Reseskildring - Travel report:

VISIT to SWEDEN & SWITZERLAND

Our trip started with a visit to Switzerland.
You can read about it here.

Then we came to Sweden.

This was my eighth visit of Sweden and Koki’s fourth. She visited Sweden after about 2 decades. We were the host of Leena  Sandin. We stayed with her in 1984 during our first visit of Swden. It was so moving to meet several old friends. Those [many] who have visited Dharampur were so keen to know every thing about the happenings in particular and progress on various Sectors in general, in Dharampur.  We visited Kumla School [old guard], Tyreso Skola and Strand School in Tyreso Komun as well as Allea [see below] School.  We congratulated the schools for their grand performance during ‘Operation One Day Work’ [after we left] and also informed them, how their support is being put to use in Dharampur schools. The high light of Kumla School [and the trip] was our meeting with Yim Fun Wu a kitchen worker]. She, her family and friends supported drinking water schemes in two schools. She wanted us to carry [for all our 900 students] chocolates. What a love! As that was not practical, we promised her [and did] that we will distribute nice chocolates to all the students and tell how she loved them. Great. We are highly impressed with all these motivated schools. David and Yelna, who visited Dharampur last year, took us to a new school – Solna Gymnasium.  We talked to the ‘Students Council about OODW concept and its strong impact in Dharampur Schools – poor in infrastructure. We were impressed with the student leaders, the school atmosphere and the principal – very cooperative.       

We also had been to well - attended public meeting in Tuff Office. All three of us explained the changing [ever expanding] nature of the project and its emerging holistic shape [starting with schools, but not limited to schools]. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet many Tuff friends [otherwise whom we could not see during the trip], who had visited Dharampur.  Though briefly, we tried to meet Margaretha – Gunnar often.  It was sad to see these proactive friends of Dharampur almost bed – ridden. We shared many – many memories with that knowledgeable lady. Rajesh got special benefit of her and looked to so many pictures taken by her, in last two decades. It was a real orientation for first  time visitor Rajesh.  It was an unforgettable [and a surprise] gesture on the part of Gunnar that he came all the way to receive us at Arlanda, in spite of his fragile health [with young and loving Gunnar]. He also joined us in Kumla dinner, hosted by Tuff and public meeting in Tuff office. What a love for us and Dharampur!

One of our oldest friends,  Lehte [and Walter ], from day one in Tyreso spared three days to join us in Tyreso and drove us to Solna as well as her daughter’s nice family.  It was an experience to be with Orjan – Greta couple for two days in their distant farm house. Both of them are old lovers [50 years?] of India. We discussed plans after plans for future. Helene [she introduced us to Allea School – still active : see above] more than 20 years back – as her daughter was studying there. Both of them made it a point to meet us – so inquisitive. Last but not the least was our frequent and informal meetings here and there with Ake [the spirit behind TUFF] and Monica. We shared with great interest and hope, past experiences and vision of future Dharampur. As always, they took our Interviews for Radio Tuff.  There were many others not mentioned here, whom we met during such a short trip, or who invited us for dinner. It was interesting to meet the office – bearers of Tyreso Municipality. Why not a link – Tyreso & Dharampur?

Wonderful Support by Sister Schools

Nicely and continuously coordinated for the last 35 years, TUFF has been instrumental in providing generous support to VPSS [and also several other NGOS] first in Vedchhi Block [Gujarat] and since last 23 years for ‘Comprehensive Area Development Project’ - includes schools as well as so many other socio - economic welfare programs - totaling three and a half decades – without a break, for a vast Dharampur – Kaprada Block. This project now covers some 80,000 poor tribal people of 100 villages, spread out in a large area, in deep forests and mountains.  During the period under review, the following support was raised by the following Sister Schools [after our visit] and individual well – wishers for Dharampur Block. 

Kumla Skola :                 65906  SEK

Tyresö Skola :                36855 SEK

 Alléa Skola [Floda]:      47855 SEK

 For Mango Project [By individual well – wishers]: SEK 3975

Two primary Schools [grades 4-5-6-7] are being run completely by Tuff support and 4 others are getting bridging support for small requirements, as the case may be, in those schools as well as hostels.

Let us express our deep pleasure for the wonderful and record - breaking outcome of the ‘OODW’S of the schools and nice support by several Tuff members for mango Plantation program – so attractive for them.  The credit goes to the wonderful [meticulous] planning of the school community and hard work put up by the teachers and more importantly pupils [even small ones]. They deserve al the cheers.

Bhikhu

Läs också - Also read:

N E W S - B U L L E T I N  [March - August : 2011]