One of the easiest ways to support our efforts would be to contribute to the daily material needs of the children we are currently supporting across 3 orphanages in Bangalore. We have compiled a list of the regular requirements. Donors are free to contribute any of these things as per their convenience. The material can be reached to our new office at:
Monday, February 13, 2012
Thursday, May 5, 2011
How long does the sponsorship last?
The Orphan Sponsorship Scheme is a long term programme that will continue until each orphan becomes self sufficient. We do not wish to place time limits and of course we cannot do that. As long as our children requires help and support, we will continue to run the scheme. Our aim is to help each child to obtain a descent education so that they are armed with qualification and find good stable jobs and support themselves.
In order to escape this cycle of deprivation, we need constant support of our donors.
In order to escape this cycle of deprivation, we need constant support of our donors.
All Ideas as to how to leap over this cycle of deprivation and how to be with our donor over this period of time is welcome.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
How are children selected for the child sponsorship scheme?
Saviors of Souls select those children that are most in need of financial support. However, donors can either select a specific orphan that are shown on our website or they can make a random donation and let us decide which child needs assistance. We do not base our decisions on gender but more importantly our decisions are based on immediate need and current circumstance.
We work on a priority checklist and therefore the most urgent cases take precedence. For example age, current family support, poverty levels, current health levels of the child and current arrangements with our partner organizations are key factors that determine the level of urgency. Children that take higher precedence are those that have little or no family support, are very young, need immediate medical attention or sustained medical attention as in the case of juvenile diabetics and have no shelter.
We work on a priority checklist and therefore the most urgent cases take precedence. For example age, current family support, poverty levels, current health levels of the child and current arrangements with our partner organizations are key factors that determine the level of urgency. Children that take higher precedence are those that have little or no family support, are very young, need immediate medical attention or sustained medical attention as in the case of juvenile diabetics and have no shelter.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
How is the money distributed?
Your sponsorship donations will be used to provide food, clothing, medical care, and adequate shelter to your chosen child or the neediest child. Saviors of Souls’ ethos is to spend donor’s contributions wisely and to evenly distribute the funds so that the child receives care in order of precedence. The most vital being food, clean water, and shelter. As long as the child is receiving food 3 times a day, has access to clean drinking water, and basic shelter then we have met our primary set of objectives. Many orphans have to sleep in slum or dangerous areas where their life is at risk or dignity of life is at risk. During rainy seasons or winter, the child risks illnesses such as pneumonia, fever etc. It is also completely unfair for young children to sleep rough especially on hard footpaths and without any clean blankets. With this in mind, Saviors of Souls has made it a priority to spend the donor’s contribution to provide clean blankets and a descent bed under a secure roof.
The second order of precedence is to make sure the child has not just adequate education, but an education that can give life of normalcy. Education is the only way we can take these orphans out of poverty and give them a hope at life. By providing the right quality of education at a young age, we can equip the children with the right tools to excel in life.
Saviors of Souls believes that the welfare of orphans or semi-orphans should not have any time constraint. Each child needs careful attention, continuous and careful monitoring, and watchful guidance in every aspect of his or her daily life. We cannot walk away from our responsibility of looking after each and every orphan until they grow up and become self-sustainable.
The Sponsor a Child Scheme is a long-term programme with only one goal - to help make each orphan achieve a good standard of education, good health, and a secure and happy future. And until we do not reach this goal for each orphan, we shall continuously dedicate our time and spend your contributions wisely to attain this goal.
The second order of precedence is to make sure the child has not just adequate education, but an education that can give life of normalcy. Education is the only way we can take these orphans out of poverty and give them a hope at life. By providing the right quality of education at a young age, we can equip the children with the right tools to excel in life.
Saviors of Souls believes that the welfare of orphans or semi-orphans should not have any time constraint. Each child needs careful attention, continuous and careful monitoring, and watchful guidance in every aspect of his or her daily life. We cannot walk away from our responsibility of looking after each and every orphan until they grow up and become self-sustainable.
