|
Christmas was celebrated in style at all of our projects. Here's a snapshot of some of them.
Priceless in Bangalore
In Bangalore we wanted to show women and children who have been denied their childhood that they are precious, and help them to believe that a good future is possible. We provided entertainment, dinner and presents for some 800 women and children who stay in government homes. These homes are for those who have been victims of trafficking or have run away from home.
‘Through the programme we wanted to demonstrate that every child is a priceless gift. These children have had childhood denied to them, and we wanted to give them a chance to enjoy themselves and to have hope for a bright future,’ says Anita Kanaiya, Oasis India city director in Bangalore.
In the morning Oasis staff visited the various homes, personally handing out gifts. In the evening everyone gathered together for a ‘Celebration of hope.’ The entrance was lit with light bulbs and theater professionals set up the stage. Guests included pastors, government officials and even a film director! Our executive director John Nonhebel and other Oasis staff also attended.
The children and young people performed songs, dances and sketches. The highlight was a very professional  performance of the Pied Piper, performed by the children and directed by Mr. C Lakshamana, director of Rangakahale Creations, who has written and directed many plays. The program was followed by dinner in partnership with Adonai church.
Drama and dance in Mumbai
Singing, drama and, of course, chicken biryani characterized the Christmas celebrations at the Aruna halfway home. The girls who stay here have been rescued from prostitution and at the halfway home they receive counseling, skills training and most importantly love, before being helped to find work and accommodation elsewhere. Staff past and present joined the girls.
The Aruna staff deserve an Oscar nomination (best comedy section) for their drama about a girl who contemplated suicide after her dreams of being Miss India were cruelly dashed. Thankfully she also learnt the value of life. For a story with a serious message, it generated a lot of laughter! The girls also performed a song, which they’d learn some dance moves for. Afterwards the girls looked after their guests well, serving cakes and crisps.
Christmas fever also gripped the Dnyaneshwer Nagar slum community in Bandra, Mumbai. All the community groups got involved. In the morning the pre-school children performed songs and a drama to an audience of staff and proud parents then we gave out toys and water bottles.
In the evening the young people who come to our centre for extra tuition put on a show for the community. Again we gave out Christmas presents to the children. Some people went away disappointed as there was not enough space in our centre for everyone to get in. Those who did manage to get a space however, really enjoyed it. The vocational training centre was decorated with Christmas lights and balloons for their lively Christmas celebration. One of the highlights of the party was the dance and drama performed by the students from the training centre. After a dinner of chicken biryani the students all received a bag as a Christmas gift.
Project coordinator Andy Cheng says, ‘We all enjoyed having food and fellowship together. It was a wonderful Christmas celebration and we all enjoyed it!’
Lights, camera, action!
After months of preparation, rehearsals, costume planning and last minute panics, hush descended over the hall as the lights dimmed. Music blasted out and 8 girls burst onto the stage for the first act of the evening. It was the start of the annual Christmas show at Purnata Bhavan, and the audience – made up of locals, Oasis staff and teachers from the local school – was in for a treat.
Purnata Bhavan is a home for women and children who are living with HIV or have been affected by HIV in some way, such as the death of a parent. Here they live in family units and can receive health care, education, counseling and skills training.
'The children had invited their friends from the local village for the festive program. As they poured in all of us staff wondered how we would possibly fit all these children inside and feed them afterwards. Looking at the gleam of joy in the children's eyes we were persuaded to make it happen. Each child had a seat, and somehow the chicken biryani fed all. It was a night of miracles and a night that the kids got to share with their friends their talents and their love for the baby in the manger. All of us were impacted by the children's hospitality.' said Bethany Wolf, one of the house parents at the home.
The centre piece of the evening was a play put on by the children about the importance of small acts of kindness. The sets were beautifully made and diligent practicing of lines paid off. There was a part for everyone, including one little girl who has HIV and was so small and undernourished when she arrived at Purnata Bhavan the doctors were worried she might not survive. She was, quite literally, the star of the show, walking shyly and proudly onto stage in a bright star costume.
After the entertainment there were snacks outside and fireworks provided plenty of oohs and aahs.
|
