Report on activities of LIFE, Bangalore (2006-2007)

LIFE Trust started the Bangalore chapter in September 2006 and the Lifestyle International very kindly offered us office space . We are extremely grateful to them for always supporting all of LIFE Trust activities and events.

1. The focus of LIFE's activities at Bangalore is on non-formal education. The following           projects have been initiated in its first year (2006-2007) keeping the above in mind:

2. To brighten up their Diwali, the children of Our Home were given new clothes and     footwear. The goods were donated by Lifestyle.

3. LIFE did a survey and analysis of some orphanages in the city to understand their     functioning and problems.(Ashraya Children’s Home, Gerizim, Church of Christ,     KPMC, Sneha Nilaya, Premanjali, Shishu Mandir, SOS Children’s Village etc.)

4. LIFE organized the Diwali Bazaar at the Lifestyle store, Bangalore from 12^th – 15^th     Oct. 2006. Products handmade and manufactured by the mentally challenged students/     residents of 3 different organisations (Asha Niketan, Association for the Mentally     Challenged, Seva-in-Action) were exhibited and sold. The exercise served as a good     experience besides benefiting the manufacturers.

5. LIFE brought in the festive spirit of the New Year to the residents of David Sassoon    Orphanage. We provided new clothes for all the residents – donated once again by    Lifestyle.

6. Life, Bangalore celebrated Christmas and New Year’s by organizing fun-filled parties     at Church of Christ Orphanage and Gerizim  Rehabitilation Centre respectively.    Children enjoyed the Magic shows, the goodies and the gifts given to one and all.

Providing Vocational training and other benefits to the Govt. Institutional Homes:

            The State Govt. of Karnataka has set up institutional homes for orphan/ destitute

boys and girls, Children's homes for the mentally challenged and State Home for

Women. From 1^st Feb. 2007 LIFE started a series of certified vocational trainings

in various fields to residents of these institutions.  2 Gardening and 2 Mehndi        Application courses have already been completed. The response to the same has been very encouraging.

Following is list of courses that has been planned for the various Govt. homes:

7. In addition to the above courses, we have been arranging for various benefits at these     homes such as:

1. Health and Hygiene talk to female residents by a qualified doctor
2. LIFE Enrichment sessions such as Yoga, Awareness on Eye care and talk on benefits of Neem. More such sessions will continue to be organized.
3. Provision of a counsellor for the residents of the Girls Home
4. Arranged for a Physiotherapist who will be working for them at an honorarium
5. Arranged for a trip to an existing vocational centre (run by another NGo - APSA). 17 residents of Boys Home were taken to the above place in order to show them the advantages of Vocational training. APSA staff counseled them on the benefits.
6. Arranged for 2 Power Sewing machines for Boys Home. These have been provided by Raymonds. Madura Garments will also be providing some machines for the Girls Home.
   Repair of non-functional machines is being also taken up by the above 2 companies.
7. While utilising the Gardening training, we are also planning to beautify the entire campus with potted plants and creepers and utilising manure-rich waste land. The activity will be performed by the trained women residents of the home under the supervision of experienced Lalbagh trainers.

8. LIFE has been participating in the Home Committee Meetings since Feb. ’07 held at the Govt. Homes Complex. The agenda at these meetings was aimed at resolving the problems of the residents with participation of various NGOs like LIFE, APSA and ECHO.

9. On 9^th Dec. 2006, Effective study Habits session was conducted for children of High School at the Shishu Mandir.

10. LIFE is also working with an NGO, Association for the Mentally Challenged at Bangalore which has a vocational training centre for the youth in the above category. We are providing Landscape and Terrace Gardening training to them. The products manufactured by these residents will be marketed so that the organisations can be self-sustainable.

11. We have been networking with various civic bodies like the Women and Child Development Department, Karnataka State Council for Child Welfare, BMP (City Corporation) in order to understand ways in which LIFE can support their existing programs. Through them we plan to reach out to the slum communities and BMP- run schools with our LIFE skill programs.