I+WE First project - Successful completion of second year

Dear Friends,

First of all, let me aplogize for not communicating timely I+We updates to you all. Life has been busy this past year with a change in jobs, relocation and a baby on the way. But, i am very happy to inform you all that we have successfully completed our second year of first project, sponsoring education to 20 kids through I+WE. 

The highlight of this year is: three of our students passed 10'th grade (SSC Examinations). As most of you know, this degree would be the basis for any higher education or for any professional job training in India. 

These three kids were able to do this feet only because of the help and support from you all. Uma and Giri have stopped attending school 2 years back, where as for Swapna, it was a gap of 4 years due to the financial inability to pay the school fees. It's only because of I+WE, they were able to come back to school and finish the most important education in their lives. It's a proud moment for not only them, but for all of us. We promised them that we will continue support for their books and other miscellaneous expenses if they continue their Intermediate education (11th and 12th grade) in public colleges. 

All other students have also completed their current grades and transferred to higher grade.s I will post their grades and progress report as soon I receive them from school.

Also, all phases of the school fee is paid regularly and the receipts are posted in Google docs. We are still waiting for final phase receipts from school and will post them in respective student-donor folders as soon as we receive them.

I would like to thank each and everyone of you for your continuous support and hope that we can collaborate successfully for many more years to come. I would also like to thank the school coordinators and I+WE program co-ordinator Sita Raju for their honest work and support to these kids and our organization.

Thank you all and have a wonderful time.

- Vani on behalf of I+WE team.

I+WE first official public address

Dear Friends,

On the day of 9-10-11 something so memorable - which I can never forget in my whole life has happened. That day, around 1800 well-wishers of my dad celebrated his career and felicitated on the eve of his retirement from government service. That day, we got the opportunity to SURPRISE my parents & family through I+WE.

It happened so wonderful! Miriam public school was kind enough to bring all the kids and we presented a special hand crafted memento to our parents. The response was tremendous! My parents said I+WE and the first project is the best gift they could ever receive.

The kids are so happy and so thankful for everyone involved in I+WE first project – Sponsoring education to kids.

Our BIG thanks to I+WE organizing members and our sponsors:

A. Vijay Babu

Bharath

D.V.V. Chaitanya

D.V.V. Surendra

K S N Murthy

K. S. C. Gupta

K. Sreekanth

M. Sai Sunil

N. Sriharigopal

Naresh & Raji

Noor (Ray) & Leah

S.J. Naidu

Saiprasad Samudrala

Sanny & Lata

Sudha Kalyan

Sunil & Shipa

T. Phanidra

Venkat Reddy

Thank you all once again!

Education Project - Year 2

Dear Friends,

It's the time of the year again. Very exciting beginning of a new school year for all I+WE kids as well as for all of the I+WE team.

We successfully completed the first year of our first project - Sponsoring education to kids. This would have never been possible with your help. Here is a quick compiled status of our kids education. Also, do checkout the detailed progress report for all the exams through out past year.

These kids need our help to continue their studies. I+WE pledged to provide studies and help them until they finish their school or college.

On behalf of everyone in the I+WE team, i humbly request you all to continue sponsoring these kids education for the current academic year 2011-2012.

The fee structure agreement with Miriam Public School for the current year is available here. I will be also sending out details of each student fee to the corresponding sponsor. Thank you all again for the trust in us and wonderful support to the noble cause.

Finally, I am very excited and honored to share some thank you drawings our kids drew for every member of I+WE.

Looking forward to a great year and can't wait to see the difference we are making together in these kids lives.

Thanks again,

Vani on behalf of I+WE team

Recent Updates

Dear Friends,

I hope you all are doing great. It's been a while we gave you any updates regarding I+WE activities. I apologize for that.

