Author: shuktara

Woman after run holding up pink sign

Judith’s run for shuktara

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Judith was inspired to become a trustee for Shuktara after visiting the homes during work trips to India. 

“It’s always such a joy to visit the young people at Shuktara. The homes have such a great sense of family and the team running the charity so inspiring.”

The new project helping children with disabilities in the outlaying villages of West Bengal was the catalyst to get running and raising additional funds for the charity. 

“As I ran the course I kept thinking about the difference the funds would make to the children.”

Thank you so much to everyone who has already supported Judith’s run and Shuktara. The run took place last weekend (11 March) however you can still support shuktara here:
Judith’s Run for Shuktara

girls playing with colours on Holi

Shubho Dol Purnima

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Dolyatra is celebrated in March on varying dates each year, depending on the position of the moon, and this year it fell on March 7. The holiday is similar to Holi and commemorates the last festival of the Bengali calendar.

Pappu and Bapi
Prity
Lali, Prity and Moni
Puja Bagh
Muniya, Pappu and girls at Lula Bari
Muniya
Sunil, Sumon and Bappa
Puja Basak
Bappa, Sunil, Sumon, Bablu, Bapi
Lali and Puja Bagh
Bappa, Sunil, Sumon and Bablu
Guria and Tamina
Pappu at Lula Bari
Puja Bagh
Lali, Pappu at Lula Bari
young woman crossing ribbon first in running race

Sports Day 2023

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Sports Day for REACH students was held on Sunday, 19 February.

In the running race Tamina came 1st (!) and Lali came 3rd.

Puja was awarded first prize in the austism running group but she is unable to have the medal around her head or stand on podium.

Bappa and Sumon were pushed in the wheelchair race and both received prizes.

Moni chose not to participate and sat to watch.

Puja Bagh
Lali and Tamina with classmate
Sumon
Tamina and Lali are winners
Bappa
Tamina won first prize!
Tamina crosses the finish line first to win 1st prize in the running race!
Pappu helping a young woman with the gift of a support chair

Shuktara Outreach – delivering assistive devices to Purulia

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Pappu’s follow-up trip delivered assistive devices to disabled children and young people in two villages in Purulia district, West Bengal. Seven AFO (Ankle Foot Orthosis) and one movable support chair were distributed. The photos and videos below show the importance of shuktara’s outreach to villages who are not currently given any outside support for the disabled.

Tarakeswar Kumar walking with his newly fitted AFO (Ankle Foot Orthosis). This device is used to stabilise the joints, improve the gait and physical functioning of lower limbs.

Assembling the special chair that will allow Tanjim, who has only been able to lie on a string bed all her life, to sit. The team includes Debasish and his friends who live in Baghmundi village.

Pappu sitting with Tanjim in her new support chair.

This is life-changing for Tanjim who up to this point has only been able to lie on a string bed.

Clearly Tanjim is overjoyed to have her new chair made expressly for her measurements and needs.

Pappu and Tanjim say thank you to all our supporters!

Distributing blankets in the villages

Posted on by shuktara

Pappu and the team just got back to Kolkata from Purulia district where they have been distributing blankets to the families that they are supporting.

They will return in a few weeks when the orthopaedic shoes and chairs that are currently being made to order are ready. They will also sort out hearing tests for the Deaf children and young people in the village who have never had any medical help.

Even though the shuktara family are now grown up, healthy and well supported, they still need for us not to forget about them – our support has dwindled dramatically in the last years since the pandemic and yet the work being done on the ground has grown enormously.
Please donate if you can – your support not only helps shuktara in Kolkata but also our Outreach programme providing assistance to the children and young people in Purulia district.

If you donate now a generous donor has agreed to double any donation given to Shuktara up to the total £30,000 cost to run the Outreach programme for 3 years.
Three young women in white saris with red border dancing

Happy holidays from shuktara!

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Message from Nagendra Kumar Mishra (Pappu), Chairman of shuktara in India

Thank you very much for supporting shuktara!

Message from David Earp, founder of shuktara

It is wonderful from where I am sitting today (having not been back to India since the end of covid restrictions) to watch Pappu really step up and turn shuktara into something that is his dream. Continuing and fulfilling my dreams and wishes for everything that I hoped for during the 20 odd years that I was in Kolkata. And actually so much more!

I remember being confined at home for two months during the Indian lockdown. Pappu had thought something would happen and therefore put many things in motion to ensure that everybody at shuktara had enough to eat and enough medical supplies to last.

I know many of you were touched when he decided to share the food that we had gathered with those in our community who had nothing and who had no way of getting anything.

You may also be aware that in the last months Pappu has been told about villages many hours’ drive outside of Kolkata on the border of Bihar. These villages are so far off the beaten track that few people visit them, let alone health care professionals or doctors. After his first visit to this area he met many families who are looking after and caring for their disabled children. He has now put into place a group of people including shuktara’s physiotherapist, as well as two young Deaf women who will be able to oversee this outreach for him.

On a personal level I feel a great pride watching Pappu grow – and his wish to share more of what the young people at shuktara have with families that in comparison have nothing.

Thank You for your support
David Earp – founder shuktara

Message from Adam Thompson, Chairman of Shuktara Trust UK

From David’s first days above the beauty parlour on Southern Avenue with Anna and Sunil to our two homes in Kolkata today, Shuktara has always helped those who had nowhere else to turn. Over the past year Pappu’s amazing Shuktara Outreach programme  has built on this legacy to help families coping with disability in some of the poorest parts of remote, rural West Bengal. The programme is already having a profoundly life-changing impact for these families.

We’re incredibly excited to announce that a donor has agreed to double any donation given to Shuktara up to the total £30,000 cost to run the Outreach programme for 3 years.
If you remember to add Gift Aid, these matching funds mean that for every £10 you donate, Shuktara will actually receive £25!
Click here to donate

As always, a huge thank you from all the Shuktara family for your amazing generosity over the past year and best wishes for a brilliant holiday-break with friends and family.

Adam Thompson – Chairman Shuktara Trust UK

young woman lighting candles on the floor