New Women's Group & Republic Day of India Celebrations

We have just begun a Women's Group at the school for the mother's of the children that we teach and other women in the area. We provide a place for them to meet and support each other whilst learning different skills that they can use in their lives. These women come from very poor backgrounds and most are reliant on their husbands, so with this group we aim to be able to empower them in order for them to be more independent and lead a better life.

At the moment we have started knitting and are making beanies and scarves that they can sell in order for them to make their own money. Our volunteers, Rhi and Sian Joyce from Australia, are leading the group and have bought lots of wool and needles in order for them to knit. So far the women are really enjoying this and are eager to make as many things as they can. In the future we hope for this group to grow so that we can create a network of support for this women.

Also, yesterday was the Republic Day of India so to celebrate this we took the children to a special event where they could do art and play lots of games. All the children won prizes and were smiling and laughing all day long. It was a really, really good day and we hope to take them out again soon.

Water park & Kites for Kids

Our volunteer Linda and two more volunteers we went water park time it was full of fun and amusement, after such a long long time children have taken fun in water park ... as you can see they are swiming and playing, thanks volunteers for your helping to organize these trip.

For the past few days three of our volunteers (Jim & Alyssa from Canada and Jessica from Italy) visited the slums area in Varanasi. They met a former student from our center who we are still supporting with university tuition payments. Since the classroom at our center has been slow because the children were on a winter break, we arranged for the volunteers to visit the children in their homes. The annual kite festival is less than one month away and after the children from the slums gave our volunteers a lesson in flying a kite, our volunteers said thank you by buying every child a kite. Jim, Alyssa and Jessica bought 200 kites and distributed them too all the children in the slums area. The day was full of sharing, smiles and happiness.

Varanasi charity organization

i m giving yoga training at the Yoga society top floor of children school.

children and volunteers are talking each others.

Organization girls are eating morning food at the center.

some kids with volunteers in photo shoot mood.

Children are sharing foods with volunteers Roser from Spain.

Volunteer Caroline Beaumaris from Australia is giving donation our slums boy in slums area.

At the volunteer school, the children are really committed to coming along and getting the best of English teaching available to them.
Happy, smiling, laughing children, they are a delight to work with. Our volunteers today put on a breakfast for the children which gave them a good kick start for the day.
There are two sessions daily - the morning class from 8 to 11am and the afternoon class from 3 to 6pm. They continue to be run by volunteers from all over the world; including Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and South America.

Volunteers are staying at our accommodation with friendly atmosphere.
The centre is running trips to the local slums to give volunteers an understanding of other parts of India not normally accessible to foreigners.
Today we had Caroline, our Australian volunteer distribute much needed clothing to the local boy, Jitender, the centre sponsors to attend University. He was very thankful that this will give him some quality cloths to wear at school.
We also continue to give our volunteers the best tours of Varanasi and the local areas at the best possible deals. Tonight we sent Caroline on a trip down the river Ganges to view the sunset ceremonies and the numerous Ghats.
The centre continues to give education, hope and happiness to the local children.

Accomodation and Volunteers in Varanasi

The school is continuing to run from 8-11 in the morning and 4-6 in the evening. The morning classes are much smaller than the afternoon classes as it is winter and many of the children must work during this time.

There is accomodation available for the volunteers on the first floor of the building, and breakfast and lunch is provided. The facilities available to the volunters are 24hr hot water, electricity and wifi, and a friendly atmosphere. The price of the accomodation is a donation that goes towards the running costs of the school.

Former students or members of the organisation can provide a pickup facility from the airport or train station for a fair price to ensure safe arrival.

Hindustan Times & Australian Yogis

Our Ngo group voluteering work is published in the Hindustan Times, Varanasi. Last Saturday 22 October there was a Group of 13 Yogis, As you can read also in News paper Aritcles, They are all student of Swami Saraswati, (famous Yoga Teacher, Australia) from Swami Saraswati Rejuvenation Resort, Australia.



All 13 Yogis are taking yoga class from me, They all are very good Yoga Students with good thoughts and energy.



Yoga Teacher Australia , Swami Saraswati is distributing Clothes to small kids of our school.



All Children seem very glad after getting Clothes from Australian group, as you can see in these pictures, we are thankful for this group.



Mr. Sanjay, yoga teacher from Australia is also distributing clothes to small kids, he is a young yoga teacher with positive helping thoughts.



Swami Saraswati Rejuvenation Resort students are distributing clothes and giving million dollars happiness for these helpless kids with beautiful smile.



The group is with kids and spending beautiful time for our organization.

We are in the Lonely Planet India guidebook

We have now appeared in the newest edition of the Lonely Planet India guidebook. On page 389 of the 14th edition, which was published in September you can find Saraswati Education Center, including this weblog. On page 390 Yoga Education Training Society (http://www.varanasiindiango.jimdo.com/) is also mentioned, which is connected with Saraswati Education Center.



This week two German volunteers Stefan and Julia helped preparing a healthy meal for the children: kichri (rice with lentils) and fried potato. After the meal the volunteers did all the dishes.



These days the children are coming for classes two times per day: in the morning and early evening. Nearly all of them have a job between these classes and have to go to work after school. They clean houses, help in shops, or work on the ghats selling postcards to help their family.

The children who come to the centre do not have enough money to eat well in their homes so three days a week we provide food for the children here. Volunteers help prepare and serve thali consisting of rice, dal, salad, pickle and chapati so that children can get good energy to start their day! We hope to be able to provide food everyday in the near future.

Upstairs we have a yoga studio where people from around the world come to do yoga teacher training or drop-in classes. We also have many ayurveda services and reiki healing.

Many of the children must work to provide income for their families. These girls here sell bindis and post cards and make beautiful henna designs on volunteers and other tourists' hands. Others do cleaning and servant work in wealthy households or work in shops.

One little girl, Riya, is presenting a volunteer with a necklace. All the children in the centre are laughing and having fun.