2001 NEWSLETTER

INTRODUCTION

We are now going into our tenth year of fundraising for projects in the Bodhgaya area. We started in 1992 and we have had years where our fundraising activities have flowed easily and turned into community events and years where bits of money have come from here and there and it has felt a little more like plodding along. Although we had a good garage sale this year, the year has been more of a plodding year than we have had for a while. We have still managed to keep to our regular funding of the PV School and Sister Jessie's community education program. In this newsletter, there are a few words about the passing of Thomas Jost, who was one of our key contacts in Bodhgaya.

One of the issues we have been slowly working away at this last year is getting official tax deductibility status. This is much easier said than done, particularly when it comes to detailed tracing of funds and financial records at the other (Indian) end. While we have complete confidence in how our funds are used, showing that in forms required here is a big ask. We are still working on it.

Our web address has changed. It used to start with "www" and now it starts with "users". The new address is "users.bit.net.au/~vheyde/bda". We haven't updated the site for a while but we are planning a full site redesign in the next few months. The current site still gives a good history, with pictures, of the PV School.

It is sometimes hard to convey the appreciation of the communities we support. Having funded the projects for so long, it means that we have provided a complete basic education for lots of children, and this covers not only numeracy and literacy but cultural studies as well. Christopher Titmuss, one of the directors of the PV School, says that one of the many impacts of the school is big changes (for the better) in the students' self-esteem. Much of the appreciation for what we provide comes from the parents of these children.

With the expansion of Sister Jessie's program, we are able to help villagers not only with literacy but help them further towards economic self-sufficiency. This is a big gift for these people and they know this.

So, to all of you who have and continue to support the projects: thank you\

Victor von der Heyde

REPORT FROM BODHGAYA
by Eoin Liebchen-Meades

Bodhgaya continues to change! The area around the Stupa is now 'pedestrians only' allowing this to be a great open area, a lot quieter and it gives the beggars and pilgrims lots more room. Tibetan traders and markets are flourishing with the variety of goods becoming more varied and of better quality. Hotels! Hotels! Hotels! seem to be popping up all over the place.

A spokesperson for the Maitreya project, which is several kilometers from the Stupa, said that by the time the project is finished, there would be only buildings between it and the Stupa. Already the Root Institute, which used to be "out of town", is now well built around. The Maitreya statue will be (for those of you who don't know) 142.4 metres high (the statue of Liberty is 46 metres), portrays the Maitreya Buddha (considered to be the next Buddha), and at last count will cost over $300 million US. It has big concrete and steel foundations which go down 100 foot.

Our quaint little pilgrimage place of Bodhgaya is rapidly changing. Land prices in some places are as high as Tokyo. There are internet cafes (though the server in Calcutta never seems available and even if it is, is slow, slow, slow!) restaurants, up-market cars, hotels that are clean and well serviced, a well stocked bookshop, and basically more and more.

In spite of all this there is still a lovely sanity there. As one person there said, "it is an island in India". There is still an inspiring presence of the sacared, whether from the place itself, the pilgrims, or a mixture of both, however just out of town there is still a lot of poverty and pain.

PRAGYA VIHAR SCHOOL

Much sadness surrounded news of Thomas Jost's death. His skills as the director and his friendship will be sorely missed. However, we have been very fortunate in that an old friend to Bodhgaya and the school, Katie Mitchell, has volunteered to do what she can to help us out. She is a frequent visitor to Bodhgaya and a lady of many talents. We are very grateful for any help that she is able to give.

The school is running smoothly and competently with an attendance of 350 children. Many thanks to the teachers and particularly the headmistress, Sister Anjali.
We continue to be very proud of the school and the quality of the students. It has now reached the second stage of development; the school is stable in its basic needs and now the emphasis is focused on continued improvement of facilities and the quality of teaching.

We have maintained our commitment of a 1/3 of the schools budget, the other 2/3 being raised in India and Europe. Next year there will be another raise as we have increased the teachers' salaries and the Australian dollar has fallen against the Indian rupee.

There are many areas that need attention and the acquisition of new land for a secondary school has not yet eventuated. Charitable status in India has also not as yet been achieved. In severe monsoons, the schoolyard floods so badly that the school must be closed for days at a time. The first two issues are close to being achieved; the last is difficult because of the lowness of the land. As all of you who read this and have been to India would know, things can seem to take a long time before progress is made.

Yet, in other areas things are changing very quickly. We managed to get a complete bank record in only two hours - we were all totally amazed! Yes, India is changing. Internet cafes all over, more regular, irregular power and an amazing array of middle class comforts. The downside to this is the gap between the haves and the have-nots is growing and the organic nature of Indian society seems to be breaking down.

