Siddhivinayak

26/12/2017

Impression of Dec 2017 visit to the school.

26/12/2017

Dearest well wishers and supporters of Siddhivinayak!

I am happy to share with you that i was finally able to visit the school again. The changes were significant!
A much larger building, nice and bright inside, with an adjacent kitchen where school lunches are prepared. Many new faces, and i was happy to recognize many children too. Some had left, due to their age, and are now able to function well in society.
The school has a wonderful team of dedicated teachers, who are schooled to teach these children with special needs.

Just like 4 years ago, i was welcomed warmly and with great enthusiasm by the children, and again, i felt at home immediately. On my second visit we had an impromptu yoga lesson, and i did a small sound healing with them. The children seemed to enjoy the sounds, and we had a good laugh together during yoga.

The school is supported by well wishers in India, and continues to develop. The plan still is to build their own school, the design is ready, and it is just a matter of time, waiting for the land to be assigned. Nothing goes fast in India, there are always hurdles to overcome, but we are all optimistic!

13/03/2016

Dear followers of the Siddhivinayak page, i just wish to let you know that even though i am so close to India, once again, i am not able to go. It saddens me not to be able to see the children, and my dear friend Ganesh, and see the immense progress that has taken place in the school.
However, rest assured that all is going well, and that your 'likes' for the school warms our hearts and reminds us that we are not alone, but always together with all of you well-wishers and beautiful people.
Thank you.
Anu

23/09/2015

We would like to hear from you!! Please respond with your impressions, thoughts, or anything you'd like to share with us, thank you! We are looking forward to hearing from you, Anu and Ganesh.

23/09/2015

Dear friends and visitors of this page,
My apologies for neglecting to put up posts.
Finally, back in June, a wish of mine has become a reality: the school is now providing healthy nutritious meals to the students. I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as the students enjoy their food! :D

23/09/2015

So proud of you Ganesh! This article was written back in April, but is still very much up to date.

As a child, Ganesh Suryawanshi saw his parents struggle to provide education to his younger sister Sheetal, who has special needs. At 28, Ganesh now successfully runs a school that provides free education to children with special needs.Dozens of students now study at his institution Siddhivinayak Sh…

19/03/2015

And here are some more wonderful pics of the students!

19/03/2015

Enjoy the images caught on the Annual Day Celebrations organized by Ganesh, his wife and the teachers. As one of the board members described it: "There were only moist but happy tears in all the invitees' eyes to watch the miracle this project is and the ray of hope and smiles it is bringing to these specially abled children and their otherwise disheartened parents."

19/03/2015

A lovely talented young woman living and working in the UK contacted me last week and said that she intends to raise funds within her company for the school. She wanted to know about the costs for each child. It appears to be more straightforward in Western society, but in India the approach is somewhat different. Less rigid, more fluid, as in the money will go there where it is most needed at that specific moment. Siddhivinayak applies a holistic way of working, taking into consideration each person and aspect to make it work with the best possible outcome for the students.

That said, here is what the situation is like now, and what is needed, without giving specific amounts. Rest assured that no money and no gifts will be wasted.

There are 35 DAY CARE STUDENTS & 10 MULTIPLE DISABLED HOUSEBOUND CHILDREN.
ONE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, TWO TEACHER AIDS, TWO RENTED SCHOOL TAXIS WITH DRIVERS.
From June this year (perhaps sooner), there will be a DAY MEAL PROGRAM WITH NUTRITIOUS MEALS. For this, there will be re-occuring additional costs in the existing budget, such as food items and gas cylinders, and a one-time investment for all the needed kitchen utensils.

I hope this helps all of you interested to support the school to understand what is needed. Thank you.

18/02/2015

These days the children have ample space to enjoy their lunch together...

13/02/2015

06/02/2015

Namaste dear friends and well wishers of Siddhi Vinayak,

Since my last visit to India Ganesh, the founder of the school, has gotten married. And his wife is actively involved in the work too now. Ganesh and his wife, along with a trained lady staff and two assistances are a great team who are managing the school well. Ganesh's support base and well wishers are increasing as people recognize him as a genuine social worker.

The school has been relocated in a larger building, and the number of children has increased as well. The facility is not owned or rented by the school, it is actually a community hall run by a local official who is a well wisher of the school and has allowed the school to move there. Individuals as well as social service organizations are donating equipments such as wheel chairs and different physiotherapy gadgets, and some people give cash.

There are around 25 students coming to school, and another 10 children are visited in their homes as their mobility is restricted.

Vinod and Kamala Parekh, personal friends of mine and board members of the school, have kept our money in the bank, because they wanted to wait for my visit in order to decide together how to best allocate the money. But now that my arrival date in India is uncertain, they recommend to use the money solely for the staff's wages (including the driver of the school van), so that they can continue their work without money restraints. I have agreed with them, and from this moment forward their wages will be paid with our donation, for a considerable amount of time.

Once more dear friends, thank you so very much for your help and support. If you have any questions, or if you wish to do something further for Siddhivinayak, please contact me, or leave a comment below.
Namaste, wishing all of you peace, love and joy