Tag: girls

shuktara - Raksha Bandhan

Independence Day / Raksha Bandhan

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As far as we remember, this never happened until this year – Independence Day and Raksha Bandhan are both today, 15th August.

Lula Bari girls celebrated Independence Day by raising the flag on their new pink roof while the boys (led by Sunil of course) also raised the Indian flag.

Then as Raksha Bandhan is a celebration of any brother-sister like relationship everyone exchanged rakhi, the beautiful bracelets that are given to sisters and brothers to show your love and respect.

Definitely a day of devotion for everyone at shuktara – to India and to each other!

shuktara - Muniya holding a painting

Lula Bari painting completed!

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It took us exactly two weeks to paint Lula Bari pink.

As you know the Kolkata International Women’s Club who support our girls sponsored the painting and decoration of the ground floor.

We then decided to paint all the way up to the roof and this has been sponsored by Helena Christensen and Camilla Staerk through their Pawn Shop.

Thank You for your interest in the progress of this work and your support of Lula Bari and everyone at shuktara.

We look forward to sharing more stories and photos as the girls and young women who live at Lula Bari move back upstairs.

It all started with choosing the right pink…

Tamina and Pappu are ready for the painting to start.

Our painters prep the walls.

New colour and the old colour

Painting the stairs progresses

Getting there…

Painting the stairs that go up to the roof

On the roof, painting the walls

Adding the finishing touches

Two weeks later…

Pappu inspects the work

Tamina checking out the newly painted pink walls. Now it’s time to re-hang the pictures!

Gifts from friends

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Feeling very grateful for gifts and support for everyone at shuktara!

Our friend Karuna Ezara Parikh and her husband Amitesh had a monsoon clear out of clothes that they no longer wear and one of our neighbours bought a water filter machine for the girls house.

Below are photos from Lula Bari with the girls modeling their new dresses and also Sunil, Bablu and Bappa are proudly showing off their new outfits. Lali is clearly excited about the new water filter at Lula Bari.

Thanks to our Kolkata friends for their generous and thoughtful support!

shuktara homes - Moni balancing a ball

Physiotherapy update

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Since April of 2018 Sandeep (our physiotherapist) has been coming to shuktara twice a week. We thought you might like to see how the girls at Lula Bari are doing – check out the photos and short videos below.

Sandeep visits Anna Bari as well for Subhash, Bappa, Aakash and Sumon.

Prity

Prity is most comfortable sitting – but Sandeep is trying to get her to stand for longer periods to strengthen her legs.

Pappu says:

“Prity is concentrating more now with physio because as she is 18 years old her study at REACH school is over. She has more time to improve herself with the help of the physiotherapist and she is doing well. It will take a long time for Prity to improve her movement.”

Moni

When Moni came to shuktara she would only crawl. Now with regular physiotherapy she is standing and walking more confidently.

Pappu says:

“Moni is improving a lot and Sandeep thinks if she listens to him then she can walk freely.”

Guria

Physiotherapy for Guria is all about straightening, stretching, strengthening. She works very hard at her exercises twice a week.

Pappu says:

“Guria is trying hard but her disability [means that] most parts of her body don’t act together. His aim is to coordinate Guria’s movement however that will take a long time.”

shuktara Founder's Day 2019 - David and Sunil holding a photo of Anna

1st July 2019 shuktara Founder’s Day

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On the 1st July everyone at shuktara celebrated our Founder’s Day, commemorating the day that Anna and Sunil came on the 1st July 1999. Twenty years of shuktara is definitely something to celebrate. A dedicated team spent several days decorating the roof with draped vintage saris and jasmine garlands. There was a swing version of the Jasmine Throne, which is starting to be a serious shuktara tradition.

All afternoon and into the early evening a Hindustani music group played. A phuchka wallah was at the entrance of Anna Bari offering everyone what is surely the favorite Bengali snack. For those of you unfamiliar with phuchka they consist of a round light crunchy exterior filled with boiled potato mash, onion, green chillies, boiled Bengal gram or white peas, chaat masala, cumin powder, rock salt, chili powder, a squeeze of lime, fresh coriander, and tamarind puree.

Between the phuchka and the beautiful music most people sat downstairs and it was really lovely. The music was divine and had the most wonderful calming effect on everyone.

So many people congratulated us on 20 years and we thank you for your words of support and encouragement. We’re all looking forward to the next 20 years of shuktara!

Click here for more videos of our shuktara Founder’s Day…

shuktara - Sunil and Anna

Today shuktara celebrates 20 years!

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1999-2019

First day of shuktara 1999 On 1st July 1999 the founder of shuktara, David Earp, agreed to take responsibility for two teenage boys with disabilities, Anna and Sunil.

The idea was to keep the home small and take in children and young people slowly – first boys, then girls. This was only possible due to the dedication and commitment of David (the founder), Pappu (manager, foster father, chairman and so much more) and the other staff, many of whom have been with us from the early years.

To the right is a photo of Anna and Sunil with David. Sadly Anna passed away last year but we hold him in our hearts and have named the boys home Anna Bari in his memory.

Below is an early photo of the boys, and on the right, the first three girls of Lula Bari, the girls home.

This is how shuktara began…

The photo below is shuktara today…

The year when each person became part of the shuktara family is next to their name. We can’t really say that this is a complete picture because just a few days ago someone new came to Anna Bari. We promise to tell you more about him later because now it’s time to celebrate…

20 years of shuktara!

To read more about the history of shuktara click here.

For more about the people of shuktara go to our shuktara family page where you can learn more about each individual.

Puja in front of the newly painted Lula Bari wall

Painting Lula Bari Pink

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We’ve only just begun…
As you know our friends at Kolkata International Women’s Club sponsored the painting and decoration of the ground floor of Lula Bari. Photo opposite shows Puja sitting in front of the newly painted pink wall.

Pappu has hired a team who will start work on the roof. This is to make it clean, strong and damp proof before the monsoon hits.

Then they will start painting the stairwell down to the first floor where all the girls sleep. When that is finished they will also paint the stairwell down to the ground floor, including all windows, frames and doors on the first floor itself.

Helena Christensen was very excited by the opportunity to help paint the rest of the house in hot pink, so the continuation of this work is being supported by Helena and Camilla Stærk – through a percentage of sales from their Pawn Shop, STÆRK & CHRISTENSEN.

We’re very grateful to Helena and Camilla to have given this wonderful gift of renovating Lula Bari and will post photos when the work is completed.