Children Walking Tall - Charity In Goa

poipleshadow · Jan 23rd, 2008, 19:17

We are always 'maintaining' the house, but they are so beautiful, we get monkeys in the garden, jump on roof, break the tiles... Always fixing broken tiles, monsoon they try and keep the rain out, but doesn't always succeed... The good thing is the really high ceilings which help keeping it lovely and cool even on the hottest days...

poipleshadow · Jan 24th, 2008, 19:30

Hi All...

Everyone keeps asking to upload some photos of 'our' children, the ones we help at 'The Mango House', so I have just uploaded some of the ones from Christmas day.... I hoep you enjoy

http://www.ChildrenWalkingTall.com/Pictures.htm

Thanks

poipleshadow · Feb 10th, 2008, 10:41

Nearly ready for the newsletter... Here's a bit of a preview....

Christmas
For the past 12 months we have been collecting and saving all the toys that are given to Children Walking Tall over the year. Our aim is always to accumulate enough toys so that we can give as many children as possible a smile at Christmas. Last year we were able to hand out around 1500 wrapped Christmas presents to children across Goa and in Mumbai. This year there has been a significant drop in the number of tourists which has had a knock on effect to the number of presents received, but our aim was the same - make as many children smile as possible!

Christmas was fast approaching and the toys were moved to Roberts apartment, temporarily, renamed the ‘elf’s workshop’!, ready to be sorted and wrapped. Trying to wrap 1000+ presents is not an easy task and even harder when you want each present to give the same happiness rating (width of smile). It's never nice when you have a row of children and one or two get small presents and their neighbours receive bigger better presents. Making sure each present has the right mix of toys and organisation is the key.

The first job was to count and separate out all the different types of toys - balls, dolls, cars, hair bobbles, bags, colouring books, cuddly toys. Once we knew how many items we had there was a better idea of what we could join up to make the presents equal. We always receive a large number of cuddly toys so as a general rule every present had a cuddly toy, but the cuddly toys themselves were separated into four different sizes (small, medium, large and extra Large). A typical wrapped present included a cuddly toy, a few balloons, a doll or plastic toy, bobbles, hair clips and nail varnish for the girls. For the boys, similar with small toy cars, sun glasses or action men.

Many readers are thinking - are you mad!? - The answer, yes probably, but it does help! Thankfully we had a good team of volunteers and visitors that helped with the wrapping. The first presents wrapped were for the children we work with every day. The ones who come to The Mango house and those in the two local slums, we do try not to show any favouritism but we did have to give ‘our’ children a little extra in the presents…. A special gift to all the girls was a hand made Chudidar outfit made by Savita our accountant cum dress maker and for the boys a new pair of shoes each.

Every morning a grid of 30 to 50 presents were laid on the floor ready to be wrapped. The volunteers would then wrap and make similar presents for hours on end, we were also lucky enough to have a few visitors who gave a helping hand. - THANKYOU!

By Christmas we had wrapped 1,000 presents, and even managed to have a day or twos rest before the present giving started...

This year was the first year we had a Christmas Tree, the tree was donated by 'Ron' a friend of Shermina's, the staff and volunteers spent one evening decorating the tree and house. The final touches to the tree were given by the children who made a star each to put on the tree.

Presents were given out in slums all over Goa over the four days before Christmas and although exhausting it is always a great atmosphere and to see the smiles on the faces make it all worth while. The best way to describe this is to see the pictures on our website....

poipleshadow · Feb 11th, 2008, 20:14

I've finally finished the latest (November/December's) newsletter - yes... I know it's now February, but good things come to those who wait...

http://www.childrenwalkingtall.com/N.../2007-11-E.htm

Let me know if it's OK...

Thanks

poipleshadow · Mar 15th, 2008, 22:58

It's been a bit quiet on here recently (India Mike)... Over here in Goa it's been really busy so I thought I'd share a little with you. The huse is coming on in leaps and bounds, we have 50 children on the register although at the moment several are off due to Chicken Pox. We now have more children in the morning, usually 12 or 13 with the rest going to school. There have been some great activities and I have updated the website with a few new photos, these include American Indians (you have to see for it to make sense) and the children just posing as children do! - Hope you enjoy them... The photos are here.... http://www.ChildrenWalkingTall.com/Pictures.htm

poipleshadow · Mar 23rd, 2008, 14:37

Happy Holi to everyone!!! - For those who are interested, I have uploaded a few Holi pictures today... Enjoy www.ChildrenWalkingTall.com/Pictures.htm

Hope other people had a good Holi!

