SYLVIA’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

Most of us are aware of the rising wealth of India’s middle class and in the success of many new businesses. They are achieving a standard of living unknown of their parents and grandparents. The pattern of life is very different in rural India., as Sylvia reports. Tiruvannamalai is known as a ”most backward” area where little has changed or the average man or woman. Almost 75% of Indians still earn their living from the land using primitive tools and battling drought in some areas and in others monsoon floods. Sylvia goes on to say: “The Government has ear-marked large sums of money to develop proper water and sanitation schemes. The eradication of the mosquito is a first priority with plans afoot to contruct major underground sewers to remove stagnant water in which they breed Until this is done the number of water borne diseases remains high , especially Enteric (Typhoid) fever and the ever-present mosquito spreads Malaaria, Filaria and another condition called Chigungunia, which cause high fever and severe joint pains.

India is still known as the Diabetic ‘capital’ of the world. We see over 2,500 diabetic patients every month, many of whom develop the major debilitating complications of the condition, e.g. renal impairment, cardiac and eye problems, gangrene of the extremities often leading to amputation of one or more limbs.

The diet os the average village consists of rice with little else; in other words, a diet rich carbohydrates, so deadly to the diabetic. Nearly all our dialysis patients have developed renal complications due to badly controlled diabetes.

At the present time we dialyse an average of ten patients a day. Many of them also need regular doses of insulin. Insulin is very expensive and so in order to save and prolong lives it is given free of cost.

Our school continues to cater well for the handicapped children. We have 230 children studying and, in addition, in two centres we cater for physically and mentally handicapped children . We have recently extended the school by building four new classrooms—a joint venture between the local authorities and the Trust. We restrict our ration of teacher to pupil to one teacher to eight children., so the majority of our children achieve good academic results. However, the problem stills remains of gainful employment on leaving school. The unemployment rate is very high in this area and there is no industrial development or ‘big employers’. Our children are trained in computer skills to enhance their prospects on the job market. However, computer skills are not enough and they need to learn to read and write English fluently, if they are to reap some of the benefits of the new “IT revolution”. To this end I have developed a third year prior to leaving school where we try and develop these skills and improve their computer literacy.

As always I send you my love and best wishes for Christmas and the New Year and renew my heartfelt thanks for your continued support and generosity.

We have lost three of our long time supporters-Colin Philpott, Alf Rose and Mrs Monique Viner. We miss them greatly and I remember them daily in my prayers.

God bless you all & please continue to pray for me. SYLVIA

Visit to Sylvia

Dennis Macauley was the first Treasurer and one of the original founders of the Sylvia Wright Trust, as well as a long-standing and good friend of Sylvia’s. His grandson, Rob Bone has recently spent some time in India with Sylvia, where he worked mostly with the disabled children. He said he has found this a very rewarding experience and sent the following pictures, which illustrate well the work in that area with Rob in the middle of the last one.

Fund Raising—Well done Jonathan!

Jon Faulkner is the 33year old son of our Chairman, John, and heroically ran in the New York 2006 marathon recently to raise money for the Sylvia Wright Trust. Although he said it was not his fastest time, he managed to complete the run in 3hrs 56” and as a result of sponsorship, raised over £800.00 for the Trust.

When he is not running Jon is business consultant working in London for clients in the financial services industry. Jon is a keen outdoor pursuits enthusiast and also runs the company running club. This is his third marathon.

Christmas cards - there's still time!

Many of you have already bought your cards but there are still some left. The sale of the cards is a vital source of income and finances the school for almost two months in every year.

The cards come in packs of 20: £6.00 for 20 cards. £12 for 40, £17.50 for 60, £23.00 for 80 and £28.00 for 100 cards. Postage packing is included.

For more information please email:
Thank you for your support.

New Trustee

You will have noticed in Sylvia's letter, the sad passing of Alf Rose. He and his wife Anne have been supporters of the Sylvia Wright Trust for many years. we are delighted to welcome Anne to our board of Trustees.