Reaching The Unreached G. Kallupatti, Near Batlagundu, Theni Dt. 625 203

Happenings of January 2019

Dear Well-wishers,

Greetings from RTU.

In January we welcomed supporters from

RTU-UK including representatives from

Wells Rotary Club, led by UK Co-ordinator

Mo Houlden. The week-long visit combined

first-hand experience of our work and time

spent with their sponsored children. We also

entertained another two groups of UK &

France visitors: a Traidcraft group led by

Ranjith Henry and Enfants de L’ Univers

supporters led by Mr. Baptiste Leseigneur.

It is always heart-warming when our overseas’ visitors join us to show their concern. It also

provides us with a great opportunity to showcase the work we do here at RTU, none of which

would be possible without your ever-generous dedication and support.

Pongal Festival

Our UK visitors took part in our Pongal

(harvest festival) celebrations. These included

a grand get-together on 14th January at our

main school campus where the customary

Pongal ingredients were in much evidence:

sugar cane, turmeric, flowers, fruits,

vegetables; beautiful Kolam drawings using

rice flour and chalk powder; the Kummi folk dance; and classical and traditional dances and

verses.

Our staff made sweet Pongal rice for all the school children for everyone’s enjoyment and our

guests were honoured with bouquets in gratitude for their presence and support.

It is important that when our children come together each occasion combines fun and learning.

This celebration was no exception. Our chief guest spoke about the continued importance of

agriculture in our changing society and how traditional skills and cultures must develop in

harmony with the increasingly high-tech world we live in.

Our schools then closed for three days of Pongal, enabling our children to join in the other

Festival celebrations. These included sports events and competitions.

In Anbu Illam Children’s Village, our

UK supporters joined our mothers and

children in preparing delicious Pongal

rice over lit firewood, stirring the

contents until the mixture was just

about to boil over! This sweet rice was

much enjoyed by the children who

also chewed on sugar cane.

Childcare in our Children’s Villages and Hostels

At the start of the year, we gathered in our JK Meditation Hall to pray and welcome in the New

Year with gifts and cake cutting.

New Hostel Opened

On 15th January, the new

Rotary Hostel for boys

was formally opened by

Rotarians, Sharon Haigh,

Roger Vincent and Alan

Webb in the presence of

our other UK visitors, and

RTU boys and staff.

About 50 boys from 9th

standard will live in the

hostel and attend our

secondary school. We are

grateful to Dr Balda

Jochimczyk, Germany,

Yoga Vereinigung Rajagopalan eV Germany, the UK Rotary Club of Wells, the Rotary Club

of Tyneside, St Cuthbert’s Church and Ss Joseph & Teresa Church in Wells, for their generous

donations for the building costs.

Anniversary Celebrations

That same day the Miriam Dean Boys’ and Henry Boys’ Hostels celebrated their anniversaries

with dance, drama, mime, and yoga in the Rajagopalan auditorium. Everyone at RTU took

part.

District Children’s Day Competition

On 5th January, 65 boys and girls from four Children Villages and Hostels took part in the

Children’s Day Competition held by the District Child Protection Unit, Theni. Twenty-one

won prizes in the 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1000m races, shot put, chess, carom board (a table-

top game), badminton, and discus throwing competitions. Over 50 RTU children were also

rewarded for their success in team games as throw ball, kho kho (an ancient Indian tag contest),

volleyball and kabaddi (an extremely popular contact sport). RTU won team of the match that

day and our children were awarded second place at district level.

Case Studies

Providing a Home, Education, Medical Care – and Hope for the

Future

Kaliraj, now 13, joined us in 2006, having lost his mother when he

was just two-and-a-half. Both Kaliraj and his father are HIV+. Today,

Kaliraj lives in our Miriam Dean Boys’ Hostel and is studying 8th

standard at RTU’s St Peter’s Higher Secondary School. Kaliraj excels

in sports and games and wins prizes. Because of our mothers and

warden’s care and guidance, Kaliraj is now better able to socialise and take self-responsibility.

The speech impediment Kaliraj had when he came to RTU has also improved. We monitor

Kaliraj’s HIV, providing antiretroviral drugs to contain the virus. The prognosis is good and

we much hope Kaliraj will be able to fulfil his ambition to become an engineer.

Loving Care Transforms the Lives of Two Sisters

Charulatha (five) and Shalini (aged seven) are sisters. They

came to RTU last year when their father died, and their mother

deserted them. At first, care passed to two elderly grandparents

who lived on a coconut estate, with no school nearby. One of

the girls’ relatives, who works in our Sirumalar Children’s

Village, asked us to provide a secure, loving home. When the

girls joined us at RTU both were anaemic and had acute mouth

ulcers. Neither could talk freely, communicate with others, or

even smile. After 10 months of tender loving care by our

foster mothers in Sirumalar Children’s Village both are much

better, enjoying their new life here at RTU. Also, of course,

we have been able to fulfil the girls’ educational needs. Shalini is in 2nd standard and

Charulatha in 3rd standard at RTU’s St Peter’s Primary School.

