July - Sep 2014 Update

Buds Voices Quarterly Update from Buds of Christ

| July-Sep 2014

Shouldering the burden of care, yet keeping the Dream Alive

Support Group Meetings

Bala, 17-year-old orphan boy is doing his 1st year Bachelors in Commerce. His father died very early and he was living with his mother and brother at their grandmother's place. Soon his mother became sick and she too passed away. When he was in his class 5, he developed severe infections and was asked to start treatment for his life long illness. He was living with his grandmother for nearly three years and after her death, Bala moved to an orphanage and later went on to stay along with his brother's family, who is married and has a three-year-old son. His sister in law was not happy to have Bala along with them due to his treatment and within three years she left the family with another person and leaving the small child with Bala's brother.

Support group meetings at Government Hospitals is making difference in their lives‌

Now Bala is taking care of his elder brother and the small child. He prepares the food, looks after the household

Inside Leadership is about ATTITUDE Training session held on 19th July 2014 by Govind Ramachandran, Dubai

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Leadership is about

ATTITUDE

[Mr Govind Ramachandran, is Head of Learning & Development and Leadership Initiative at Union Insurance Company, Dubai.

He also pastors Followers Christian Fellowship, Dubai]

“Actually I believed, to realize my VISION, I need skills and knowledge; but the training enlightened me that it is the ATTITUDE that I have towards my Vision” expressed a 17 year old orphan girl living with HIV

19th July 2014, was an unforgettable day in the lives of young emerging leaders, volunteers and staffs at Buds of Christ. Leadership training started with the basic question of “what do we understand on leadership?” Most of the participants were expressing it as a skill or an inborn talent.

But Govind shared it is not the right “Skill” to execute tasks or a range of “Techniques” to persuade people, it is about the right ATTITUDE and shared 5 key principles on personal attitudes.

I. II. III. IV. V.

My attitude as I begin a task will affect its OUTCOME more than anything else My attitude toward OTHERS determines their attitude toward ME. My attitude is the major difference between SUCCESS and FAILURE My attitude can turn my PROBLEMS into BLESSINGS My attitude can give me an uncommon PERSPECTIVE on life

Mr Govind, his wife Mrs Monisha and their children Elaina and Ryan are living in Dubai and they took 2 days time to be with children of Buds of Christ in encouraging and building their lives.

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(Continued from page 1 - Bala) chores and that include washing clothes, cleaning utensils, cleaning house, fetching water, cooking, and then going to college.

When he is back from college, he prepares dinner and competes his revision of what was taught that day. Though these additional responsibilities are a big burden for him, he is determined to moved towards his dream of becoming a finance professional.

He is proud, one for being the first one in his family to enter college. Being an orphan and coming from the disadvantaged caste and economic class, he is determined to pursue his studies to achieve his dream to become a finance professional and also be a role model for other children who come from such challenging circumstances.

Once he shared, how does he overcome the negative feeling, he expressed "sometimes when I feel burdened with work and not able to study, I feel helpless, but within few minutes I start visualizing myself in my dream and that keeps me going forward". Bala is now one among the BUDS LEADERS, who have committed to serve and support orphaned children like him.

Children Support Groups Making difference in the lives of children living with HIV at Government Hospitals The monthly support groups for children living with HIV in Namakkal has been further expanded to Tiruchengode and Salem Government Hospitals.

Rehman, a 5 year old had a pleasant surprise on 2nd Saturday of July when he came for his routine health check-up and saw a group of children coloring the sheets with their favorite drawings. He spontaneously came in and made a request whether he could join us and we gave him the space, he started making drawings with many lines.

So when one of the volunteer about the pattern he expressed “I don't like stairs, in my house I have to climb stairs". On follow-up with the mother we found Rehman stays in the third floor and so he has to climbup many stairs every day.

His mother at the end of the meeting expressed "Rehman does not move along well with new people, but I am surprised he was able to sit and play along with other children here".

This is one experience of the smallest child attending the Little Stars Support Group that is organized every 2nd saturday at Tiruchengode and Namakkal while in Salem its organized 1st Saturday.

The purpose of this support group is to make the children feel comfortable in accessing hospital services and be regular on medication by developing friendships among themselves.

About Buds of Christ Buds of Christ exists to empower children from the most disadvantaged communities, with a focus among children, adolescents and girls who have lost their parent/s to HIV & AIDS and is living in disadvantaged circumstances of poverty and caste discriminated communities. We recognize that children without the care of parents or guardian are often vulnerable to various forms of abuses and exploitation. We strive to empower these children to reduce their vulnerability and help them grow up to be capable adults in this world by providing support for School and College Education, Support to maintain good health and Leadership Trainings.

Our mission is “to love, listen, learn and lead orphan children affected by HIV and AIDS to live life positively and with dignity and be children of hope and courage to their peers and to their community�

Empower children | Enable wellbeing

PARTNER WITH BUDS OF CHRIST As a Volunteer You can share your expertise and skills to our children at Buds of Christ during weekends, or staying with us for a week or long.

164 Kootapalli Housing Board Colony , Tiruchengode 637 214 Phone +91 4288 281722 jpaul@budsofchrist.org

www.budsofchrist.org

By Sponsoring a child Buds of Christ supports every orphan child in their health, education and leadership till 21 years (to complete graduation). You can sponsor a child and receive regular updates on your sponsored child.

By Donations Every month, programs are organised in our strategic areas of Health.Education.Advocacy.Leadership. You can choose to support our programs on a monthly basis or annually.

By online promotion You can spare your online time, by sharing our work and website to your friends and families or by actively participating in our regular campaigns If you wish to partner with us, please feel free to contact Jeyapaul (jpaul@budsofchrist.org) or Call him at +91 98407 70722