Summer update

It's been a while since we did our last blog post and we've so much to catch up on! 

Beyond Boundaries

Firstly, we are so thankful of everyone who has been involved in our Beyond Boundaries project. From all of the young people, the staff, the local authorities, those that believe in the project and the Basti Ram team for making it happen. 

This year has been a fantastic year with Lewisham and Hackney coming on aboard. On the 11th July Lewisham had their celebration event to celebrate the fantastic work of all of the young people. A lovely evening with all of the young people dressed in their Indian outfits. On the 29th July the 7 young girls from Hackney set off for India, along with staff Neeraj Kumar, co-founder of Basti Ram and Katherine Eveleigh, youth development officer. To keep up-to-date with the project visit our new dedicated blog: http://bastirambeyondboundaries.blogspot.in/ This will cover each new project and quotes and posts written by the young people involved. 

Beyond Boundaries 5 Hackney: Arriving in India

'Life through the Lens' A Participatory Photography Project  

This has focused on promoting the boy's photographs and recruiting for new volunteers. Currently, the photographs are on exhibit in the US at the Ice Cream Renaissance, 1925 Main Street, Vancouver, WA, thanks to Julie Kuhlman, the project leader for July 2012 group. On the 8th June Katherine Eveleigh and our ex-photography volunteer Niall volunteered at the PICS festival at the RichMix in Shoreditch. This festival showcases similar organisation who are using photography for social change.  

'Autumn Years': Teaching Project for the over 50's

We've recently designed a new project aimed at the over 50's. Over the years having attended fairs and events we noticed many people interested in our work but felt they were too old or there would be too many youngsters around; because of this we decided to organise a 50 plus group. To find out more, visit: www.bastiram.org/autumn-years-teaching-project-for-the-over-50s

Redbridge presents the 'Holi' Festival organised by your Young People

Our UK focus has been organising a 'Holi' festival in the London Borough of Redbridge for next March 2014. This has involved a lot of research, fundraising, recruiting an events intern and project planning. 

On the 21st June, our fundraising officer Rachel Stovold and our new volunteer Silvina attended The Foyer in Redbridge to gain some research. For more information, click here.

Silvina, Basti Ram volunteer, at The Foyer in Redbridge collecting some research.  

UK Volunteers 

This year we've seen some new faces at Basti Ram. We want to say a big welcome and thank you for all of your hardwork and for believing in Basti Ram. We attended the Media Trust's media speed matching event in May and are really looking forward to working with the two media professionals. Cassie and Silvina have also joined the Basti Ram team this year. They've been helping with research, setting up school links and corporate sponsorship. Thank you so much for your hardwork.    

Policy 

This year has seen Basti Ram branch out into the field of policy work and campaigning. On the 23rd April, the co-founders, Rachael and Neeraj both attended the The Global Poverty Project's Parliamentary Polio Diaspora Event where Neeraj also gave a talk on his experience of eradicating polio in India. We are delighted to announce that the UK Government has committed to pledge an extra £300 million over 6 years towards polio eradication, helping to vaccinate more than 360 million children against polio. The announcement came at the Global Vaccine Summit, in Abu Dhabi.

 Rachael and Neeraj are with Mayoor Patel, Trustee of Polio Children and Dr. Keith Barnard Jones, Former Director of Rotary International.

On the 4th June Rachael, Rachel and Cassie attended the Asian Diaspora & IF Policy Debate at the Houses of Parliament organised by the DVA. 

Consultancy 

We received funding from the VSO: Big Lottery Diaspora Volunteering Programme Capacity Grant and used this funding to hire an external consultant.  On the 14th March Rachael and Rachel both attended the consultancy meeting with www.charity-fundraising.org.uk/. The focus of the day was Basti Ram’s fundraising strategy and grant applications.

Thank you for reading!

Rachel, Fundraising Officer/ Project Leader =)

Follow @BastiRamUK