Schools and Education

On 10th January, our director Fr Antony Paulsamy,

and Fr Maria Antony, took part in a festival of

traditional foods organised by the children and

teachers at the RTU St Peter’s Primary School.

Best Nursing Scholar Award

On 12th January, the Claudine School of Nursing, Batlagundu, held a graduation and lamp

lighting ceremony for its students. Ten were from RTU. Kalishwari, Amuthamani, Vinitha,

P Divya, Pandiammal and M Divya were presented with graduation certificates. Latchiya,

Jeyanthi, Dhanalakshmi, Shifana marked the start of their first-year course by lighting a lamp.

One RTU nursing graduate, Kalishwari, received the Best Scholar Award, a wonderful tribute

to both the winner and our work. Our director, Fr Antony Paulsamy, and RTU staff attended.

Child Welfare Workshop

The De La Salle Brothers in Boys’ Town held a two-day workshop on child abuse and rights

on 18th and 19th January for our 8th standard students. It took place in our JK Hall. The

resources team, headed by Sam Prabu, organised group activities.

Republic Day Celebrations

On 26th January RTU schoolchildren and teachers gathered at our main campus for the 70th

Republic Day of India celebrations. They began with a prayer followed by flag hoisting by our

guest of honour, Mr S Nagalingam, together with Mrs N Malarkodi, retired Assistant

Commissioner or Exise Tax, Madurai. Master Sabaridoss led the different units in the parade

which displayed great marching skills. Mr Nagalingam spoke eloquently about our diverse

nation and the importance of its Constitution, enthralling us with inspirational stories and

reminding us of the need to be resolute in achieving our goals to serve youngsters in need. Our

children gave a dance display and celebrations ended with the national anthem and India’s

national song, Vande Mataram.

On the same day boys from Michael Hostel over in Bodi took part in the 70th Republic Day

parade and celebrations organised by the Theni District Collector’s office. Their participation

was a great honour and privilege. The District Collector, Mrs Maryam Pallavi Baldev,

presented the RTU students with prizes and certificates.

Literacy Programme

On 28th January youngsters from RTU’s schools took part in a literacy programme held in

Batlagundu. The day was organised by Ayyan Thiruvalluvar Ilakkiya Paravai for all schools in

the Batlagundu block. Our children successfully competed in Thirukkural wisdom

(Thirukkural is a classic Tamil text some 5000 years old), elocution, drawing, essay writing

and fancy dress. Between them they won four first, four second, and two third-place prizes.

Community Development

On 26th January, Grama Saba meetings were held in Panchayats. (Grama Sabas help resolve

villagers’ problems; a Panchayat is an elected body of locals who govern a village.) More than

420 RTU Self Help Group members from 11 villages joined in. Local issues like providing a

lavatory for each household, banning the use of plastics, and illicit alcohol were discussed;

also, local accounts were audited. Fourteen women members were chosen to attend the

Government’s paper bag training courses in Batlagundu.

Women also benefit from our mobile tailoring training units and graduation certificates were

issued to 73 women from the villages of Jeyamangalam and Nallakaruppanpatti who completed

the six-month training course. They exhibited the handicrafts made during their course and

received appreciation from RTU staff. The three tailoring units have now moved on to train

women in three new villages.

More New Homes for the Rural Poor

During January we completed two houses each in

Erumalainayakkanpatti and Bagalapatti villages,

and one at Jeyamangalam, to the great joy, hope

and gratitude of the families who now have a

home of their own. Thank you to all those who

help us build houses. Each home is a life-

changing blessing for those who benefit,

enabling parents and children to live in a healthy

and hygienic environment.

Your Generosity enables RTU children to live with dignity, respect, hope

Your support helps us here at RTU to provide each of our children with:

- a safe, loving home;

- a full-time education from pre-school through college to employment;

- medical care, short and long-term; and

- all else essential to provide a better future.

This year there will be ever greater calls for our help and support for those without the basics

of life. However, by reflecting on 2018 and the beautiful moments your support have made

possible, we regard the months ahead with renewed enthusiasm, knowing this journey is a

partnership between us here at RTU, and each of our wonderful supporters.

We hope 2019 will bring you much happiness and success in all your endeavours, and that you

will be blessed with prosperity and joy.

We thank you sincerely for continuing to keep our children in your loving and tender hearts.

May God bless each of you.

Yours fraternally

Fr J Antony Paulsamy, OFM Cap

Director