Monday, October 3, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
BWF's Jammu home, 'FAH', performed havan to celebrate its second anniversary (please find pictures attach)
Amid sonorous chants of gayatri matra, Borderless World Foundation’s home in Jammu, ‘FAH’, celebrated its second anniversary on 4th September 2011, at its premise in Barnai, Jammu. Around 70 people attended the ceremony, including dignitaries such as Major General TSP Waraich and his wife, Head Mistress of Ranjit Memorial Public School Ms Krishna Jamwal, as well neighbours, mothers of few of the kids, supporters and ofcourse, the children and BWF staff.
The prayers of all our friends, supporters and well-wishers ensured that we had an unexpectedly great weather throughout the havan ceremony. The children had stayed up till late last night, making and decorating the gratitude cards for the guests, and were up as early as 5 am this morning, to prepare for the havan- decorating the entrance with streamers, garlands, and making the rangoli, etc.
Ms Rajani Devi, the warden of the home, said, “Last year, we were still quite new to this place, people in the neighborhood barely knew us. This year, we have more children, and also, people around have shown a lot of love and generosity towards us. We are very happy, it seems like one huge family.”
Adhik Kadam, the founder and Chairman of BWF said, “In 1997 when I first came here, I saw a lot of migrant camps in Jammu, not just kashmirir pundits but also people from border areas in jammu region. I witnessed the appalling condition in which people, especially children lived in the camp. They were all surviving, but surviving is different from living. Living reflects not just physical but also spiritual and mental growth. True living requires the right kind of culture, which life in camp could not and cannot provide. Without real freedom, the chances of children going on the wrong track is very high. This home was set up with the intent of proving the children with the right kind of culture, for their real growth as human being, to heal their wounds. That is also why we call this “home” and not an orphanage.”
The home in Jammu came into being in 2009, its current strength is 15 girls belonging mostly to the Kashmiri Pandit community. Most of them lived in the Kashmiri migrants campbefore they were brought to us, and belong to broken families or have single parents.
Major General TPS Waraich, General Officer Commanding of Tiger Division, who attended the occasion along with his wife, who took part in the havan, freely interacted with the children and enquired about them. “It is very good to see the kind of work Borderless World Foundation is doing, supporting these young girls and helping them stand on their feet. The kids are very confident, and I am sure with your continued dedication, and with the support of all the well-wishers, these girls will have a great future. My wife and I are very happy to be here.”
The event concluded with distribution of the prasadam. The girls gave a hand-made gratitude card to all the guests who came for the ceremony.
This is a great milestone in all our lives, thank you from the bottom of our heart for your continued prayers and support.
Warm regards,
Anamika Gupta
BWF (Delhi Office)
one of senior daughter got married!!!
Good news - one of senior daughter got married!!!
The whole house is sharing this happiest moment. Halima got married on 18th June 2011. Halima, Roshani and Soha are three sisters who came to B-e-t when their cousin got them to B-e-t home in year 2008, when Halima was only seventeen and half. Both the younger sisters were admitted and when the question was asked to her cousin what about Halima? Her cousin answered that they were planning to get her married, Salima Bhat (didi) manager at B-e-t home Kupwara felt very bad that we all were unable to do anything for her. Halima had left studies when her parents expired. And thus there was a stop in her academic career. When they came to B-e-t for it was the time when b-e-t was not having any elder girls and mostly no admission for elder girls who had left their studies. Looking at the wish to help but unable to process for the same due to some constraints of the house didi thought of calling Adhik Kadam(Bhaiya) chairperson of BWF. Finally didi spoke to Adhik bhaiya and as his nature is very friendly and helpful he said if it is not been done till date we will not stick to any rules and regulations. And that’s how all these three sister hap-pens to be the part of this heavenly family now. The wish always remained within of helping Halima to develop her-self in such a way that she becomes independent. Didi told Halima we will surely find something for you as it was first time that someone was admitted to home of happiness without studies, to do something else.
Looking at the family background, the father of these three sisters; Abdul Sattar Mir was laborer in Hanwara Tehsil. He had two brothers both were militants. This was the cause why Police and others security agencies used to torture him and forced him to give them information which he never had. Later on both her uncles expired and the family thought now the problem would end but it didn’t stop here; security agencies did not stop after dismiss of the re-maining two brother. They insisted that Halima's father had weapons of their brothers. At the end their father got away from this materialistic world by an attack. Their mother who is not able to speak later went mad and started roaming on the streets. So the three sisters and one brother were supported by the villagers till the time they got admitted in the home of love, affection, self-respect, confidence and a great human family.
Further after being part of the heavenly world of B-e-t, Halima was taught stitching almost for a year. She simultane-ously used to work for the house; she was paid for the support that she provided. In this way she not only got inde-pendent in every aspect, but also a lovely family to rely on. After completing her stitching course, she was called back by her guardians and now at age of twenty she got married with something in her hand i.e. stitching. The person she is got married to is also a genuine person he has lot of land and farming as the main occupation. Remaining two sis-ters are yet the members of the house and completing their education.
Halima’s marriage was the happiest moment for papa(Bhaiya) and mummy(Didi) of the home(B-e-t home) as parents should. Papa did kanyadan and umi with duaien are happy to see the daughter married. Responsibilities do not end here for didi and bhaiya, now they are promoted and playing the role of mother-in-law and father-in-law for the Halima’s husband.
