Shadhika Newsletter Archive
June 25, 1992
Dear Friends,
A great deal happened since the last Newsletter in September -- I have very exciting news for you. Our half-way house is no longer just a dream, it is off and running! I attended the official opening ceremony for the facility during this year's trip to Calcutta in March. It is enormously gratifying to know that all our work, and all your help, were not in vain. At the same time, it is important to realize that we cannot rest on our laurels: we now have a responsibility to keep the project going. There are now residents in the house, and they depend on our support.
During fall and winter the house we had leased was remodelled and outfitted under Dr. Siromoni's supervision as an attractive and functional shared facility. I got to Calcutta just in time to help Dr. Siromoni organize the opening ceremony. The Minister of Prisons and Correctional Facilities inaugurated the house by lighting a terra cotta lamp according to local custom, and several prominent community members attended.
The house, named Paripurnata (meaning 'Hope for Wholeness') by the Board of Directors, opened with seven ex jail inmates, including Mrs. Kenney who is the resident 'supervisor'. The women are responsible for taking care of the house and preparing their meals. There is a paid social worker who runs group meetings, there are volunteers to hold literacy classes, and run handicraft projects. There is a psychologist who has agreed to provide free counselling, two doctors who take care of medical problems and provide preventive health care education. There is also a volunteer attorney. Much of the furniture and equipment of the house was given by local community members and friends. During the trip I also started organizing local fund raising initiatives which Dr. Siromoni will be carrying on. However, given the general economic conditions in Calcutta, it is not surprising that it was easier to get volunteer and in-kind, rather than financial support for Paripurnata.
I felt so energized on the way home that I could have flown even without an airplane. I will bring you up-to-date on many exciting details at the next meeting. I have photos and a brief videotape of the house and the opening ceremony. I am looking forward to discussing with you ways of broadening our fund raising efforts, for example by starting a program to "adopt" or sponsor a specific resident.
Helen and I want to thank you each for your generous support to date, and we are looking forward to seeing you in October at our fund raiser.
Best regards,
Juthica Stangl