School Uniforms, Mapusa, Goa
The last few weeks have been incredibly busy getting ready for the new school year. It looks like (fingers crossed) it will be the first full academic year since the pandemic started so we have been working hard to ensure the children have everything they need.
The last week we have been giving out the final few items including umbrellas (for the pending monsoon), pencil case full of everything they need and of course their new uniforms. Here are just a few of the children in their new uniforms.
Thank you for the bicycles, Mapusa, Goa
We were contacted just two days ago asking if the children would be interested in receiving some bicycles. Obviously we said yes, we took 5 of the students to "The Holiday Inn" in Candolim and each of the children were presented with a new bicycle.
Thank you to everyone involved and the last minute rickshaw man who helped transport the cycles back to the centre.We have been very lucky over the last two week with the children receiving 13 bicycles in total. The first set of 8 bikes needed a little 'adjustments' as the bike technicians ran out of time during the event so it did take Rob several days to tighten the brakes, seats, wheels etc. The second set of 5 bikes were much easier as the two technicians managed to hand them over in perfect condition. We have given out 13 bikes, although as the bikes were a little large for some of the girls, we did swap one of the bikes for a bmx that was already at the centre, and another one of the girls took a bike from the other set as they had a more appropriate frame and she could actually touch the floor. I didn't manage to get photos of all the kids, but here are a few of them taking them home.
Back to school, Mapusa, Goa
The first few weeks of June are always so busy for us at Goa Outreach as we sort out the long list of items that the children need to start back school and college. We have happy to say that schools are back and the children are so happy to be back meeting their friends and generally getting back to normal after a very long break due to the pandemic.Uniforms have been stitched and given to the children, with just a few alterations here and there.
One large requirement are books, a HUGE number of books have been bought and given to the children as they bring their notebook requirements on a small slip of paper from schools the children attend.
It is great to see lots of the children coming to the center after school in their new uniforms.
Seven of our students passed their 10th standard a couple of weeks ago and are just starting their high education, for all of them this means changing schools which is a little daunting and exciting at the same time.
Our young adults who passed their 12th standard last month are still patiently waiting to hear if they have been accepted into their first choice of colleges. We hope to hear back in the next 9 days.