On Saturday of April 2009, Baalya Foundation organized a summer workshop, Olavu 2009, for the children of Sevasrama. This workshop was conducted for the children of Nele (Premanjali and Asha Kirana) #7, “Sumata”, Weavers Colony, Gottigere Main Road, Bannerughatta Road, Bangalore-78. The number of children participating in this workshop is about 60-80, who are aged between 8-16yrs.

The prime focus of this summer workshop is to share or to give the Love and Affection to the Sevasrama children. Typically, during a summer vacation, when most of the children are away with families on vacation, the children in orphanages are forgotten and have nowhere to go during holidays. We at Baalya Foundation believe that childhood plays a crucial role in shaping a person’s character and every child must be given equal opportunities to be educated. Many children are not fortunate enough to be educated, or make the best use of their childhood. As an NGO for children, Baalya Foundation has organized Olavu 2009, which has include programs related to various categories like Science, Culture, and History, Sports, General Knowledge and Personality development. The volunteers of Baalya have mentored these children in these different categories.

Programs:

• Story-telling, movie screening, quiz and Animated Children Movie Screening • Visit to Vishweshwariah museum and the Nehru Planetarium • Painting and Environmental clean-up activities • Holi celebrations and cultural programs

The guests for the occasion are:

(1) Mr. K. H. Shivarame Gowda, Development Officer, Child and Woman Welfare Dept. (2) Mrs. Sahana. J. Rao, Founder of a Sevaashram called MatruChaaya in Shimoga (3) Mr.Krishnamurthy, Sanchaalak of Hinduseva Prathistaana (4) Mr.Mylari, Sanchaalak of a Sevasrama called Madhavanele in Shimoga (5) Mr. Girish, from Art of Living

We at Baalya Foundation believe that childhood plays a crucial role in shaping a person’s character and every child must be given equal opportunities to be educated. Many children are not fortunate enough to be educated, or make the best use of their childhood. The events of Olavu 2009 are as follows: On 4th April, the activities include story-telling, movie screening, quiz, sports and team building. On the 11th, the children are taken to visit Vishweshwariah museum and the Nehru Planetarium. On the 18th, there are Painting and Environmental clean-up activities and on the last Saturday of April i.e. the 25th, there was a, a session from Sri Ramachandra Guruji, a session from Art of Living and Holi celebrations and towards the end of the day cultural programs are organized where these children will participate and showcase their talents from 5:30-7:00 p.m. All the activities, on all Saturdays are from 9:30 a.m - 7:00 p.m.

Baalya Foundation has sponsored lunch, and snacks on all the days of the workshop and also gifted new clothes to these children on the last day.

Akshara means Letter(s). Playing with letters is the first step to gain knowledge and become an educated citizen of India. On this path of education, which is the most important requirement for every human, Baalya Foundation ® has taken a small step to create awareness about literacy among children and their parents at Mikkere village in Mandya district of Karnataka.

In the urban areas, education has already gained a lot of momentum. Every parent wishes their child/children to not only study but also be a part of the reputed schools in the city. The intensity of awareness required in the urban areas is less when compared to that of the rural areas. In rural areas, the parents are in the process of giving importance to their child’s bright career gifted by education. Baalya foundation feels proud to motivate such parents and children who are not completely aware of the advantages of schools and are facing financial difficulties. Sowing the seeds of knowledge in the brains of village crew was our mission. When these seeds are well taken care of, they grow in a healthy way as plants and becomes a giant tree which benefit their homes, society, and the country. We did a proper home work to launch Akshara through advance visits to different schools around Mikkere village. Baalya's core members conducted a survey, selected schools to be a part of Akshara, and counseled the students and their parents to analyze their problems along with the financial status.

Aim:

• Each child in the villages to know why an individual has to read, write, and speak healthy language • Every parent must realize what does education brings them through their children? • What is the importance of education? • Why people should be literate? • How to acquire skills by gaining knowledge?

The answers for these questions were explained to children and their parents at Mikkere village through different set of activities. We concentrated children from all education levels from Primary till High school.

Akshara project was conducted at Mikkere Government School gathering (for around) 22 schools around.More than 160 students participated in this event, (were) aged between 6 and16.

The guests for the occasion are: (1) Dr. C.P. Krishna kumar, famous Kannada writer, Mysore (2) Sri. Somashekar A, Assistant Director, Public Education Sector, Mandya Dist. (3) Ms. Latha Mohan, Journalist, Sanjevaani, Mysore (4) Mr. Veerabadhre Gowda, DYSP, Security for Chief Minister of Karnataka. (5) Mr. M. Shivamadappa, B.E.O Malavali taluku (6) Ms. Khaalida Parveen, C.A.E.O Kirugavalu cluster,

Akshara was a great success at Mikkere. It motivated us to pro-actively conduct Akshara every year covering different villages of Karnataka. By the end of the day students secured lot of confidence in them. The inauguration of the program followed by motivating speech from the guests, and educational aids like books, pencils, slates, bags, geometry boxes, and uniform were distributed to around 160 students. Baalya foundation paid examination fee for 5 high school students to support them. Followed by cultural activities by children entertained everyone and it was a platform for the children’s other talents than studying.