Rob

poipleshadow · Mar 24th, 2008, 09:04

Oops... there was a problem.. hope it's all working now... Do let me know what you think of them...

Thanks

Rob

poipleshadow · Mar 25th, 2008, 09:53

Has anyone noticed that the post order isn't always correct - is someone fiddling with them? - If anyone can help I would be greatful.... Thanks

Rob

poipleshadow · Mar 29th, 2008, 12:56

Salaries...

I noticed on another thread the discussion about salaries and wondered if anyone could recommend good salries for the following (all working 5 and a half days a week...)

All are

Cook / Cleaner

Social Worker

Accountant

House Parent (Lives in 24hrs)

This is for a small NGO based in Goa (us).... Any help would be greatly appreciated....

Nick-H · Mar 29th, 2008, 14:01

Shouldn't "a small NGO working in Goa" know this local knowledge already? You've been there some time, surely.

Its the sort of question that newbie ex-pats ask.

poipleshadow · Mar 29th, 2008, 20:25

Thank you for that, unfortunately everyone is always very tight lipped when it comes to salaries. I obviously know what our staff are on but I wanted to get a general idea if we were a little tight or for that matter paying our guys too much.

Salaries seem to have been increased somwhat recently and we're trying to employ a new social worker but not having much luck at the current rate.. So can you help?

jalebiwallah · Apr 3rd, 2008, 08:08

Goa and Delhi are completely different places, but the staff at the NGO where I volunteer make from 3,000 to 6,000 rupees a month. If your looking for people with University degrees I'd think it would be around 10,000 here.

poipleshadow · Apr 3rd, 2008, 09:31

Thank you for that... Can I ask what jobs the staff do for the salary range from 3000 to 6000....?

Thanks

Mar 29th, 2008, 14:01	#40
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,219	Shouldn't "a small NGO working in Goa" know this local knowledge already? You've been there some time, surely. Its the sort of question that newbie ex-pats ask. __________________ . IndiaMike Mod Team (The Grumpy One)

Apr 3rd, 2008, 09:31	#43
poipleshadow Help Where You Can... Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 124	Thank you for that... Can I ask what jobs the staff do for the salary range from 3000 to 6000....? Thanks __________________ Rob Trying to make the world a better place is really hard...

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Jan 23rd, 2008, 19:17	#31
poipleshadow Help Where You Can... Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 124	We are always 'maintaining' the house, but they are so beautiful, we get monkeys in the garden, jump on roof, break the tiles... Always fixing broken tiles, monsoon they try and keep the rain out, but doesn't always succeed... The good thing is the really high ceilings which help keeping it lovely and cool even on the hottest days...

Jan 24th, 2008, 19:30	#32
poipleshadow Help Where You Can... Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 124	Hi All... Everyone keeps asking to upload some photos of 'our' children, the ones we help at 'The Mango House', so I have just uploaded some of the ones from Christmas day.... I hoep you enjoy http://www.ChildrenWalkingTall.com/Pictures.htm Thanks

