Dear friends and well-wishers of TARA,

We are pleased to share our quarterly newsletter with you. We warmly welcome all the people who have joined TARA in the last few months as sponsors, donors, friends and well-wishers.

Thank you for your continued and unconditional support in these difficult times.

We hope you are keeping safe and taking precautions in these delicate circumstances. While the lockdown was a time full of stress and uncertainty for a lot of us, a sense of normalcy has started peaking in at TARA.

We are very happy to announce the re-opening of TARA Outreach Centre located in Saidulajab on 12^th October 2020.

TARA Outreach Centre had been temporarily closed due to the lockdown since mid-March. The children have been out of school with limited educational resources being provided from their schools. Their parents were out of jobs and struggling to make their ends meet. With the opening of the outreach centre, we are trying our best to make sure the children’s education is back on track.

TARA Outreach Centre has opened for the children who are above 10 years old as per the official guidelines (with due approvals of their parents) and take classes 4 students at a time in 2 batches to ensure social distancing. A proper conduct has been initiated in order to maintain hygiene with sanitizers being provided at regular intervals and masks being worn at all times.

One of the main reasons TARA decided to re-open the Outreach Centre was to minimize the gap in school curriculum that was caused by the lockdown. With majority of the children studying in government schools, it had become very difficult to ensure regular learning among the children. TARA is also conducting community surveys to better understand the needs of the community at present. The children are excited that the centre has opened.           

As Jai puts it, " During the lockdown we felt like we were caged inside. We wanted the centre to open soon as we were facing difficulty in understanding the work being sent by the schoolteachers. Also, they are not available to help with our doubts. It is easy to understand face to face. Now with the centre open, I can ask my doubts from sir. I am happy that the centre is open.”

Unlock 5.0 at TARA

From the end of March to September, all the staff members directly involved with the children of TARA Homes (program managers, social workers, nannies, night staff, cooks, some teachers) were residing with the children on alternate weeks but it had been exhausting to an extent. Hence, since the end of September, TARA has decided to gradually transition to a more 'normal routine'. We are gradually allowing our staff to come and go, while some of still reside with the children.

TARA also in touch with each family to nurture the bond with the kids and check on their health.

The rest of the team has been working remotely. Despite these exceptional conditions, TARA Training Centre has been able to deliver training sessions as per schedule. Overall, the sense of responsibility and ownership of each staff member is remarkable and should be acknowledged. The children of TARA Homes have also adapted rather well.

Life at TARA

Children at TARA TOTS celebrated Gandhi Jayanti with full enthusiasm and zest. 

TARA Girls turns 5!

TARA Girls opened its doors on 18^th September, 5 years ago and paved the way for young girls to find a habitat that would give them safety and security close to home. The first girl to walk in was Neerja, who is still a part of our home. A budding poet who loves the latest Korean pop and does not miss a chance to dance to Bollywood numbers, she speaks in fluent English and aspires to become an air hostess when she grows up.

This is a momentous occasion and this year; we celebrated our 5th birthday in style. We ensure that every child who enters TARA Girls finds their own window to their soul. Every girl who comes to our home is uplifted through the power of quality schooling, psychological guidance, and various extracurricular activities. “I learnt how to speak in English, I became confident and learnt many values. Earlier I was very shy and did not want to talk much because I could not speak in English. Today I can not only speak but write in English and it is my favourite subject.” says Neerja.

Like her, there are several other girls staying at our home, learning and growing up in a welcoming environment that helps them to prosper and become strong women. Success stories like Neerja’s strengthen the goals of TARA Girls and we are very happy to grow, one stepping stone at a time.

Retun of Nature: Arnav Bajoria initiative

Arnav Bajoria initiative – Return of Nature is an endeavor that has helped create new versions of learning modules for young minds. The difference, however, is that Arnav himself is still a student. An avid birder himself, he decided to conduct workshops with the children at TARA and give them tips on how to identify various bird species that commonly visit our backyards. He also gave them art supplies and stationery and asked them to recreate hand-drawn versions of the birds they saw, recognized or felt connected to. 50 children who attended 2 sessions enjoy some refreshments and snacks and received their own copy of a birding journal along with a bird identification guide. Some prizes await them in November for their journaling activities.

With Return of Nature, the children have not only found a new connection of hope with Arnav but also connected deeply with the ecological system that exists around them. Enthusiastic, and driven to work towards conserving the environment and bird species, they are now full of memorable stories on rescuing injured birds and spotting some unique ones.

The Return of Nature in aid of TARA fundraiser on GiveIndia.org currently collecting ₹1,00,000/- for the welfare of the children at TARA. Arnav’s vision for creating a harmonious and mutually productive relationship with the environment continues to grow despite the restrictions of the pandemic. He is hopeful that he will take the children for their very first bird walk during the winter and in anticipation of that has already distributed sweaters for everyone.

Arnav’s continues to document his interactions with the children and their progress over each session. The artwork that children created is under compilation, to be included in Arnav’s book scheduled for a launch by the end of the year. Crediting the young lives for their effort, creativity and talent, the earnings from the book will also put towards TARA and the children that make his book a success.

With humble hearts and eternal gratitude and joy, our Team at TARA and every child who is with us, take this opportunity to applaud Arnav for his sincerity, mindfulness and generosity.

To know more about Return of Nature, log onto their Instagram Handle.

Diwali

Diwali is an old age tradition in India that has been in the hearts of Indians for as long as we can remember. As young children, memories of Diwali meant never ending sweets, gifts, new clothes and delicious treats all over the house. The house would be decorated with lights, rangolis and diyas all over emphasizing the festival of lights. The meaning of Diwali for a child in a well-off family always meant joy all week long.

This Diwali, we are initiating our fundraiser to make sure we are able to create a more meaningful impact on young lives.

By participating in this campaign, you will help us to fundraise for our children and help them celebrate the festive season with so much joy!