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 Sharing the Gift of Imagination
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| bookwallah adventures | April 2011, Issue 3 |
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Greetings!
We are now officially 1 year and 3 months old! Last year, we focused on building our foundation- established ourselves as a corporation, became a 501(c)(3), visited over 20 orphanages in the countries of India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Jamaica. We carefully assessed needs, developed processes, and created more holistic programs to provide the most value to the children who live in orphanages. This year, we are moving forward with implementing our three programs: Bookwallah Library, Reading Rug, and Reading Services with the orphanages visited and approved to date.
During the course of our journey, we encountered individuals who asked us why should they care about children who live in other parts of the world. How is Bookwallah helping children here in United States. Jane Lawrence and her daughters, avid fans of Bookwallah (their words!), explain it best below.
We want to thank Chetan and Karin Ghai, Speciality Events & Travel, and all those helped us raise $13,000 at our first semi-formal March 11! We are now confidently moving forward with several projects as a result. So, THANK YOU for your support!
Please join us - Bookwallah is one of the charities represented in NPR's Global Activism Expo on April 30. We also have a weeklong event May 30-June 5: Over 90 Chicago artists, musicians, and performers are donating their time and talent to raise money for Bookwallah at Chicago's Nothin' Less Coffee House. This is an incredible effort around one cause in honor of International Children's Day.
As always, please support and feel free to share your ideas with us. There are 143 million orphans in the world who are waiting for Bookwallah!
Warm regards,
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| bookwallah buddy program- conduit for global awareness |
 | | The Lawrence Ladies of Chicago, IL |
The Bookwallah Buddy program is a way for schools & classrooms in the United States to connect with orphan children around the world through the giving and receiving of books and letters. We revisit the classrooms after we distribute the books and letters to share photos, videos, thank you letters from the children of the orphanages. Jane Lawrence and her children Saba and Emery describe their experience.
"Books are a valuable commodity at our house. We have shelves and shelves of them that have been purchased with allowance at garage sales, swapped at school and received as gifts. My daughters, Saba and Emery now age eight, had a collection of books before they were even born. The volumes have increased exponentially as their interests and abilities have developed. From Good Night Moon to Harry Potter, they have created their own worlds of make-believe, magic and mystery through the pictures and words of their books.
After the introduction of Bookwallah in their classroom at school, my girls found a way to to give something they value to others - others not given the same advantages that they were given. Saba says "I think Bookwallah is important because children that never had books can finally have some to read and take care of for themselves. That's a really big accomplishment."
Emery also has a strong attachment to Bookwallah. She explains, "Bookwallah is a special organization, and I feel really good when I give books to these children. They don't have books like we do, and they don't have mothers and fathers to read to them like we do either. I would gladly give them more than books, which are my favorite things. I am glad to give them to kids who really need them."
As a conduit for global awareness and an opportunity for youngsters to establish an early sense of philanthropy, Bookwallah opened a big door for my children and opened many "pages" to others. Hats off to Bookwallah for creating a pathway for my children to have an impact on children in other lands. A truly wonderful, easy way to help others! - Jane Kenyon Lawrence, Mother of Saba and Emery Lawrence, avid fan of Bookwallah. Listen to Saba and Emery in a Bookwallah- Radio Disney interview.
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| more bookwallah projects underway... | |
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| | Area to be used in Rainbow Girl's Home |
Rainbow Girl's Home (Hyderabad, India)
This space will be converted in the next couple of months into a comfortable, cozy reading area for the girls that reside in this orphanage It will hold an estimated 300 storybooks and chapter books. There are. approximately 117 girls ranging between 8-15 years old. All of them are from various backgrounds including abandonment and abuse. Reading Services will be implemented with 60 of the girls, with the help of M.A.D. volunteers. Progress of the children will be reported in the next six months and year.
Please email Shilpa Nambiar if you are interested in volunteering or donating your skiills and talent in India.
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| | Teenage Girls at Nurul Yasmin Orphanage |
Nurul Yasmin Orphanage (Yogyakarta, Indonesia)
Nurul Yasmin is managed by Mrs Giyanti and Mr Agus who converted their home to an orphanage. The orphanage shelters 35 teenage girls. The girls activities include farming, sewing, wall magazine writing, and reciting the Koran.
The orphanage is completing basic construction of the upper level. This area will be used for Bookwallah programs and activities. Mrs. Giyanti and husband believe that teenage girls are at crossroads in their life and the exposure to Bookwallah programs can positively influence their life choices.
Please email Aria Widyanto if you are interested in volunteering or donating your skills and talent in Indonesia. |
| meet the children | |
Meet the children you are supporting through Bookwallah. Many of these children have endured hardships early in their lives. By sharing the gift of imagination their lives will be transformed in more ways than one. |
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Kashish
Indian. Kashish is currently attending English medium school. She likes to read, write, and talk. She has "good taste in food an clothing"! |
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Siti
Indonesian. Siti dropped out of school in 3rd grade, left home, and became a street child. While in the streets, she worked as street musician and beggar. Someone rescued her in 2008 and brought her to an orphanage. Siti now has a second chance at life and loves to cook and read. |
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Arti
Indian. Arti is currently residing in one of the orphanages. Several of her family members suffer from AIDs, heart problems. Arti herself is a sickly child. Her smile really captures the magic of storybooks and the gift of imagination. |
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| save the date: upcoming events | |
Save the Dates: May 30-June 5, 2011. In celebration of International Children's Day, Nothin' Less Coffee House in Logan Square (Chicago, IL) is hosting a week long event.
Over 90 Chicago musicians, performers, artists are generously donating their time, talent, and artwork to raise money for Bookwallah! Children's workshops will be held in the mornings. This is an amazing effort by incredible individuals who want to to make a difference. Suggested donation is $5. Please join us and show your support May 30-June 5.
Calendar of performances and activities will be posted next week on the Nothin' Less website and Bookwallah website.
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| sharing our story- media | | Thank you to James Lynch of JM Lynch Training & Consulting for his article What's the Big Idea? Books, Peace and More Peace in the Huffington Post and Emily Yao who interviewed us at Radio Disney. Visit Bookwallah's News & Media section of the website for access to all our recent media. |
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get involved -kickball, flag-football, soccer, or softball | |
PLAY Kickball, Flag-Football, Soccer, or Softball for Bookwallah! Bookwallah recently partnered with Live to Support Chicago. Summer Leagues organized by Live to Support Chicago starts in JUNE! Live to Support Chicago mission is to generate awareness of charitable causes through FUN sporting and social events. If you would like to play for Bookwallah, please contact Shari Christofferson and we will get you that famous Bookwallah T-Shirt! |
| you can help- donate now |
 | | Share the Gift of Imagination |
Bookwallah Organization is a 501(c)3 corporation and you can submit a donation through our website or make a check payable to "Bookwallah Organization". Mail to: 319 North Albany Chicago, IL 60612 U.S.A.
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