The Sponsor a Child Scheme is a long-term programme with only one goal - to help make each orphan achieve a good standard of education, good health, and a secure and happy future. And until we do not reach this goal for each orphan, we shall continuously dedicate our time and spend your contributions wisely to attain this goal.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
WHY ME? WHY NOW? WHAT FOR?
OUR MISSION
The methods used to accomplish our vision is to network with people across the globe to fund and support Saviors of Souls' activities in finding and nurturing orphaned and abandoned children who otherwise would have no hope or future.
WHY ME?
Saviors of Souls is a Non Profit organization with no “major” source of income. We do not receive nor do we solicit assistance from major non-profit entities. Rather we ask individual people to network with us and become part of our mission. We ask you to take up our vision with us and become personally involved in the lives of the children. In doing so you become directly involved in the health, welfare, continual growth and nurturing of the child. Without individual support and involvement from you and others like you, so many of the children who’s lives have been impacted and changed by Saviors of Souls would still be out there somewhere, lost, with no hope for their future.
WHY NOW?
Saviors of Souls' commitment to children in need is one of long duration. Each day we are faced with decisions regarding the acceptance of new children. Many of them are completely healthy. Others need immediate medical treatment, often not available in the areas we work. In each case we find the limitation on our ability to help comes from a lack of secured funding to cover the added costs of new children. There is no better time than “NOW” to become personally involved in the life of a needy child to bring hope and happiness where there was none.
WHAT FOR?
First of all, all administrators and special care givers at Saviors of Souls are self supported. This means that all donated funds for the children or special projects goes to it’s designated purpose on a 100% basis. Your donation will be used to cover all of the expenses involved in the child’s life and well being whether it be for food or medicine… education costs or needed surgery… playground equipment or utility costs… clothing or special activities for the children.
By you being involved, you will be part of the progressive growth of a child and a Soul Savior.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Our Unexpected Soul Savior
Today I walked into a medical stores, not aware of what is its name or who runs it, to place our small dump box. I as usual requested to talk to the owner. A young man in his late 20's came to talk to me over the counter and asked me "regarding what that I wished to talk to the owner..." And me thinking that this was another usual shop owner, introduced myself and told him that " I am from an organization called Saviors of Souls, helping some orphan children with their education and food. I am here to request you to grant us permission to place our small dump box in your establishment so that some customer who are moved by our purpose would drop in coins for us".
The owner asked me a couple of questions as to who we were and how we work and where our children are and so on.
He was so moved that our organization has only volunteers and all the money that is collected goes directly to the children, that he immediately told me that he wanted to do more than just give permission to place the dump box.
He immediately called his family and spoke to them and he told me "look Mr. Arun I will allow you to place this dump box here in our establishment and also I will give free drugs (which ever is available with us) or charge very nominally for costly drugs to all the children and to all the people that come to our store with a prescription that has the seal of your organization."
I was so stunned by the words of Mr. Chetan Jain (Ofcourse I immediately asked for his good name) that I was dumb found. I had no words and I did not know what to say to this wonderful person with a heart of gold.
In one stroke with his compassion, Mr Chetan Jain, has solved the problem of many of our kids and their caretakers with regards to their medical treatment.
I have always wonder whether god had stopped making men with a heart of gold and if he has made them then they are all on television.
Today after meeting Mr. Chetan Jain and his sister, I must say my faith in god has restored and that he is still making "SAVIORS" who are looking out to save souls.
The owner asked me a couple of questions as to who we were and how we work and where our children are and so on.
He was so moved that our organization has only volunteers and all the money that is collected goes directly to the children, that he immediately told me that he wanted to do more than just give permission to place the dump box.
He immediately called his family and spoke to them and he told me "look Mr. Arun I will allow you to place this dump box here in our establishment and also I will give free drugs (which ever is available with us) or charge very nominally for costly drugs to all the children and to all the people that come to our store with a prescription that has the seal of your organization."
I was so stunned by the words of Mr. Chetan Jain (Ofcourse I immediately asked for his good name) that I was dumb found. I had no words and I did not know what to say to this wonderful person with a heart of gold.
