JUNE 2008

Dear TRF Family & Friends

THANK YOU so much for your support.

It is incredibly heart warming to hear from people who want to help; in your own way - what counts is that you are committed and that you are making a difference; through your donations, offers of support and suggestions, people's lives are and will change.

So where are we to date?

Holi Hangama 2007 generated £ 3,000, which was committed towards Barefoot College in Tilonia, Rajasthan (details of Barefoot college are available from their website). In summary, their work focuses on the basic needs: water, health, education, energy, environmental regeneration and gainful employment.

The continued enthusiasm of members allowed an opportunity for TRF to identify direct beneficiaries. The Diwali 2007 programme generated funds to the tune of £ 15,000 for such participation.

General allocations for these funds are agreed. In consultation with the stated beneficiaries, we have identified and prioritised their needs. Funds are being allotted as follows:

•    Participation with School for Blind and Orphans
            Fans, Beds, Windows, Cupboards:                                                                    GBP £ 1,100
            (The one-off participation here was geared at improving the
            facilities in the classroom and hostel accommodation)

•    Participation with Shramik Vidyalay
            Uniforms, School Bags, Shoes, Classroom equipment:                                        GBP £ 1,000
            (Children between the ages of 8 to 14 who have missed out
            on education in the earlier part of their lives are tutored to
            eventually join a proper school and further their education)

•    Participation with Mahila Mandal Sanstha
            Construction of proper sanitation facility:                                                           GBP £ 7,000
            (2005 to 2015 is the UN decade for development of sustainable
            Education. In addition 2008-09 is the International Year for
            Sustainable Sanitation! In view of this Mahila Mandal Sanstha
            has initiated a proposal with Sulabh and Greening India to design
            a sewage system in and around the institute to develop a self sufficient
            bio-gas generating plant to meet the electricity and cooking gas needs
            of the institute and converting it into India’s first “Green Campus”.
            TRF is initiating the first phase of this project)

•    Reserves for TRF supported Educational and Health projects
            Long-term dedicated charity causes participation:                                               GBP £ 6,000
            (Despite efforts by several organisations Education and Health needs
            remain. Significant amount of effort and energy is needed to evaluate
            and create a well focused developmental project where TRF can proudly
            demonstrate what big hearts, bigger minds and efforts can do to bring
            long term changes to society)

And where are we focusing for the future….

Logistics are being worked out to establish a TRF funded school for young children of labourers, who continue to miss out on education; either through lack of attention by their parents or due to the sheer economic needs of the family which necessitates that they work.

Alongside some key partners we are also currently progressing a project "Mother and Infant Strategic Healthcare Network (MISHN India)"; a part of the Millennium Development Goals (#’s 4 (Reduce Child Mortality) and 5 (Improve Maternal Health)) as set out by the United Nations.

Various TRF members have pooled their resources of time, knowledge and personal contacts to bring together a team from within TRF and from outside. These include the World Health Organisation (WHO), Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), The Perinatal Institute (an NHS body), the South Asian Health Foundation (SAHF), the KEM Hospital (Pune), The Health Ministry of Rajasthan, district level health officials, the Collector of Jodhpur as also a number of other key academics - to work collectively on this project.

The principal objective is to improve pregnancy outcomes through improved care of mothers and infants.

The key goals, within the first 5 year time frame of the project, are:

a)    To reduce perinatal death (infant mortality) by 25%
b)    To increase deliveries of high risk mothers to institutions by 70%
c)    To assess early pregnancy nutritional status in up to 80% of mothers
d)    To establish a baseline of information on 80% of all pregnancies and birth with a long-term goal of reducing the causes of heart disease, diabetes, loss of eyesight, etc.

Current surveys, conducted independently by active TRF members and by various other organisations alongside independent studies and official statistics - all reflect the basic premise that there are inadequate facilities for pregnant mothers and infants. These include inadequate Labour rooms, equipment, transport, health monitoring equipment, education and awareness. These – lack of facilities – are some of the key reasons for problems during pregnancy, delivery and subsequent long-term health.

To create sustainable benefit and to effect change – both for individuals and institutions serving the community’s needs – the project has a multi-state base within India, where TRF’s team have been instrumental in not only bringing together the collaborators but also in ensuring the inclusion of Rajasthan in this pioneering project. Due to the scale and nature of the project a grant application for £5,000,000 has been submitted. Whilst the prospects for the application remain uncertain we should know the results of the application by October 2008.

We plan to add specific details of charities on the website for better information and participation.

People have also started to offer time. A BIG heartfelt thanks to everyone, you're making this happen!

Active participation from the membership, their knowledge and resource sharing is what will eventually bring success to the whole TRF initiative.

Big love and bigger thanks.

Diwakar Gautam on behalf of
TRF Charity Committee

Your valuable comments and suggestions invited: charity @ ourtrf.org