Touching lives, Transforming communities …since 1990 Quarterly News update Apr—June 2016

Dear Friends and Family,

Greetings to you from Gotlam in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

In this news update, you would find glimpses into lives of individuals, families and communities in rural parts of , . Bridge of Hope has been striving hard to alleviate the suffering and provide support and comfort to the most vulnerable in these communities—children, women and the elderly.

This ministry is made possible because of the sacrifi- cial giving of time and resources of individuals, families and churches overseas. Special note of appreciation to all our staff and volunteers who strive hard to commu- nicate the love of Christ to the community around.

Thank you so much for being a part of this transfor- mation process of children, families and community— one at a time.

Blessings, Anil Benjamin.

Bridge of Hope strives to enhance life by interrupting the Gotlam, S.O. Cantonment, cycle of poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and disease burden - 535003 through provision of education, access to quality health care and job oriented skill training. Andhra Pradesh, INDIA. AshaKiran - Shaping the future generation

11 children graduated from highschool this year with AshaKiran - is a Ray of Hope to many under good percentage .Sandhya secured highest scores in the final privileged children from different places, cultures, poor exams and stood first in the entire school. Ruth and Gangothri financial and diverse religious backgrounds. Established also secured high scores. Most of the children have joined in in 2000 to provide opportunities for education, physical, colleges and are at pre universtiy level. Maheswara Rao got emotional and spiritual development of under privi- seat in IIIT college . leged children .

Timothy joined AshaKiran in 2013, when he was in 7th grade. He is in 10th grade now. He is from the neighbouring district, Srikakulam. His father is a farmer and fisherman too, mother is home

maker. He has an High school gradutes - May 2016 elder brother. Low family income coupled New academic year started on the 17th June 2016. There are 56 children in AshaKiran right now. with father’s addiction to alcohol puts huge

financial pressure on the family.

Timothy loves the campus life. He says “I like the pollution free environment here with clean surroundings. I love to play cricket, football, drawing and reading stories. My favourite subjects are Maths and Biology. I improved in my studies after I came to AshaKiran. I am expecting 90% in 10th board exams to be held in March 2017. My aim is to become a Naval officer.” Page - 2 Vocational Training Centre & Community College - Learn today, Live tomorrow

Vocational Training & Community College – (Estd: 2003) Providing skill training in Computer Applications, Fashion Design & Garment Making, Tailoring, Pot painting and glass painting.

Radhika is from Tallapu- dipet. She is 19. She has an elder brother. Her father is addicted to alcohol for many years. More recently, he left home and does not Total Beneficiaries take any responsibility towards the family. Her Vocational Training 7 uncle is supporting them

since then. They have no Community College 25 shelter to live in. They used to live in their grandparents home which boasts of two rooms, mud walls with no roof. Tailoring for young mothers 6 Her mother used to work as daily wage labour and feed them. With that little income, she encouraged both to study. Total 37 Radhika says “Even during my intermediate study,

I used to study at home and appear for exams. I used to go along with my mother for work and earn some money. I heard about the Tailoring course in Gotlam. I was admitted into VTC without any admission fee. Soon, I was promoted to Community College where I am learning more skills. 2 village mothers Now, I am confident of earning enough money to r e c e i v e d s e w i n g support my mother. I am also learning basic discipline in life m a c h i n e s a f t e r by staying on the campus. completion of course in April. I am thankful to the Principal, all the staff and faculty at the community college for their love and support.”

Page - 3 Shalom Medical Centre - Spreading Healing and Hope

Bangaramma is from Samarapilli village, she is Shalom Medical Centre- (Estd : 2008) Provides access to 60 years old. She has only one son who got speciality health care services like eye care, child health and married. Ever since her husband died, 7 years general medical problems for the marginalised rural ago, she and her son are working in the farm population who otherwise cannot access quality health care to support their family. More recently, his son’s wife expired. Hence, Bangaramma became the services. Shalom provides comprehensive eye care services care taker of three grandsons and a granddaughter. like Cataract extraction and IOL implantation, Phaco surgery, Pterygium surgery, Glaucoma, lid surgeries etc.,

Bangaramma had a disease in the eye lids in which the eye- Outreach camps are lashes were rubbing the eyes abnormally. She had an opera- 2nd Quarter (APR - JUN) 2016 conducted in remote tion to right eye lid & the doctor advised her to take treatment EYE 300 villages for identifying for left eye lid also. But she could not manage to get operated PED 498 treatable causes of for her left eye. Gradually she Out - Patients GEN 311 developed poor vision due to blindness like cataract TOTAL 1109 the disease in the lids and provide free eye affecting her cornea. In Patients 59 surgeries at Shalom Bangaramma says “I suffered Out reach/ Camp 509 hospital. The services alot with infection in both eyes, Eye Surgeries 163 not able to lift my eye lids and also include transpor- see properly for 4 years. I used tation to and from the hospital and food during the hospital to stay at home and stopped stay for these patients. helping my son in farming.

One fine morning, when I heard Shalom hospital is conducting eye camp in my village, I approached them. They understood Gift of the vision my condition, took me to the hospital and operated on my left was restored to 163 eyelid. Now I am able to lift them up, see clearly and work on p a t i e n t s l i k e my own. I strongly believe that the Lord helped me through this Bangaramma through hospital. free surgeries at Sha- I am very much thankful to God for the hospital, all the staff for lom during the 2nd the love they have shown me and restored my vision. quarter of 2016 i.e. Apr

– Jun. Page - 4

Mobile Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre

Mobile Integrated Counselling & Testing Centre - Mee Nestham

project is providing access to HIV counselling and testing

services to at-risk individuals in remote rural areas in partnership

with State AIDS Control Society, Andhra Pradesh, Govt of India.

