11th Annual General Review Meeting

08 October 2008 at the Indian YMCA London

An article written about ASHRAM International

 in the monthly news letter - the LINK November 2008 - of the Bushey & Oxhey Methodist Church

Ashram International is a small charity based in our church which committed to changing the lives of the poorest-particularly women and children – within the Indian sub-Continent and neighbouring countries. It raises funds to support a range of charities providing education, training, housing and employment.

Four of us went from the church to share in the AGM at the Indian YMCA in London, and heard a fascinating series of stories of the work being done. We watched an absorbing video telling us of the rescue and rehabilitation of street girls in Sri Lanka, heard of a school for tribal children (some of the poorest) in the hills of South India which will complete a new building in the next few weeks, enabling it to accommodate over 100 children.

In war-torn Afghanistan we heard of a charity providing delivery rooms in a village health centre in the Panjsheer Valley, and the rapid growth of Afghan Action. Young men and women of Kabul some severely disabled-receive food, medical care and training in a trade which can help them earn a living. The craft is creating traditional hand-made Afghan carpets, largely lost in recent years, with an outlet in places like John Lewis and Habitat. Another story came from Sri Lanka  where funds are enabling village women potters to develop new forms of pottery which will soon be finding their way as fairly – traded goods into London stories.

This annual review of the work which ashram International supports is a real tonic to the spirit – a glimpse of positive and creative action that is changing lives and providing opportunity for new skills and fuller life. It is a charity the church is happy to support through its benevolences.

Copies of the annual report are on view in the Meeting Point. Enjoy reading it, and be excited by the positive achievements and projects completed. At the AGM we were reminded of this saying by Martin Luther King “It is always the right time to do the right thing”.

Roddy Jones talks about empowering

war widows in Panjsheer, Afghanistan

Chris Beales talks about Income Generation at a carpet weaving factory in Kabul, Afghanistan

Martin Jones explaining the latest news from the school for Tribal Children in Nilgiris, India

Mark Abraham spoke about our shelter for girls, under 15 years old in Nugegoda, Sri Lanka

Martin Hunt delivered an interesting speech about a pottery project in Biyagama, Sri Lanka

Eleanor Gall talks about the availability of funds for Afghanistan.  Swapna Mookurjee listens

Guests listening to the Countess Ilona’s comments on the projects presentation

Countess Ilona closes the meeting

Mary Beckett from Bushey & Oxhey Methodist Church, contributes flowers to Countess  Ilona, and highly commends our work