In one stroke with his compassion, Mr Chetan Jain, has solved the problem of many of our kids and their caretakers with regards to their medical treatment.
I have always wonder whether god had stopped making men with a heart of gold and if he has made them then they are all on television.
Today after meeting Mr. Chetan Jain and his sister, I must say my faith in god has restored and that he is still making "SAVIORS" who are looking out to save souls.
One Wonderful Soul Saving Story
THE BRICK
A young executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new car. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the car's side door!
He slammed on the brakes and backed the car back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, 'What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?'
The young boy was apologetic. 'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the brick because no one else would stop...' With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my brother,' he said, 'he rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.' Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.' Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay.
'Thank you and may God bless you,' the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the car. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message:
'DON'T GO THROUGH LIFE SO FAST THAT SOMEONE HAS TO THROW A BRICK AT YOU TO GET YOUR ATTENTION'
God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts!.
Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.
Guess it is NOW! the right time to listen to all those souls crying out for help.
A young executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new car. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the car's side door!
He slammed on the brakes and backed the car back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, 'What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?'
The young boy was apologetic. 'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the brick because no one else would stop...' With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my brother,' he said, 'he rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.' Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.' Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay.
'Thank you and may God bless you,' the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the car. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message:
'DON'T GO THROUGH LIFE SO FAST THAT SOMEONE HAS TO THROW A BRICK AT YOU TO GET YOUR ATTENTION'
God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts!.
Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.
Guess it is NOW! the right time to listen to all those souls crying out for help.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Try to bring a smile on the face a distressed little soul
FACE IT
Life is a balancing act between work, relationships, parental duties, staying fit, academic efforts, maintaining friendships, personal fulfillment,working towards our dream, and many more activities. We all know that the list is endless. It is a wonder most of us can even find time to catch our breath. Yet we soldier forward with all our obligations and commitments because we have to, and in most cases, we want to. But when life gets so hectic and the stress of it all impacts our mental and physical well-being, it's time to take action.
There are millions of gurus on this planet who can tell you a million ways to de-stress and make yourself happy.
Somehow I feel you can try one of this action as the saying goes -
"I was complaining that i did not have a wonderful pair of shoes till I found a man with no legs".
We have to let go of all the grind and the problem of our lives for a short while and try to see if we can make a difference in somebody else's life, and of course you do not have to spend any money for it. Believe me, It definitely gives a wonderful sense of joy. In the process of giving joy to others, you to will get a much needed break from all the tough grind which has become a part of your life.
Try this....make your life as well as the life of other a joy to live... and it is easy...all you have to do is take the first step
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
DON'T WE ALL
I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had just come from the car wash and was waiting for my friend to get out of work. Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum. From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money. There are times when you feel generous but there are other times that you just don't want to be bothered. This was one of those "don't want to be bothered times."
"I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought. He didn't. He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop but he didn't look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus.
After a few minutes he spoke. "That's a very pretty car," he said. He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. I said, "thanks," and continued wiping off my car.
He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never came. As the silence between us widened something inside said, "ask him if he needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes" but I held true to the inner voice, which I do sometimes though not too often.
"Do you need any help?" I asked.
He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget. We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from those of higher learning and accomplishments (Cos for me only somebody with some great qualification and following only can offer me wisdom, and my friend, arathi will vouch for that).
I expected nothing but an outstretched grimy hand. He spoke the three words that shook me.
"Don't we all?" he said.
I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a bum in the street, until those three words hit me like a 10-kg hammer.
Don't we all?
I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed help. Those three little words still ring true.
No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have accomplished, you need help too.
No matter how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can give help.
Even if it's just a compliment, you can give that. You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all. They are waiting on you to give them what they don't have. A different perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite from daily chaos, that only you through a torn world can see. Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets. Maybe he was more than that.
Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and wise, to minister to a soul too comfortable in themselves.
Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, then said, "go minister to that egoist arrogant man cleaning the car, that man needs help."
Don't we all?
