We were very excited
this quarter to be hosts to
the staff from Sports4Kids. The one month exchange programme
was an excellent learning experience for both the ngo's.
   

May to July 2005

HIGHLIGHTS

 

  
 

Magic Bus and Sports4Kids Staff Exchange Program
Deloitte Magic Bus had its first ever Staff Exchange Program with another NGO.
Amy Jones and Claire Snell Rood, two volunteers from Sports4Kids from Oakland, California, USA visited Magic Bus on a staff exchange program.
The two ladies were in Mumbai for four weeks from 11July to 6 August.
"Your passion and energy for the work you do with children is inspiring to me. I will take your passion and energy back with me to Oakland, California. Magic Bus will be touching the lives of my students in Sports4kids in USA." - Amy Jones


Relief Efforts
The week of 26 July to 1 August was one of the most frightening Mumbai has ever seen. Torrential rains rocked the city and the destruction caused has been immense. Amongst thousands of affected families, Magic Bus children living in the Vakola, Dharavi, Port Trust, Andheri and Jogeshwari have been severely affected. In the aftermath our children are left without the basic necessities of food, shelter and clothing. In advance of the our 2 week relief programme, our staff in their own way went out to the field and extended all the help they could. They also conducted survey to assess the needs of all the affected persons. In their findings they realized that most of them were being provided with food from several institutions and individuals. Rehabilitation was the need of the hour. Magic Bus collected clothing, bedding, bamboos, plastics and other materials necessary to rebuild homes and help restore normal life at the earliest.

Monsoon Trekking
What better way to enjoy the monsoon than leaving the city behind and trekking up a hill? To celebrate the monsoons Explorer and Challenger children went on a hike to Karnala Fort. This is a part of their curriculum and for each child it was their first promised day trip for the year. The Karnala bird sanctuary is a lush green forest with many trees. The children had an opportunity to see different anthills, colorful butterflies flittering around and hear birds cooing from their nests. The children were made aware of how different walking surfaces result in different breathing pattern. They were asked to absorb themselves in the different sounds found in a jungle especially at the time of monsoons and connect to nature by being aware of the 5 senses.
   

GE Plastics Trip
20 Volunteers from our Corporate Partners, GE Plastics invited Magic Bus Children to their office to give them an office environment experience on 25th July. It was a fascinating experience for the children.

Best Volunteer
Hema is an extremely committed and dependable Volunteer. Hema is from the Services industry and an aspiring photographer. She has complete support of her husband Sameer and 5-year-old son Eshaan, in whatever she wishes to pursue. The entire staff of Magic Bus wishes her the best and look forward to a long partnership with her.