Project Kids Update:

Our school kids are doing great. They have been coming regular to the school and have been working hard towards good grades. Click Here to see the progress report of all the school kids. Progress report includes 1'st Unit, 2'nd Unit, Quarterly and 3'rd Unit marks and grades. Also, we paid the 2'nd phase fee in December. All receipts are placed in our google docs. Specific details will be sent to each and every donor.

Maartha, the nursing student has started college in Jan, 2011. Her tuition cost is sponsored by Venkat Reddy & Raji.

Chinnammadu, the tailoring student has finished training and started taking professional orders. Hersewing machine, training and materials fee is sponsored by Noor & Leah.

Winter Help:

My good friend Sunil emailed me one day about any special project we are planning for Diwali. He wants to contribute something to kids in need at the school not just specific to our project kids. As you all remember the school runs an orphanage too. After discussing with other team, we agreed that something for winter would really help the kids. I+We program coordinators Sita Raju and Vasu helped us in organizing that for us. We bought 96 blankets for all the kids in the hostel. The kids were so happy and here is a sample of one of the kids reaction:

I am filled with tears of joy after watching this picture. Thank you so much Sunil & Shilpa for coming forward with such a noble idea and made it happen.

Extra Curricular Competitions:

In the same month we are crafting Winter help event, my other good friend Venkat Reddy contacted me about an exciting idea. He wanted to see if we can conduct some competitions with prizes to encourage all kids to participate in extra curricular activities. We all know that how important extra curricular activities are. They bring each kids personality into lime light, builds confidence and broadens their ideas.

After collaborating with school team, I+We coordinators were able to conduct several competitions include games, essay writing, singing & painting. The school team encouraged all kids to participate. The winners in all categories and awarded with prizes which include hot packs, prize cups, puzzles and pens. As we never wanted any kid to be left disappointed we presented pens to each and every participant. The kids had a blast and had a nice break from regular studies. They are already asking the school team when is the next event going to be. See how excited they are -

Thank you so much Venkat Reddy for your initiative and for making this happen.

I am so blessed have friends like you all. With out your help I+We wouldn't be possible. You all brought me such an enthusiasm and inspiration to do much more like this. Special events like Winter Help and Extra Curricular Competitions show everyone how great our team spirit is. Please feel free to contact us any time for any question. We always welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Posted by Vani

I+WE Kids updates: Happy faces

Dear Friends,

It's been a while I updated you all about our I+WE first project - Sponsoring kids education. You know how a software developer's life will be in the time of big releases :-( .

I am so excited to share these beautiful pictures of I+WE kids sent by Miriam public school correspondents. Watching the BIG smile on their faces made my day.

Here is the slideshow of the kids once we took them under the wings of I+WE.

Before pictures of the kids when we toured their villages and their homes.

I always believe that pictures speak better than the words. All the credit goes to you friends. They are healthy & happy; How can I express my gratitude to you all!! You are amazing. Once again thank you, thank you and thank you so much..

We paid the first phase of the school fee. The fee receipts are sent to each donor and also placed in our google docs along with the kids pictures and 1'st unit exam progress reports. Feel free to browse through them. We really appreciate Miriam School's timely updates about the kids. Here is the fee receipt for all kids signed by the school correspondent.

We are still waiting on more updates about Maartha(Sponsored by Venkat Reddy & Raji) and Chinnammadu(Sponsored by Noor & Leah). Meanwhile I am posting all the pictures inline for you all friends reading this post in the mobile.

