News archive of Friends Of India
Dear Friends do not forget to come and visit us on our site, we are preparing new events, more about that soon!
News:
Friends of India will be present as part of the Open Doors of the Via Yoga Centre d’Activities Orientales in Saint Cergue on Saturday and Sunday, 21 and 22 June.Come and savour the flavours of India and see the activities of the Centre. Look out for Pam Walsh and others from FOI and make yourself known. For more information call the Centre on 022 366 39 80 or 079 573 01 66. Click here for more information.
AGM Information evening 17th April 2008
First of all let me thank you for accepting our invitation.
It is good to see so many committed supporters of our projects. more here
President's Speech during our AGM Information evening 17th April 2008
First of all let me thank you for accepting our invitation. It's good to see so many committed supporters of our projects.
One year on since our last AGM and we have had a whirlwind year. As you will see from the financial report later we have managed to raise more than expected – the proof that Friends of India is becoming well known in Switzerland and beyond our frontiers. A couple of weeks ago I received emails from other parts of India and even Singapore – from Indians who had watched the chat show on Vijay Star channel on 19th March. This was 45 minutes of interview at prime time 10h00 pm recorded when I was in India at the end of January. All in Tamil!! An excerpt will shortly appear on our website.
The summer of 2007 was devoted to planning our very successful Gala evening where we raised CHF40’000. Thanks again to the sponsors and to the terrific Gala committee members who did an outstanding job with very little time to do it in! It was indeed the fund raising highlight of 2007. As you will see from the financial report we have tripled our income since the previous year and that was due to this superb effort . So my heartfelt gratitude to all.
2007 saw the opening of Anbumalar the school for mentally challenged children, a complete herd of 50 cows, clothes, snacks and extra tuition for 300 children, 3 new classrooms for EL Shaddai – a school on the slums of Chennai -.playground equipment for a school, salaries for 30 teachers and training opportunities for 1000 women’s self help groups as well as financial help for Eden home an orphanage in southern Tamil Nadu.
We ran a teacher training programme in September when 3 English language teacher trainers from Geneva spent 2 weeks , training 30 teachers from our SUEB villages.
Last but not least we had the pleasure of showing a group of supporters from Geneva around our projects in January 2007. More news about the 2008 trip later in the evening. Sarah Browne our tour organiser has a proposed itinerary for 2009
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I am fortunate to have around me a wonderful team of volunteers who are doing everything they can to make my life easier and so THANKYOU to Alydia, Emma. Mim, Priscilla and Robyn Sam Ted and Trevor.
Friends of India and the Three Mens Company
A lovely evening of MUSIC and MEMORIES
was held chez Ted Talbot on Friday March 28th.
The event was a charity collection to finance an orphanage in the South of India. We managed to make Sfr2'000.-.
David, John and Jeremy first entertained together in Bristol's Lord Mayor's Chapel in January 1988. In 2000 they adopted the name 'Three Mens Company' and, in 2002, decided to present their entertainments more regularly with the specific objective of assisting with charitable fund-raising. They prepared a special programme for Friends of India.
Also during the evening photos and memories of the 2008 ‘Incredible India’ visit and plans for next year’s trip were evoked.
Friends of
Our Gala Dinner is over but our endeavour to continue our aims continues, so don’t hesitate to come and visit our website as pictures and details of our tremendously successful evening will be given very soon. We will inform you, amongst other things, of our projects, people we meet, our aims and goals and last but not least; where we can get together for new events…and many pleasant surprises.
To give you an idea of the success of the evening; we filled the ICC Mövenpick “salon” with 225 spontaneous and generous friends and managed to raise more than Sfr 40’000.-
Thank you to all who made this an unforgettable evening!
Pam Walsh
On behalf of the FOI committee and all beneficiaries – women and children - in South India, let me wish you all a peaceful, joyful Christmas. May 2008 be kind to you and may all your dreams come true!
The FOI Garage Sale was a great success!
Dear friends of Friends of India!
Many thanks to those of you who came to our Garage Sale, as well as to those who donated such beautiful items. An enormous THANK YOU to those who helped us make it such a successful day by their presence and by their tremendous work in the weeks and days prior to the event, during the setting up and during the day. We made a Sfr 4'000 profit
FOI held an information meeting with cocktails followed by the AGM on Wednesday 25 April at the Best Western Hotel Chavannes de Bogis. Attendees received the latest news on FOI activities, projects and plans for 2007. Formal aspects of the agenda included the financial report as well as the election of the committee.
TNF Excellence Award presented to Pamela Walsh at the 2005 conference in Dallas. more here
Simply Theatre brought Noel Coward's Private Lives to Geneva! - Friends of India, in collaboration with Simply Theatre Productions welcomed a full house to a Charity Gala Evening with Champagne and Indian Bazaar at the small bijou Theatre les Salons (Plainpalais Geneva) on Wednesday 15 November. - After a short introduction by Pamela Walsh and Ted Talbot about the projects that concern FOI, a brief video was shown. The audience then sat back and enjoyed the excellent performance of the actors from Simply Theatre. - Before and after the show, as well as during the interval, there was a chance to buy pashminas, Christmas cards, anniversary calendars, table runners, napkins, silver jewellery and other items which all brought in a tidy sum of money. All proceeds go towards building a classroom for children in a rural village in Southern India. It was a lovely atmosphere in the small and cosy theatre where everybody seemed to know everybody. In short, a wonderful evening. Thanks to all the organizers.
Friends of India managed to net more than 2,700 CHF for its projects at a fundraiser held on 21 May in Geneva. A renowned singing group from England entertained guests as they made full use of the cash bar during a 90-minute "happy hour". Thanks to all who came - and all who helped! Check our projects list to see what this money could go towards.
