Dear Friend,
For the last three years Darpana, through the Unsuni Action Plan, has been running a school, the Apna School (Our School) in Ramsar, Barmer, Rajasthan.
We became "patrons" by chance, while making a film on folk singer Rakmanbai there. The school was started by a policeman five years ago in an attempt to get a few children of contract labour off the streets. It turned out that the labour force were all traditional performers, now reduced to contract work. The policeman moved on and a local businessman paid teacher salaries. He too moved away.
When we stepped in there were 40 children. Today there are close to 300 in standards 1 to 7 and the earliest few have moved to government high schools.
We have run out of funds. All it requires is Rs. 10,000 for one month - education for 300 children for the cost of a room at the Taj or a single flight!
Please can you or your friends / contacts support the school for a single month? Your donation will be tax free.
You can either send a cheque favouring "KEF A/c Darpana Performing Group" or wire transfer to Bank of India, Vadaj Road Branch, Ahmedabad, Account Name : Karmakshetra Educational Foundation, A/C Darpana Performing Group, Savings Bank Account, Account No. 202810100007343, IFSC Code : BKID0002028, MICR Code : 380013037.
I would suggest you to watch the following video on YOU TUBE where you see the performance of these young children on the 14th November 2009 at Natarani.
Regards,
Mallika Sarabhai
Donations received so far
1. Sri Babubhai D Vaghela, Ahmedabad - Rs. 10,000
2. Sri Varun Arya, Marwar Education Foundation, Jodhpur - Rs. 10,000
3. Max Muller Bhavan, Mumbai - Rs.60,000
4. Sri B.K Sarronwala, Bangalore - Rs.10,000
5. Sri Parag Kishorebhai Shah - Rs. 20,000
6. Smt PK Saru - Rs. 5,000
7. Sri Arun Agrawal - Rs. 10,000
8. Mr. Koenraad Jan Wentink - Rs. 10,000
9. Ms. Mira Kamdar - Rs. 1,100
10. Focus India Forum, Singapore - Rs.1.20 Lakhs
11. Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation - Rs. 10,000
12. Ms. Rebecca Nandani Lynton - Rs. 10,000
13. Ms. Mirea Christina Grotz - Rs. 10,000
14. Mr. Rolf Lynton - Rs. 10,000
15. Sri A Balakrishna Hegde, Bangalore - Rs. 10,000
16. Ms. Ronnie & Mr. Rolf Lynton - Rs. 2,000
17. Ms. Thelma Frye - Rs.10,110
18. Ms. Somlata Datta - Rs. 5,000
19. Sri Lahiti Vasa (Matti) - Rs.10,000
20. Sri Arvind Victor Shah - Rs.5,000
21. Smt. Shanta Sanchety, Jodhpur, Rajastan - Rs. 10,000
