There are more Polish hearts in India. A new business associate of Global Language Foundation is the Aravindam Foundation, established by Ewelina Janus in India, thanks to the support of Dr Lokesh Abrol, a director of the Vishnu Charitable Trust and well-known internist in Gurgaon.
About the Aravindam Foundation
The main aim of the Aravindam Foundation is supporting the development of education and the environment by setting up a school for less privileged children, and afforestation of areas at risk of degradation. Many volunteers and donors are involved in the projects and activities of the foundation.
Currently, the Aravindam Foundation runs two science centres: the Lotus Preschool and Gurukul Kalpataru.
Additionally, it administers and supervises the Prakriti Programme, which aim is to revitalise the flora and fauna of the Aravalli mountain range near Gurgaon.
The Lotus Preschool and Gurukul Kalpataru, Gurgaon, India
Numerous journeys through extensive areas of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, and contact with smiling children who, instead of attending schools, are working hard at the age of ten – these are the factors that were great motivation for establishing the Aravindam Foundation. Those experiences were an inspiration for shaping the educational initiative.
An opportunity for the Aravindam Foundation appeared suddenly. A contemporary commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) petitioned for the building of two shelters for cows (Gaushalas).
The shelters were built under the banner of the Vishnu trust fund (Vinshnu Charitable Trust) with the use of government money and on the local governmental area. Having finished the construction, some of the rooms were transformed and reserved for the school, which aims to help children who are facing hard living conditions within the shelter in Carterpuri. Part of the eight-acre package turned out to be a perfect playground. The area was planted with trees, which, after some time, will grow up to impressive size. Teaching started unofficially on April 4, 2012.
Although funds were very restricted, the enterprise developed very quickly. A library for children was built, and soon a kindergarten and afternoon science centre were opened. Rooms firstly occupied by workers have been quickly renovated and beautifully redecorated and painted by volunteers, so they could be transformed into child-friendly classrooms. Currently the foundation runs the Lotus Preschool and Gurukul Kalpataru.
Gurukul Kalpataru – Learning Centre for Culture Education and Training officially started its activity in February 2013. Gurukul Kalpataru aims to support the holistic development of the personalities and skills of children from different age groups through cultural classes and training. Presently, there are 70 less privileged children registered from neighbouring areas. Music, dance, aerobics, self-defence, yoga, theatre, art and handicrafts, maths tutoring, Hindu and English languages – these are activities experienced by a student of Gurukul Kalpataru.
The wish of the foundation is to create a relation between the student and their teacher on a high level. The environment is friendly and well-suited for learning. Children have an opportunity to get to know volunteers from other countries, and the variety of activities, which is not found in other schools, contributes to the better development of the children.
Currently, the school is financially dependent for its maintenance on Apra Auto Company, which covers all teachers’ salaries. All educational aids, daily meals, uniforms, clothes, books, healthcare and infrastructure components such as fans, solar panels toilets, access to drinking water, basic school equipment, and the support of the hospital nearby are only possible thanks to the individual help of donors.
Thanks to another donors, who can help to maintain and open new schools in other towns, it will be possible to set up new establishments in which children will have unlimited access to learning, especially in the countryside, where level of teaching is very low and usually ends in the 8th grade.
Contact: aravindam.pwm@gmail.com