Exposure Visit to Bank, for Adult Literacy students. Approximately 12 women participated in the bank exposure visit.  They visited the State Bank of India, Cantonment branch, and were provided with relevant information related to Banks and how the daily functions are performed.  These types of educational visits help these women feel more comfortable and confident to meet daily challenges.

Fun & Skills Development
Summer camp is not just for kids!  Summer Camp Hobby Courses started in Kutumb this month and will continue through the month of June.  This Summer Camp program offers different courses like:  Soft toy making, sewing class, jewelry making, knitting, and beautician training.  Participants can enjoy the activities while learning new skills.

The Kutumb Village is flourishing day by day.  The Sunday Community Health Clinic is getting more patients every week.  Last month the Clinic received about 200 patients.  Encouraged by this success, Kutumb is planning for new community development initiatives in the village in coming months.

Eye ‘Camp’ organized by Kutumb
Kutumb organized an eye check-up program for children ages 8 – 15.  Mr. Danish, a volunteer health provider visiting from France, conducted the eye vision tests.  Mr Santosh Mishra from Chashma ghar (a local eye glass and lens shop) assisted Mr. Danish in this volunteered service.

The Kutumb Women’s Empowerment program opened a handicraft shop named “Sanskriti Handicraft Creation” at Urban Haat.  All students from Kutumb’s Sewing program took part in the opening ceremony.  The shop will have a collection of handicrafts created by the women of the sewing program.  Our Kutumb girl Shahzadi has been given the responibility of managing this shop.  Shahzadi has been a long time resident of the Kutumb Shelter, and we are very happy for Shahzadi’s latest accomplishment!

Exciting news from Kutumb:  The new clinic in Kutumb Village has opened!  The remains of an old building on the new property were renovated and transformed into a clinic.  The facility, Kutumb’s Community Center for Health, will serve as a Sunday clinic for the villagers.  Dr. Ashish, pictured above, reports that there were a great number of patients who traveled from all directions to visit the clinic on opening day.

Dr. Ashish, Mrs. Puja, and their staff are always coming up with new ways to keep the kids enthusiastic and engaged in their studies. In January they organized a small ceremony where they awarded the top 4 students, based on attendance and monthly test results, with a prize. Keep up with your reading assignments kids!

Also in January, eight older girls in the literacy program went on a field trip.  The Kutumb program calls these outings “exposure visits”, because they expose students to real-life situations where they can practice and apply their new literacy skills.  On this exposure visit, the students went to the Varanasi Railway Station.  They used their developing reading skills to learn how to buy a train ticket, how to recognize the right train, and how to find their seat number.  Imagine how scary it would be for a young girl (or boy) in a big city to attempt this without being able to read.  This is a wonderful example of the type of life-enriching skills the Kutumb Literacy Program offers their students.

Happy New Year everyone!  We have a very happy announcement to kick off the Year:  There was a wonderful outpouring of generosity and support for our “Beat the Ball Drop” fundraising campaign.  Vision Builders is so grateful for your involvement.  Our goal was to raise $10,000 before the New Year’s ball dropped at midnight.  Not only was the goal met – but it was surpassed!!!  Together we were able to raise over $15,500 and we’ll be able to break ground for the Kutumb orphanage.  Vision Builders wishes everyone a wonderful New Year!!!!  Keep an eye on our blog for updates on the orphanage and other exciting news.  Or join our mailing list and have updates delivered to you.

Today is the kick-off our our New Year’s “Beat the Ball Drop” Fundraising Campaign!

Our goal is to raise 10K before New Year’s so we can break ground for the New Kutumb Orphanage.

If you donate just $10, and invite all of your friends and family to each donate $10 Together we can make a difference and Beat the Ball Drop!

Please help Vision Builders go viral and share the good feeling of helping kids in need!!

Click Here Now to spread the goodness now!!!

Wishing you all a safe and Happy New Year, from the volunteers at Vision Builders!

<<Click to Help Spread the Good Feeling!

Welcome to our new Blog!  Visit us often for the latest project news and updates.  Be sure to also check out our News & Events page.

We’re really excited to announce that our 5th Annual Vision Builders 5k is scheduled on a new date this year.  Be sure to mark your calendars so you don’t miss it.  The new 5k date is Sunday, September 18, 2011 at the same great location:  Hudson Mills Metropark.  We’ll be posting lots more about the 5k in the months ahead!

Our most exciting update at the moment, however, is that Dr. Ashish has finally been able to purchase the land for the Kutumb project expansion!  Thanks so much to our supporters for your generous donations to this wonderful cause!  Read more about this exciting news on our Home Page, and if you haven’t already – be sure to join our mailing list to receive our eNewsletter.

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