have set goals and visions for their future and inspired them to become strong leaders in society. 5
Sewa Houston Newsletter Together we can serve better.
Upcoming Events
Children‘s Art Gallery: The Story of a Travelling Home on July 23, 2011
Independence Day Celebration on July 4, 2011
On July 23, 2011, Sewa will host an art show at Caroline Collective (http://carolinecollective.cc/) in the Museum District. We are going to present art work and sculptures by the Bhutanese kids who participate in our Children‘s Activities program at Villa Bella Apartments. For more information email Luna Oliveira at gih@sewahouston.org.
Join us to celebrate Independence Day on July 4, 2011 at Tinsley Park. Bhutanese families and Sewa volunteers from the Children‘s Activities and Women‘s Empowerment teams will meet to watch the fireworks and do fun activities in the park together. For more information email Allissa Abdelwahed at abdelwahed14@sbc.edu.
S A V E T H E D A T E S e w a International Annual Fundraising Gala September 10, 2011, 6pm At the University of Houston Ballroom
www.sewahouston.org & (512) 554 6498
About us Sewa USA is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization with International presence. Sewa International and partner NGOs have over 25 years of experience. Sewa International USA helps victims regardless of caste, class, creed, color or religion. Sewa International USA supports projects in the areas of health care, education, women empowerment, environment and disaster relief and rehabilitation in India, USA, Caribbean countries and South America. The pictures in this newsletter were taken by Ajay Sarpeshkar, Stella Wojdyla, Allissa Abdelwahed and Luna Oliveira.
6
Sewa Houston - www.sewahouston.org - houston@sewausa.org