One Year from November 26, 2008

Hi Everyone,

About a year ago, Mumbai was under attack. So many people lost their lives and got hurt. I just wish this never happens again.

Around this time last year, we were all glued to the TV and the radio. Felt so helpless; could not do anything to help. After we built the website, I felt much better; it gave me a way to get in touch with so many of you and at least do something. I also learnt a lot about the world by getting involved with you all in our effort to help the victims. Thank you so much!

We raised the funds and sent a part of it to Childline India as per the agreement. They finished the ground work and recently sent us a report. They identified two families who are in need of help. Childline informed us that they are now working on creating mechanism to give them rest of the funds. We are now waiting for their response. I hope this happens soon.

I am enclosing information about those two families that Childline India sent us:

1. Afrain Sahbaz Quershi and her family
==============================================

Afrain, 6 years old girl from Baheram Pada, Bandra, Mumbai was shot dead in terror attacks at CST on 26th November,08. The family of Afrain stays near Bandra railway station. Shahabaz Quershi and Nafiza Quershi are the parents of Afrain also injured in the terror attack. After the death of Afrain Quershi, the family adopted their
brother’s daughter, Gulshan Quershi.


The Shahabaz Quershi and his family stay in single room at Behram Pada slum area in Bandra. The room belongs to his uncle. Shahabaz is working in a butcher shop as a helper. Now business is reduced and he has lost the job.

The terror attack devastated the lives of the Quershi family. Nafiza, mother of Afrain had received a bullet injury on her leg and was under treatment. The family received Rs.15,000/- from central railway office. The adopted child Gulshan goes to Kherwadi Muncipal School.

Shahabaz Qureshi has now put up a kabab stall in Bandra area. This is his present source of earning.


2. Narol Islam Azhar Mulla and his Family
===============================================

Narol Islam, 31 yrs old, was a vendor in CST terminus, Mumbai, was killed during the terror attack. He was deaf and dumb. His family consists of mother, brother, sister and her two kids (Mohammed Ali-17 years old and Ahmad Ali-9 years old). His family lives in in front of BPT colony, Zhopadadpatti, Dockyard, Below the Bridge, Mumbai.


Narol’s family lives on the footpath under the bridge of Wadibhunder, Dockyard. They have a properly built room in the slums. The room is in bad condition and the interiors are not well kept. It reflects the poverty situation of the family. The house belongs to Narol’s mother. Narol used to support his family along with his brother. His brother is married and has one six month old son. Their sister is a widow and she too stays with them with her two children. Narol’s death has affected the financial situation of the family.

The family members are not aware about the compensation money if any, received by victim’s brother Ali Islam. But recently Ali Islam has got a separate room in Sion and has shifted there with his wife. They do not have the address of this place. Victim’s brother was not available during all the three visits to the family.

Narol’s sister works as a domestic help in several houses in their area. She earns around Rs.2500 every month which is insufficient to support the family and take care of the education of her two children.

Additionally, post Narol’s death, his mother had a fall and has badly hurt herself. Her medical treatment is going on.

The death of Narol followed with the desertion by Ali Islam, Narol’s brother, has had an adverse effect on the family.


Happy Thanksgiving,

Priyanka

Spring Time in Maryland and Cherry Trees

It is Spring time in Maryland and we also have Spring break at the school. So this week we do not have classes. This is also the time for the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. The banks of the river Potomac look so beautiful with the white Cherry flowers. I was learning about the history of these trees. They came from Japan. In 1912, the people of Japan gave Washington D.C many Cherry trees as a gift of their friendship. Starting with simple ceremony in 1912, the Cherry blooming time became a national festival. The celebration gives everyone to celebrate the culture, food, and music of Japan. So many people from so many different cultures come to see the blooming trees and experience a taste of Japan. When I was there, I learnt how to write the Japanese word flower on a paper using a paint-brush. I never thought of writing words like painting. It is so cool. I was also thinking about how little things in life can connect so many people around the world and make us do beautiful things. Even a tree can create a bond between all of us. That is so amazing.

On a different note, we kicked off the project with Childline, India. We sent the 1^st installment of funds. They will get back to us in about 8 weeks and with a list of children who suffered in the Mumbai attacks and need help. We will send the second installment of funds after that.

We also got a lot of help from our journalist friends and many others. Hindustan Times and Indian Express, leading newspapers in India, published articles about our effort. I would like to thank Ms. Alifiya Khan, from Hindustan Times and Ms. Kavita Iyer, from Indian Express, for their effort and help spreading the word. Here are the links to the articles:

Hindustan Times Article:

http://www.kidsformumbai.org/Hindustantimes-April-02-2009.pdf

Indian Express Article:

http://www.kidsformumbai.org/IndianExpress-April-07-2009.pdf

Priyanka

KidsforMumbai Signed Agreement with Childline India, March 25, 2009

We just signed an agreement with Childline India. The agreement has lots of legal terms and defintions. So I am just summarizing the main terms of the agreement:

1. Childline will identify the kids and families who suffered from the Mumbai attack and need help. They will provide us the list within 8 weeks of the first installment of the funds for supporting the initial effort. Childline will charge 3-7% of the total amount, possibly less for supporting the transportation related costs of their staff.