Anusha: Sponsored By Sanny & Lata

Giri: Sponsored By N. Sriharigopal

Jagadeesh: Sponsored By D.V.V. Surendra

Joga Rao: Sponsored By T. Phanidra

Kiran: Sponsored By Sudha Kalyan

Lavanya: Sponsored By Mohan & Nirmala

Levi: Sponsored By Bharath

Mohana Rao: Sponsored By K. S. C. Gupta

Neelima: Sponsored By K. Sreekanth

Pavan: Sponsored By Saiprasad Samudrala

Pavani: Sponsored By S.J. Naidu

Rafi: Sponsored By M. Sai Sunil

Renuka: Sponsored By D.V.V. Chaitanya

Sharmila: Sponsored By A. Vijay Babu

Srinivas: Sponsored By Naresh & Raji

Suresh: Sponsored By Tirupath Rao & Vidhyavathi

Uma Devi: Sponsored By Sunil & Shipa

Vanajakshi: Sponsored By K S N Murthy

Venkata Rathnam: Sponsored By Sudha Kalyan

No matter, how many times I see these pictures I am not getting tired of them. What about you ? :-)

--

Posted by Vani

Helping the fire victims

Dear Friends,

Thank you one and all for your quick response to the fire victims as soon as we asked for it here. We are able to raise 8000Rs and donated that to each family.

I+WE Srikakulam program coordinator giving cash to one of the families.

Also, Miriam publish school correspondents came with us and donated rice,lentils and cloths to the families. We really appreciate the school's support to the fire victims.

Urgent Call for Help

Dear Friends,

We just got to know that one of the I+WE kids home is burned down by a fire. The fire burned down not only their home but 5 other homes in the same street. The kids and other familes are lucky to be alive. They got out just in time before the fire engulfed their homes. They lost everything including food, money, cloths, books and home. We came to know about this disaster through Miriam Public School family. They event sent us these pictures to us. They consoled the fire victims personally and donated food and other items.

Before:

After:

More Pictures:

These people are in desperate need for help. We are trying to raise funds to give a new start to their life through some money per family, food and books for the kids. Please send us an email or leave a comment if you would like to help for this cause. Your donation is greatly appreciated by everyone at I+WE. Thanks you all again.

Donations:

Kalyan & Family : 50$

Venkat Reddy & Raji : 50$

Sai Prasad: 1000 Rs

Vani's Works: 50$

Together we can do anything!! Yes we are thinking..

Friends,

I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the sponsors behalf of I+WE team. Here is a quick visual reference to what happened until now for I+WE through one of my favorite video.

'Tum Chalo Hindusthan Chale..' (You go and India/World goes with you)

Written by: Gulzar

Music by: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy

Sung by: Shankar Mahadevan.

Directed by: Unknown (Any one know?)

English Translation: Uncle Cruise Blog

The concept in the video is not just for India but for the whole world.

Everything told in the video is exactly what happened with I+WE today. When we planned to start the organization, we don't have a single penny in our hands. Then through some fund raisers & art work we raised 700$ as the initial fund which is used to register I+WE as a non profit organization in USA.

We only have faith in fellow people when we started executing the first project. You showed us that we are going in the right path! With in 2 days of request for sponsoring 17 kids, we got overwhelming response from everyone. This project would never have happened with a single person(I), it was made possible only because of you all (WE).

You all let I+WE slogan heard loud through your deeds.

I+WE: when 'I' starts thinking of 'WE'

List of sponsors and kids:

Sponsor Name Student Name Education Saiprasad Samudrala Pavan Grade 1 Sanny & Lata Anusha Grade 7 K. Sreekanth Neelima Grade 1 S.J. Naidu Pavani Grade 5 A. Vijay Babu Sharmila Grade 5 M. Sai Sunil Rafi Grade 1 D.V.V. Chaitanya Renuka Grade 4 N. Sriharigopal Giri Grade 9 Sunil & Shipa Uma Devi Grade 9 Naresh & Raji Srinivas Grade 5 T. Phanidra Joga Rao Grade 2 K. S. C. Gupta Mohana Rao Grade 1 Bharath Levi Joel Nursery D.V.V. Surendra Jagadeesh Grade 1 K S N Murthy Vanajaakshi Grade 1 Venkat Reddy Maartha Nursing Noor & Leah Chinnammadu Tailoring

Thank you one and all!

**Together we can do anything! Quoted by Venky.

Posted by Vani