Sunday, August 20, 2017
Thursday, August 17, 2017
Saturday, August 12, 2017
Father Freddie...RIP!
We have just learned from Maggi and Ruben that Father Freddie has left the mortal body, few days back in Haridwar. Father Freddie was a SMTA board member, helping this social work organisation in those early years, with moral and material support. His services, support and help can never be captured in words- much less acknowledged or repaid.
(Pics: he was actively involved with our programs: First pic - Giving award to a SMTA student; Second Pic - attending a public function organised by SMTA - with Devika Chauhan and Ram Sharan Nautiyal and others)
I had had the privilege of knowing him briefly. His huge physical frame often belied his warmth and sensitivity. He had great sense of humor too. Once, I had to clean a coconut and was having difficulty. He saw me struggling and offered to help; He began plucking the coir off the coconut with his bare hands - as if it was dry cotton stuck to the head of a puppet. His big hands were working quickly and effortlessly and the coconut was bare in a few minutes! I smiled and said: Father, I will be very scared to meet you in a dark alley!
We both had a good laugh! He appreciated the joke - silly as it was.
May he rest in PEACE. May he help many more souls. May he guide us ever.
From the archives!
Anna visited SMTA in 2004, and visited out Uppal Gaon watershed program. Seems like a dream! We were looking for a something else, when we came across this picture - and said WHOA!Friday, August 11, 2017
New Uniform for the lil ones..
Smta primary school students were encouraged to make one more set of uniform, so that they could change and get it washed at least twice a week. You know little kids- how they love to play in mud! Few days ago, a mothers' meeting was organised wherein Shri Chain Singh ji, the Principal, discussed the idea and got them to agree.Grass is always greener on..
We at SMTA have been wondering how to keep our lawns well manicured- especially in Monsoons. So we bought a grass cutting machine. After opening the pack, we had tough time assembling it - since we did not have elaborate instructions nor any prior experience.Then, we had to do some figuring out as to how to operate it without using "hard" language, sudden jerks and expletives...
Then, the savior arrived: Mewaram! He gave us a demo- and then got down to it himself, since he realized that we were no good at the fine art of manicuring a lawn, to his standards..
Believe me, it is as intricate as baking a cake, writing a python script or getting your work done at a sarkari office..
Long live Mewaram! Blessed be thy name..
Oh yes, the lawns are looking very inviting. We have tough time keeping the Leo and Moti (the four legged children) off the lawn... You can easily imagine what they actually want to do in the lawn.. :((
Update swajal
Thus is an official letter, confirming SMTA's selection for district Dehradun under SWAJAL... (Received from Pawan with much thanks)
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Approved Training Center under PMGDISHA
Just received this email:
We look forward to start and deliver services soon.. Keep wishing us best!
Dear Reetika Rawat
Your Center located at TC SKCC hostel, Village Bhimawala, Via ChiranjipurDanda, Vikasnagar 248198, Dehradun, Uttarakhand,Bheemawala,Vikas Nagar,DEHRADUN,UTTARAKHAND has been registered as a Training Center (associated with P-TECH EDUCATIONAL TRUST). Please find below the login details to log-on to the PMGDISHA portal...
Swajal and SMTA
Learned from a reliable friend that SMTA has been successfully empaneled with Swajal, as an implementing agency for District Dehradun. Cyril sahab had given us the lead a few months back. We applied and based on our relevant experience in this field, we have been selected. Now, we have to wait since the ball is in their court. This time, Swajal is focusing on peri-urban scene as well as solid waste management issues too. We are optimistic!