January 2010:

Fundraising campaigns during the second half of 2009

After the successful support action of the HelpAlliance and the introduction of the child support programme during the first half of the year (see News February and May 2009), many people also came forward during the second semester and helped to support the children of the Sunshine Project. The Primary School Falkenstein organised a Sunshine Bazaar for the benefit of the children, which was outstanding in terms of commitment and creativity. Waffles were home-baked, friendship bracelets were tied, amber chains were threaded, bindis were sold and last but not least, Bollywood dancing was learnt and performed. Even the website (www.grundschule-falkenstein-taunus.de) and the press information were professionally organised by staff and parents.
	Such great dedication can only be rewarded with success: A proud sum of 1107 Euro was collected, which will be used to finance new English teachers for the children for one whole year. The school pupils of the Falkenstein School had the wonderful idea to paint a large canvas with the logo of the Sunshine Project, including signatures of all their children. It was framed and now hangs in our classroom, reminding us of all the little and big friends we now have in Falkenstein. In return, our children painted the same image with their signatures and have sent it to Germany. We trust that this newly founded German-Indian friendship will continue for a long time and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all primary school pupils, parents and teachers for this unique initiative!
Another charity action was organised by Maarit Cremer-Seibel, who also sponsors one of the children of the Sunshine Project. Under the theme "Everybody needs a guardian angel", she called in befriended artists to design and to donate art objects relating to this theme. There were painted angels on canvas, angels as candle holders, angels printed on bags, embroidered angels on T-shirts and angel dolls. We received the entire proceeds of this initiative, and we are thankful for the commitment and are thrilled by such creativity. Manuel Grebing (also child sponsor) and his wife Susanne asked their guests for a donation for the project at their wedding ceremony. From the proceeds we were able to buy warm knitwear for the children for the cold season. Here again our sincere thanks for this kind gesture. This winter was exceptionally cold and the jerseys etc. were a great help! Around Christmas, charity events were reported to us almost daily:
	There was a "Charity Baking" function, organised by the Claridges Hotel in Faridabad (www.claridges-hotels.com). While the children were cutting cookies and were taken on a guided tour around the large-scale kitchen, the mothers were given a culinary treat. The participation fee of 20 Euro per child was fully donated to the project. We would like to thank for this initiative and we sincerely hope that this event will be repeated in the next Christmas season and will again attract numerous children.
	Also at our home (Julia and Ecki Hillebrecht) a baking event was held with 17 children. The dough and the decorations were donated and Kuku sewed take-home cookie bags in Christmas style. In order to cope with the large amount of cookies, several baking ovens were borrowed from the mothers.
	After Christmas the proceeds of this event, which came from a voluntary donation of the mothers of the 17 children, were used to organise a bus trip with all the Sunshine Kids to the planetarium of Delhi. Events like these prove that a great deal can be achieved without excessively exerting oneself!
The German School of New-Delhi (www.dsnd.de) donated warm blankets, one for each child. On the 6th of December, the children each received a chocolate St. Nicholas. Especially the warm blankets were very needed for during this cold winter. We would like to express our sincere thanks to the German School for considering us each year when their donation funds are distributed.
	The German Embassy of New-Delhi (www.new-delhi.diplo.de) requested all German children who attended the St. Nicholas' day celebration at the embassy to bring along an extra present, so that the Sunshine Kids would also have a Christmas gift to unwrap. So, many big sacks were filled with presents which could later given to thrilled and delighted children. Many thanks to all children of the German community in Delhi – you have really brought happiness to the Sunshine children!
Silvio Mondello, sponsor of two children and at all times a very generous donor, organised a men's evening before Christmas, at which each guest had to deposit a one hundred Euro note on the table. Since Silvio took care of the food bill for the evening, he could determine what the donated money was to be used for. Fourteen men were treated to dinner by Silvio, so you can easily work out how much money was given to us! Silvio – you are great!! Many many thanks – and you even went and doubled the sum of this generous donation from your own pocket! We are still considering which purpose we would like this money to be used for, we will keep you updated....
We know of several donors who requested their clients to consider the project cause in their annual Christmas letter. Some of them, rather than practising the traditional distribution of Christmas presents to their clients, donated money to the project instead. In many Christmas emails, referrals to the Sunshine project were made. Here we would like to share with you a particularly lovely mail which was sent by Claudia Menges to her clients.

We would like to thank those who have initiated such letters, but we are also appreciative of all clients who have sympathised with the project and who have had forego their Christmas presents.