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Wishing you a wonderful New Year
We wish you
Health.
So you may
enjoy each
day in comfort.
We wish you
the
Love of friends and family.
We wish you the Beauty of nature.
We wish you Wisdom to choose priorities.
We wish you Generosity so you may share.
All good things that come to you.
We wish you Happiness and Joy.
And Blessings for the New Year
We wish you the best of everything...That you so well deserve.
HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIENDS!
Nice Story to live our life
The Wisdom Of Sharing Stone Soup
There are many variations on the story of stone soup, but they all involve a traveler coming into a town. The inhabitants try to discourage the traveler from staying, fearing he wants them to give him food. They tell him in no uncertain terms that there's no food anywhere to be found. The traveler explains that he doesn't need any food and that, in fact, he was planning to make a soup to share with all of them. The villagers watch suspiciously as he builds a fire and fills a cauldron with water. With great ceremony, he pulls a stone from a bag, dropping the stone into the pot of water. He sniffs the brew extravagantly and exclaims how delicious stone soup is. As the villagers begin to show interest, he mentions how good the soup would be with just a little cabbage in it. A villager brings out a cabbage to share. This episode repeats itself until the soup has cabbage, carrots, onions, and beets-indeed, a substantial soup that feeds everyone in the village.
This story addresses the human tendency to hoard in times of deprivation. When resources are scarce, we pull back and put all of our energy into self-preservation. We isolate ourselves and shut out others. As the story of stone soup reveals, in doing so, we often deprive ourselves and everyone else of a feast.
This metaphor plays out beyond the realm of food. We hoard ideas, love, and energy, thinking we will be richer if we keep to them to ourselves, when in truth we make the world, and ourselves, poorer whenever we greedily stockpile our reserves. The traveler was able to see that the villagers were holding back, and he had the genius to draw them out and inspire them to give, thus creating a spread that none of them could have created alone.
Are you like one of the villagers, holding back? If you come forward and share your gifts, you will inspire others to do the same. The reward is a banquet that can nourish many.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Come together
All the people as humans have a knack for coming together and rising up to the fullest of our potential in the face of a tragedy. Natural disasters and acts of violence bring us out of our small selves and into the world, ready to lend a hand to those in need. But the question is should we wait for something bad or tragic to happen to come together?This experience, of coming together for a cause, is often life-changing for those who are willing to step into the position of helper or a Savior. We feel as if we are finally doing something really important, and this leads us to feeling more self-actualized.
We feel more connected to the people we are helping, as well as more connected to humanity in general. As we expand beyond the boundaries of our individualistic and take a peek outside our pursuit of happiness, there can be a complete paradigm shift. We often find that it is much easier to be happy as well as make other lives better when we are motivated in an effort to make the world better in tangible ways, by being there for those who are suffering.
Considering the many benefits of this kind of gesture, it is surprising that many of us don't devote our lives or at least some portion of our time (at least on the weekends or once in a month) to serving those in need. We don't have to wait for a tragedy to come together and offer ourselves to the world in service. Sometimes it's easier, of course, to respond to an event that has just happened rather than to ongoing problems like homelessness, poverty, and illness. But the truth of this world is that there is always someone in need of our best efforts to rally a group of helpers and Saviors. Maybe we feel discouraged because these smaller acts and gestures don't generate the same kind of energy and attention from other people as heroic acts in the face of immediate disaster, and perhaps an effort to change this is one way to change the world.
The more we promote, appreciate and inspire humanitarian efforts in the world, the more others will be drawn to this kind of work.
We might pay a little less attention to sports and celebrity gossip and a little more attention to those everyday heroes, SOUL SAVIORS who devote their lives, time, and money to alleviating suffering.
The more attention we pay, the more we will inspire others and ourselves to be of service in a world that greatly needs our attention to save little souls.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Let's Take Care of Ourselves
This week has been particularly hard for me due to family health upsets, and i have really spread myself too thin. I suddenly realized today that if I do not take better care of me, no one will get to even see me soon and at same time was thinking that most of us are like this or going through the same kind of grind.
