Update Autumn 2022
Editorial
We are happy to bring you our latest newsletter with updates from Hope Community Village -staff, children and home news. We can report another excellent year at Hope despite many difficulties. The Covid situation there is still of some concern although in most ways life has returned to normal. They have very much missed having visitors from outside, both local and from overseas but, as ever, they have made up by celebrating so many International Days among themselves with an endless stream of meaningful activities for the children. You won’t find a better informed group of children anywhere on the planet!
Recent torrential rain has caused some structural damage necessitating fairly expensive, unexpected repairs which are ongoing as we can afford them. But all are safe which is the main thing.
The children of Hope again excelled themselves in summer exams with marvellous results and have moved on to their next step this school year.
There is one particularly exciting piece of news about that which you can read lower down! Instilling aspirations commensurate with abilities has always been one of the hallmarks of Hope and it continues to bear fruit. All the children who have completed Higher and Further Education are in gainful employment in a variety of fields and, in a very competitive labour market. This is something of which the staff can be rightly proud. Of course, all of this doesn’t come without a price-tag and we will be launching a special appeal very soon to support the education and training for over 18’s. If this part of our work particularly appeals to you and you would like to help, we would be very happy to hear from you.
We hope you enjoy our newsletter and see you again in spring! Warm wishes from the (tiny) editorial team.
A Lifelong Dream Come True
One of our senior girls has had a lifelong ambition from childhood to become a doctor. Lots of young children say this but this girl meant it, kept it in mind all through school and her dream is now about to be realised.
Having achieved the required grades, she is about to start her studies at medical college. Due to the tiny number of places available and very prohibitive costs in India, she will join a large group of Keralan students heading to Geomedi University in Tbilisi, Georgia next month.
Hope takes very seriously its responsibilities to its young people and every care has been taken to ensure that she will be supported and cared for while away. Safe to say she is extremely excited but equally determined to take full advantage of the opportunity given to her.
Financially, it is no small undertaking and we are grateful to one of her sponsors for considerable support towards her start-up costs.
And the lesson for other Hope children – if your dreams are backed up by hard work, steely ambition and tenacity, you will have full support to fulfil them.
Great North Run 2022!
We are delighted to report that all six of our runners – five places allocated to Hope and one freelance – completed the challenge, had an excellent event and have fully recovered!!
Lots of money was raised and we are extremely grateful to them for the training, the running and the fundraising. Between them, they have managed to raise the amazing sum of £5,344.
Well done to Claire & Tom, Sam & Catherine, Cheryle and Richard.
Roll on 2023!
The Great North run is an important annual fundraiser for us and it will soon be time to allocate places for 2023.
Two places are already taken so, if half-marathons are your thing and you would like to have a go, please email steveredmond205@hotmail.com to reserve a place.
First come, first served!!
Kitchen Gardens 🪴
Both Covid restrictions and a real wish to develop sustainability and green living in all ways possible has seen the establishment of a flourishing grow-your-own initiative in all houses and Youth House.
A huge variety of vegetables and fruits are now produced and shared all the year round.
In addition, a flock of chickens provide fresh eggs and there’s fish from the fish tank. All the children are engaged in tending and harvesting and the ever-present competitive streak has meant lots of hard work and effort to be the best.
We are extremely grateful to the Claremont Trust for their very generous donation to support this initiative.
Team Tharavadu
We are once again exceedingly grateful to the owners and staff of award-winning Keralan restaurant Tharavadu in Leeds for recently hosting a fundraising lunch for Hope. Every single penny - for meals and bar - was donated and, together with a raffle, the event raised just under £4,000. Thank you all so much!
Birthdays!
Birthdays are very enthusiastically celebrated at Hope within each house. The format is similar – a cake with candle, some tasty treats to share and a shopping trip with mother for a new outfit and shoes.
Sometimes the costs are donated by the child’s sponsor but, in any case, each child gets the same and is guaranteed a very special day!
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Football News
Football continues to play a very important part in the daily life of Hope at all levels, particularly for the girls and younger boys. (Older boys go for cricket, volleyball and badminton!} As well as providing great exercise and lots of fun, it has given many of the children opportunities further afield.
In addition to the three senior girls now studying in higher education on scholarship and playing for professional /college teams in the Kerala Women’s League, we now have three of the younger players chosen to play for the local Alappuzha District Junior Team.
Congratulations and well done to Ambily, Devika and Nihitha!
New Shoes
Look at this little boy’s delight when he discovered that the trainers (nearly new and sent out by a well-wisher from Stockport) had flashing lights in the soles.
He will treasure them forever!
Classical Dance
This amazing art form has always been a big part of the extra-curricular provision at Hope and has been enjoyed by many generations of children.