Last but not least, a very big thank you goes to all the people who have considered us in the Christmas season, and who have been so generous.

Unfortunately, due to the corruption in the Indian postage system, several Christmas parcels sent from Germany did not arrive at all, or Kuku had to bribe the mail man in order to receive parcels. For the future we recommend that only letters are to be sent by post and that money should be best transferred separately via bank account. If you send us an email stating the sum and name of the child, we will gladly purchase a present on your behalf. We will inform all child sponsors about this in a separate mail.

Towards the end of the month, all responsibility bearers of the Sunshine Project will come together in order to discuss the best use for donated money. Of course we will keep you updated...

Thank you Thank you Thank you!

November 2009:

Launch of our Homepage!

We are happy and proud to be able to present a platform for our wonderful Sunshine Project, starting from this month onwards.

Since we wanted to connect the launch of the homepage with the appeal for funds for christmas 2009, everything had to fall in place very fast, while of course remaining cost-effective.

We hope that you like our homepage all the same.

Although we are no computer professionals, we have all thoroughly enjoyed working for this site.

Since we are newcomers on this field, we would appreciate positive as well as negative feedback. Under the category "guest book" you may write down the things you like, or those that you feel have been neglected. Also, we are always thankful for any ideas on how go about receiving new donations.

If the guest book is a little too public for your liking, feel welcome to write an email to juliahillebrecht@yahoo.de

Many thanks for your feedback!

September 2009:

The swine flue reaches India – we react!

As the spreading of the influenza virus H1N1 would have had disastrous effects on our after-school care centre, we have taken prophylactic measures: The temperature of each child will be measured daily before entering the facilities. In addition, the children must wash and disinfect their hands before coming in. For this purpose, an ear thermometer as well as large quantities of disinfecting agent were purchased.

In the case of a raised temperature, the child will be taken to the doctor who will take a throat swab, testing for influenza A. Only if the test shows a positive, a blood test for H1N1 will be carried through, since this is very costly. Furthermore, a thorough briefing with the respective family regarding hygiene and quarantine will be conducted.

We hope that these measures will help to keep this disease far away from our children.

August 2009:

On the 22nd of August, it was once again time:

Kuku and Priti Arora celebrate the birthday of their 110 Sunshine Kids

For us a matter of course, but for the Sunshine Kids an extraordinary event: to celebrate their birthday with friends and even to receive gifts.

Hardly any of the children know their actual birth date. Kuku and Priti Arora had therefore decided a couple of years ago that the Sunshine Kids would all have a special celebration day on the 22nd of August of each year (this being the birthday of their son Kabir). Due to generous donations, we were not only able to surprise the children with substantial food, sweets, ice cream and balloons, but could also arrange a proper party including a clown, a magician and a fake tattoo artist.

There was plenty of laughing, dancing and singing – everywhere, laughing and happy children were to be seen. When it was time to go home in the evening, every child received a box of food to take home for a little celebration with their own family. A prettily wrapped birthday gift was also included of course.

The Sunshine Project would like to say thank you to all people who have enriched this day by donating money and goods, or taking part in the celebration.

May 2009:

Launch of the Child Sponsorship Programmeme!

An idea, first expressed by one of our sponsors (many thanks to Elisabeth Friebe), is now taking shape.

Within weeks,110 child sponsors were found, supporting the project’s fixed costs through their monthly membership fee of 15 €.

Please read more on this topic under the category "child sponsorship programme".

February 2009:

The Lufthansa HelpAlliance supports our Project with an incredible sum of 14.354 €!!!

From this generous gift, a new kitchen, two toilets, a washbasin and a shower cabin could be constructed. (see the changes in the Picture Gallery )

Due to repeated power failures in Delhi, the room in which the children had to stay often reached 50° C. This problem was solved by the purchase of an emergency back-up generator for fans, lights and the water-based cooler.

All children were equipped with new satchels, school uniform shoes (compulsory in India), and the school stocked up on stationary sufficient for one year.

Furthermore, several computers and a printer were purchased. In order to acquaint the children with their use, the HelpAlliance took over the costs for a 6-month computer course.

The childrens‘ health is for us a concern of the heart. The donation also allowed for a first thorough medical check-up of the children by a paediatrician.

We would like to use this space to express most sincere thanks for the generous support and the wonderful cooperation we have experienced from the HelpAlliance. No words can describe how much the donation has helped in sparing suffering for the children!!