So it is time now to take a pledge to take care of the ONE PERSON we can actually Do something about -YOU.
So take care of you, eat healthy, sleep well, play with your pets, spend some time with kids, smell the flowers, breathe in the fresh air, walk in the rain, kiss a grandparent, smile at a perfect stranger (guys watch out on this on), and take a moment to be GRATEFUL.
Coming back to office with a Tuesday blue, dont worry-- This too shall pass
Enjoy
So it is time now to take a pledge to take care of the ONE PERSON we can actually Do something about -YOU.
So take care of you, eat healthy, sleep well, play with your pets, spend some time with kids, smell the flowers, breathe in the fresh air, walk in the rain, kiss a grandparent, smile at a perfect stranger (guys watch out on this on), and take a moment to be GRATEFUL.
Coming back to office with a Tuesday blue, dont worry-- This too shall pass
Enjoy
Monday, October 19, 2009
Festival of Lights - victory of good over the evil within an individual
I live in Bengaluru, capital of Karnataka, the Silicon Valley, the city of dreams, the capital of IT industry, etc. It is also the place where the people have enough money to live luxurious life.
Every Diwali there is a fire cracker bazaar setup where everyone comes from the neighborhood to buy crackers. As there are local children who buy stuff along with their parents, there are some other children who also come to this bazaar. What do they do in this bazaar? THEY BEG. They beg right there in the bazaar from everybody on the occasion which everybody celebrates to “quell the darkness of their lives” festival. All this begging for what – “just to burst a few crackers at the end of the day and to have a feeling that they too belong to this society.”
They are not the only children in this one particular bazaar who beg, there are countless number of such children in our Bengaluru like them.
I always think about their future. I wonder who will light the light of happiness in the life of these kids.
I do not know what they will become when they grow up; will they grow up to be full-time beggars, a criminal, a terrorist, a jailbird, or god alone knows what. Our future depends in some way on the future of these children.
I do not know how much or in what way but I want to change their future, my future, our future, and most definitely the future our Bengaluru. So I think I should start I guess by asking you all to PLEASE HELP THEM.
Every Diwali there is a fire cracker bazaar setup where everyone comes from the neighborhood to buy crackers. As there are local children who buy stuff along with their parents, there are some other children who also come to this bazaar. What do they do in this bazaar? THEY BEG. They beg right there in the bazaar from everybody on the occasion which everybody celebrates to “quell the darkness of their lives” festival. All this begging for what – “just to burst a few crackers at the end of the day and to have a feeling that they too belong to this society.”
They are not the only children in this one particular bazaar who beg, there are countless number of such children in our Bengaluru like them.
I always think about their future. I wonder who will light the light of happiness in the life of these kids.
I do not know what they will become when they grow up; will they grow up to be full-time beggars, a criminal, a terrorist, a jailbird, or god alone knows what. Our future depends in some way on the future of these children.
I do not know how much or in what way but I want to change their future, my future, our future, and most definitely the future our Bengaluru. So I think I should start I guess by asking you all to PLEASE HELP THEM.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Face of An Angel
All of us have seen those beautiful little faces with the eyes of an angel. We have seen them on all the hoardings, on the back of some products, pictures on some government program handouts, and also we have seen them even on posters at the post office.
Every time I find myself saying “Thank God that’s not my child”. I am sure most people do this too, but is it enough?
Isn’t there something more we can do? Isn’t there some way we can help? Help get the word out, make others aware of these children.
Every time I find myself saying “Thank God that’s not my child”. I am sure most people do this too, but is it enough?
Isn’t there something more we can do? Isn’t there some way we can help? Help get the word out, make others aware of these children.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Wishing Everybody A Very Happy Diwali
May the festival of lights be the harbinger of joy and prosperity. As the holy occasion of Diwali is here and the atmosphere is filled with the spirit of mirth and love, here's hoping this festival of beauty brings your way, bright sparkles of contentment and peace, that stay with you through the days ahead.
Best wishes on Diwali.
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