Wishing for your blessing for the
newly married couple!!
And lot of love for all the homes!!
Jameela Rather
BeT, Kupwara
(Presently in Pune for Education)
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Mother Teresa Memorial Award For Social Justice awarded by Harmony Foundation
Speeach At Award FunctionDear friends
Thank you for your blessings and prayers
As my mentor in life says that “Only by winning over our inner darkness and negativity we can be victorious in life and reveal our full potential”
Since 1997, we are working in border areas of the state of Jammu & Kashmir. After seeing so much destruction, confusion, irritation, frustration, pain, helplessness, I, in my mind have categorized people into two types. One type has taken to the cowardly path of violence in the name of religion or any other attributed reason. Their patience and strength and faith in humanity is completely shaken. They could have drawn from within their own lives, the resources that would have helped them judge what is right and wrong, what is good and evil. They have lost faith and belief in the abiding values of compassion, courage and dialogue in the face of pressure and stress.
The other category consists of people who do not take to violence even at gun point, or at loss of loved ones, or in the face of hunger and grinding poverty. This second type will never be known to the outside world. Borderless represents these fearless champions. They live every moment nurturing hope in their hearts and the conviction that peace will prevail. Why else do you think this category of people continue to live under the fiercely atrocious conditions and have not committed suicide, after killing their loved ones? In this category are children who have lost one or other loved ones before their very eyes. These children have not lost themselves, nor chosen the path of terrorizing and nor do they see defeat in the prevailing darkness. They see light. They live with unbending optimism.
We in borderless society draw our strength to travel with them , through the same conditions, waiting and having a faith in humanity. Unless we maintain strong faith, we can easily lose sight of the fundamental goal of human existence and of enlightenment. We would otherwise fall into the depths of darkness and delusion.
In my heart we believe such humans have already conquered darkness, ignorance & delusion. These are the fundamental source of human evil. They are engaged in the continuous process of cultivating true independence by constructing a solid self and are progressive towards achieving a state of life of boundless happiness and peace of mind. Without establishing in our hearts a correct view of life and death, it is impossible to conquer inner darkness and delusion at the most fundamental level. These people in the second category are leading a solid and secure life that can give many the courage and confidence to be self-reliant. They are showing great actual proof of humankind’s potential to transform its destiny. They are demonstrating what resilience means.
Today I came here to take this award in the name of all those humans who lost their life in the darkness where they couldn’t stand against the evil and they became the prey of ongoing meaningless conflict in border region and lost this beautiful life. Without their live examples in front of us, we could not have seen the brilliance of the moral fibre of those who continue to believe in living with hope that everything will be alright and we have to be on right path till the end and choose a path of good. In my heart, such humans are today’s awardees, the true recipients of this noble award.
Thank you friends for giving me a patient hearing.
Thank you for your blessings and prayers
As my mentor in life says that “Only by winning over our inner darkness and negativity we can be victorious in life and reveal our full potential”
Since 1997, we are working in border areas of the state of Jammu & Kashmir. After seeing so much destruction, confusion, irritation, frustration, pain, helplessness, I, in my mind have categorized people into two types. One type has taken to the cowardly path of violence in the name of religion or any other attributed reason. Their patience and strength and faith in humanity is completely shaken. They could have drawn from within their own lives, the resources that would have helped them judge what is right and wrong, what is good and evil. They have lost faith and belief in the abiding values of compassion, courage and dialogue in the face of pressure and stress.
The other category consists of people who do not take to violence even at gun point, or at loss of loved ones, or in the face of hunger and grinding poverty. This second type will never be known to the outside world. Borderless represents these fearless champions. They live every moment nurturing hope in their hearts and the conviction that peace will prevail. Why else do you think this category of people continue to live under the fiercely atrocious conditions and have not committed suicide, after killing their loved ones? In this category are children who have lost one or other loved ones before their very eyes. These children have not lost themselves, nor chosen the path of terrorizing and nor do they see defeat in the prevailing darkness. They see light. They live with unbending optimism.
We in borderless society draw our strength to travel with them , through the same conditions, waiting and having a faith in humanity. Unless we maintain strong faith, we can easily lose sight of the fundamental goal of human existence and of enlightenment. We would otherwise fall into the depths of darkness and delusion.
In my heart we believe such humans have already conquered darkness, ignorance & delusion. These are the fundamental source of human evil. They are engaged in the continuous process of cultivating true independence by constructing a solid self and are progressive towards achieving a state of life of boundless happiness and peace of mind. Without establishing in our hearts a correct view of life and death, it is impossible to conquer inner darkness and delusion at the most fundamental level. These people in the second category are leading a solid and secure life that can give many the courage and confidence to be self-reliant. They are showing great actual proof of humankind’s potential to transform its destiny. They are demonstrating what resilience means.
Today I came here to take this award in the name of all those humans who lost their life in the darkness where they couldn’t stand against the evil and they became the prey of ongoing meaningless conflict in border region and lost this beautiful life. Without their live examples in front of us, we could not have seen the brilliance of the moral fibre of those who continue to believe in living with hope that everything will be alright and we have to be on right path till the end and choose a path of good. In my heart, such humans are today’s awardees, the true recipients of this noble award.
Thank you friends for giving me a patient hearing.
Adhik Kadam
Chairperson
Borderless World Foundation
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