2. After kidsformumbai approves the list and provides rest of the funds (will happen within 4 weeks), Childline will start dispensing the funds to the identified kids and their families. They will collect receipts and take pictures of the kids/families who got help and send that to us. This process will be finished within 2 weeks from the date Childline receives the second installment of the funds from KidsforMumbai.

KidsforMumbai is donating the $500 we raised for this cause. This is equivalent to approximately Rs 25,000 in Indian currency. If anyone needs more information about this agreement please let me know.

We need your help in making this a success. We particulary need help from our friends who live in Mumbai in making sure that the funds reach the right people. Once Childline sends us the list of kids/familes who need help, we will need your input in finalizing the list.

Thanks,

Priyanka

Everyone Is Special, Even Marty Is....

I wanted to post this for a while. I fell sick with fever and it slowed me down a little. It is about the movie Madagascar I saw recently.

Few weeks ago my whole grade had a presentation on different countries around the world. My group was researching South Korea. All the parents were there. While watching the other presentations I was thinking that every country in the world is special and everyone should also feel special in the same way; we all have something special and often we don't even think about that. A few days ago I watched the movie called Madagascar-II along with my mom and dad. The main characters are Marty the zebra, Alex the lion, Melman the giraffe and, Gloria who is a hippopotamus. All of them go to Africa. In one part in the movie, Marty finds a bunch of zebras and they look exactly like him. So when Marty showed them all his tricks that he could do and thought that he was unique, the other zebras could do also them at first try. Then Marty thought that he wasn’t unique anymore and in fact he thought there was nothing special about him. So his friend, Alex found something unique, special about him, he said that he was white with black stripes and the other zebras were black with white stripes. I thought that was so nice. Just looking at things in a different way can make us feel you so special and that makes us happy.


On a different note, we are almost there in terms of our fund raising. We will send the funds to Childline India soon. My dad has sent out the paper-work to them. I also wanted to let you know that Mr. Malineni, the coordinator of the Portland Peace Vigil sent me a note with kind words. Here is a link to a video of their vigil: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfQbJ-4g2QI

--Priyanka

February 9, 2009 Thank You, Priyanka and Kids for Mumbai Supporters

Dear Priyanka,

Thank you for reminding me how important it is to speak out and to take action. I have been so inspired by your words and your actions. It is a gift for me and my family and friends to be able to help you build a world that is focused on peace and love ... a world in which people can, and do, take action to help others.

I also appreciate the opportunity to be in partnership with all the children and families around the world who have joined you through Kids for Mumbai.

The world will not change if we keep our thoughts in our head ... it will change if we share our convictions, speak out about injustices, seek partnership with others, and take positive action. Thank you for reminding all who experience your blog and Kids for Mumbai of this.

Sincerely,
Kimberly
Maryland, USA

On a Snow Day.....

Today was a snow-day. We had no school. My Mom stayed home in the morning so that I could have lots of fun sledding in the backyard. Today was also a special day. When I went to our blog and website I saw many people donated and posted! I was happy to see people from all around the country and world joining hands together. Thanks to the article on KidsforMumbai that Times of India, a leading newspaper in India, published today:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/US_girl_collects_dollars_for__kids_affected_by_2611/articleshow/4039090.cms

That helped a lot spreading the news. Thanks to Ms. Sonal Upreti and Ms. Nitasha Natu from Times of India for writing the article. I would also like to thank Mr. Holla, a journalist from Mumbai Mirror, for supporting our effort. Special thanks to Mrs. Kimberly Bronow, our neighbor, for sending emails to so many people. We made excellent progress in reaching our goals. It was a great day.

---Priyanka

On a Memorable Day

Yesterday was Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday. Here in America, in Washington D.C, everyone is also getting ready for the inauguration of our 44th and next President of the United States. We went to D.C. yesterday afternoon. We took the metro and then walked to the Washington Mall. My dad wanted me to experience this important part of the history. It was so nice. Everyone seems to be happy…people of all color and all race celebrating. I hope one day, we will offer many such moments in all corners of the world, including India. I was watching part of Dr. King’s speech in D.C in TV. I did not understand many of the things he said. But it certainly inspired so many people. If that created what is happening in America today in forty years then I have hope….that one day we will break the barriers and reach….yes we will….