Feb 10th, 2008, 10:41	#33
poipleshadow Help Where You Can... Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 124	Nearly ready for the newsletter... Here's a bit of a preview.... Christmas For the past 12 months we have been collecting and saving all the toys that are given to Children Walking Tall over the year. Our aim is always to accumulate enough toys so that we can give as many children as possible a smile at Christmas. Last year we were able to hand out around 1500 wrapped Christmas presents to children across Goa and in Mumbai. This year there has been a significant drop in the number of tourists which has had a knock on effect to the number of presents received, but our aim was the same - make as many children smile as possible! Christmas was fast approaching and the toys were moved to Roberts apartment, temporarily, renamed the ‘elf’s workshop’!, ready to be sorted and wrapped. Trying to wrap 1000+ presents is not an easy task and even harder when you want each present to give the same happiness rating (width of smile). It's never nice when you have a row of children and one or two get small presents and their neighbours receive bigger better presents. Making sure each present has the right mix of toys and organisation is the key. The first job was to count and separate out all the different types of toys - balls, dolls, cars, hair bobbles, bags, colouring books, cuddly toys. Once we knew how many items we had there was a better idea of what we could join up to make the presents equal. We always receive a large number of cuddly toys so as a general rule every present had a cuddly toy, but the cuddly toys themselves were separated into four different sizes (small, medium, large and extra Large). A typical wrapped present included a cuddly toy, a few balloons, a doll or plastic toy, bobbles, hair clips and nail varnish for the girls. For the boys, similar with small toy cars, sun glasses or action men. Many readers are thinking - are you mad!? - The answer, yes probably, but it does help! Thankfully we had a good team of volunteers and visitors that helped with the wrapping. The first presents wrapped were for the children we work with every day. The ones who come to The Mango house and those in the two local slums, we do try not to show any favouritism but we did have to give ‘our’ children a little extra in the presents…. A special gift to all the girls was a hand made Chudidar outfit made by Savita our accountant cum dress maker and for the boys a new pair of shoes each. Every morning a grid of 30 to 50 presents were laid on the floor ready to be wrapped. The volunteers would then wrap and make similar presents for hours on end, we were also lucky enough to have a few visitors who gave a helping hand. - THANKYOU! By Christmas we had wrapped 1,000 presents, and even managed to have a day or twos rest before the present giving started... This year was the first year we had a Christmas Tree, the tree was donated by 'Ron' a friend of Shermina's, the staff and volunteers spent one evening decorating the tree and house. The final touches to the tree were given by the children who made a star each to put on the tree. Presents were given out in slums all over Goa over the four days before Christmas and although exhausting it is always a great atmosphere and to see the smiles on the faces make it all worth while. The best way to describe this is to see the pictures on our website....

Feb 11th, 2008, 20:14	#34
poipleshadow Help Where You Can... Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 124	I've finally finished the latest (November/December's) newsletter - yes... I know it's now February, but good things come to those who wait... http://www.childrenwalkingtall.com/N.../2007-11-E.htm Let me know if it's OK... Thanks

Mar 15th, 2008, 22:58	#35
poipleshadow Help Where You Can... Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 124	It's been a bit quiet on here recently (India Mike)... Over here in Goa it's been really busy so I thought I'd share a little with you. The huse is coming on in leaps and bounds, we have 50 children on the register although at the moment several are off due to Chicken Pox. We now have more children in the morning, usually 12 or 13 with the rest going to school. There have been some great activities and I have updated the website with a few new photos, these include American Indians (you have to see for it to make sense) and the children just posing as children do! - Hope you enjoy them... The photos are here.... http://www.ChildrenWalkingTall.com/Pictures.htm

Mar 23rd, 2008, 14:37	#36
poipleshadow Help Where You Can... Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 124	Happy Holi to everyone!!! - For those who are interested, I have uploaded a few Holi pictures today... Enjoy www.ChildrenWalkingTall.com/Pictures.htm Hope other people had a good Holi! Rob

Mar 24th, 2008, 09:04	#37
poipleshadow Help Where You Can... Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 124	Oops... there was a problem.. hope it's all working now... Do let me know what you think of them... Thanks Rob

Mar 25th, 2008, 09:53	#38
poipleshadow Help Where You Can... Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 124	Has anyone noticed that the post order isn't always correct - is someone fiddling with them? - If anyone can help I would be greatful.... Thanks Rob

Mar 29th, 2008, 12:56	#39
poipleshadow Help Where You Can... Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 124	Salaries... I noticed on another thread the discussion about salaries and wondered if anyone could recommend good salries for the following (all working 5 and a half days a week...) All are Cook / Cleaner Social Worker Accountant House Parent (Lives in 24hrs) This is for a small NGO based in Goa (us).... Any help would be greatly appreciated....

Mar 29th, 2008, 20:25	#41
poipleshadow Help Where You Can... Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 124	Thank you for that, unfortunately everyone is always very tight lipped when it comes to salaries. I obviously know what our staff are on but I wanted to get a general idea if we were a little tight or for that matter paying our guys too much. Salaries seem to have been increased somwhat recently and we're trying to employ a new social worker but not having much luck at the current rate.. So can you help?

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Apr 3rd, 2008, 08:08	#42
jalebiwallah maha foodie Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 58	Goa and Delhi are completely different places, but the staff at the NGO where I volunteer make from 3,000 to 6,000 rupees a month. If your looking for people with University degrees I'd think it would be around 10,000 here.