Mobile Integrated Counselling & Testing Centre Team

Collecting blood sample from the individual for Testing

Newly detected individuals are connected to the treatment and

support services at the district hospitals for the treatment of opportunistic infections and antiretroviral therapy. A total of 1985

individuals were tested of which 6 were tested positive.

Enrolling the individuals in rural area Page - 5 Child Survival Programme - Releasing children from poverty in Jesus name

Even today, people in rural communities are still dying from extreme Releasing children from poverty poverty and illness. Well, there is a family in Ambativalasa village. Child Survival Program (CSP - Estd in 2004) provides They only had a bit of shelter, food and water. care and support services to the most vulnerable village Prashanth was 5 months baby when he was registered into Child mothers & their children up to 3 years of age. Once the child Survival Program in June 2013. He is 3 years healthy boy now. He has reaches 3, these children graduate into Child Development an elder sister. His father is a mason, very low wage villager. His low Centre. Started in the year 2004, 35 mother child units are income couldn’t adequately support the family. His mother Pydiraju registered in the program now. worked hard to feed the chil- Income generation dren. Every day, the father program helped all the goes for work in buildings; mothers to learn the grandmother goes out for preparation of Indian all begging and bring home some time favourite tomato rice. Often, the family will pickle which gives starve due to lack of grains. regular income with low investment. His mother Pydiraju was very lean and anaemic with very low Children above 2 years haemoglobin. Soon after are able to learn Telugu alphabets, numbers, rhymes, Prashanth was registered into identify colours, arrange building blocks and solve the the program, the CSP staff arranged for medical check-up for Pydiraju puzzles as a part of cognitive development. at Shalom hospital. Soon after she was initiated on treatment, she Addiction to alcohol is a common household problem in started to improve. CSP began to help them with good food supple- many families. These families suffer because the already ments like daily milk and egg, weekly vegetables, dhal and weaning low wage earned by powder for porridge. these men is spent on Pydiraju says “My health got better after joining into the program, I am alcohol as well as the able to work and feed my children. Especially when my husband had disturbances created at fractured his leg and can’t go for work, the CSP staff had been a great home under the support for me and my children. I am an illiterate; CSP helped me to influence. Alcohol De- a d d i c t i o n know about the maintenance of personal hygiene, safe drinking water, program is organised importance of vaccination, how to keep surroundings clean etc. I am to help the affected so thankful to God for Child Survival Program”. families. Alcohol De-addiction program

Page - 6 Child Development Programme - Releasing children from poverty in Jesus name

Highlights: Ashirvad (Estd in 2002) & Pragathi (Estd in 2007) are the 2

 National Girl’s Day Child Development Centres in Gotlam and Garudabilli villages was celebrated to designed to promote physical, cognitive, socio-emotional create awareness and spiritual development of the underprivileged children. about the importance of girl child in the A total of 656 children are registered in these 2 centres. family and community. 327 children have undergone Annual Health screening like : Gender discrimination is common problem in  Master Health Check up - growth monitoring and the community. hemoglobin level.

 Family fellowship  TT vaccination - to all age group children from 3 - 19 & was a time of relaxation, fun and learning from each other above. and through external resource person. Parents had the opportunity to participate in games and fun events. All the parents could come together to learn from God’s word and encouraged by the personal testimony of Mr. Eswara Rao who was originally from a Hindu family. He shared his experiences and his personal encounter with Jesus.

 Women’s Day was celebrated to encourage all the mothers through highlighting the success stories of women in different fields.

Health screening for Adolescent girls Eye Check up North AP Coastal cluster won the all  120 adolescent girls had awareness program on adolescent round championship in health and related issues. Dr. Vidya M.D (Gyn) from Vizag was Regional Sports Meet the resource person. conducted to all the CDC centres in AP.  Eye medical check up - by Dr. Sucharitha screened all the 327 children from Ashirvad CDC for common eye problems. 6 Children with refractive errors were prescribed spectacles. Page - 7 Child Development Centres - Releasing children from poverty in Jesus name

Adilaxmi is 18 years girl pursuing Bachelors course is Sci- Forty children graduated from high school, 26 children passed Pre ence. She has an elder brother. Her father is a farmer and University course and 6 children completed University education. Of the pre-university children, 3 children stood first in their mother is home maker. Adilaxmi joined Ashirvad CDC in respective colleges. 2002 when she was 5. Activities like Vocational Bible School (VBS) with the theme: “Our She says “My project Beautiful Earth”, Global Prayer Day, Bible Quiz competitions staff observed my inter- helped children gain spiritual knowledge and also to mould their est in sports and characters. 15 children came forward, promised to lead holy life

encouraged me by for Jesus in Youth fest. An LDP child shared her testimony in youth retreat which was encouraging to the children. providing professional rd coaching in Football, Summer Sports Camp was conducted from 23 April to May 5, 2016. s i n c e 2 0 0 8 .

I participated in Under

14 Girls District level

football tournament in

Vizianagaram. I represented for 2 years. Later participated in Under 17 girls State Football

Tournaments, got selected for Nationals and played 5

National tournaments till now”. She was also provided with food supplements and all the travel expenses.

Adilaxmi became captain for the team participated Under 17

Women Football Tournament at Gwalior. Her aim is to get a 3 children participated in Under 17 National Women’s Foot ball good government job and play for Internationals. Tournament at Gwalior and played till quarter finals.

Page - 8 Infrastructure Development Construction update: New constructions and improvising the existing old buildings continue in order to meet the increasing need for on-campus accommodation as well as work space.

The tiled house behind the church (originally pastor’s quarter) is being used as hostel for the hospital staff. Rainy season required some repairs of the roof; the tiles are re-laid and painting give it a new look.

Staff Quarters - completed up to roof level

Page - 9