I was more saddened by the poverty this time than ever before. Mother Theresa used to say the West was materially rich but spiritually poor, whereas the East was materially poor but spiritually rich. I'm afraid India may be heading into materially moderate to poor to spiritually poor.

SISTER JESSIE

As always Jessie is an inspiration to me! She continues to inspire local Indians to help the less fortunate, improving the quality and breadth of her enterprises.

After the success of her chicken project, where chickens were given to poor families so that they could sell the eggs and breed other chickens and due to some very generous donations, Jessie has initiated a cow program. Cows are given into the care of a strong woman in a family unit. These cows give fuel (dung for burning), milk for nourishment and the selling or redistribution of calves to other poor families. This seems to be opening up a lot of possibilities for some poor families. I saw several of these cows on my journey.

Jessie has about 30 school projects with hundreds of children. My travelling friend, Les and I were both in tears to see these poor, barely clad children, sitting on cold cement floors doing their lessons. The teachers themselves were often barefoot or not that well dressed, but here they were doing what they could for the children. These village children soaked in whatever they could and I was reminded that not only the raw information of reading, writing, etc. was being passed on but the very ability to think, which is probably the greatest gift of all.

In a very difficult and sometimes resistant environment, Jessie continues to do her best for the poor. In one school that was held in an abandoned government building holding over 200 children, someone spread a rumour that there was a ghost in the building. Maybe this was due to resistance to lower caste education or because Jessie is a Christian (although she has no conversion activities) or for no clear reason at all. The result was that all of the children left the building and even after doing prayers and rituals by a Brahman priest only 1/3 have so far returned. In a superstitious and caste oppressive society these and dozens of other obstacles occur while trying to help the poor. Many aspects of village life particularly, seem to keep the poor ignorant and oppressed.

SISTER MARY LOBO

Every project, though all for the poor, has a different emphasis and flavour. Mary's projects, as I see them, have emphasis on empowering women. Women seem to be the most positive force for providing change amongst the poor. They seem more willing to explore new ways and changes for long term improvement. They are also not afraid to work for this.

One of Mary's latest projects is to start local village co-operatives. Organizing 15 women together as a group to start saving in a general account and giving incentives in the form of money and training. These groups are helped to achieve self-government and decide how to use the money by lending it to the members of their own group. The loans must be used for cash generating projects, so as they can pay back the money and also improve their life style. These loans can be used for purchasing such things as opening a small shop, buying a cow, farming equipment or a sewing machine. These groups, once taught the basic principles, are left with only minimal overseeing so they can develop the skills of self-governing and saving. To date this is working very well with lots of ongoing success.

Apart from this Mary has many other projects on the go. Such as putting wells into villages. This is a huge benefit to the people and the women are empowered in many different ways. Mary is also a key liaison person with other NGO's (Non Government Organizations) in Bodhgaya.

Sister Mary is another Christian nun with no agenda of conversion but like Christ has a genuine mission to help people improve their lives. It is interesting to note in a Hindu society funded by mainly Buddhist inspired people, in a Buddhist holy site, that three of our projects are led by Christian women. They seem the most skilled, motivated and genuine in their desire to selflessly serve.

I feel it is a privilege to help these people and they are actually helping us by giving us the opportunity to, in some small way, help the people of Bodhgaya.

In Memory of Thomas Jost
1950 - 2000
Director of Pragya Vihar School
Servant of the Dharma
Friend to all

This is the inscription on the memorial stone for Thomas that has been erected at the school.

Thomas died suddenly from illness late last year and will be sorely missed by all. He liaised with us, was a friend, counsellor, arbitrator and manager to so many over the years. Most notably was how his presence was deeply felt amongst the Indian people who knew him. Tears came to their eyes when they talked of him. Ram, the local chai whalla couldn't eat for over a day when he heard the news and numerous were the stories of how he would be missed.

He quietly ambled his way into the hearts and lives of so many, an unimposing gift to us all. There were two memorial services held at the school in January with many attending including two of Thomas's brothers.

From all at the BDA and many others may we share the blessing from having known and worked with this man who lived such a virtuous life.

RAGS TO RICHES
Garage Sale & Market Stall Fund Raiser Report
by Margaret Hunt & Crissi Schmidt

As we were setting up the garage sale a certain unnamed friend said, "I'll give you $500.00, load it all on my trailer and take it to the dump". Oh ye of little faith, friend, guess what - eat 'dem words!

The proceeds from the Monster Garage Sale in November 2000 was $1,700.00 and this together with the $635.00 raised from the Cannon Hill Market Stall in April gave the grand total of $2,335.00.

Our heartfelt thanks goes to all the wonderful friends who so generously donated an amazing array of articles for us to sell, ranging from wrought iron beds, fridges, washing machines, wardrobes, train sets, furniture, bikes, tents, mountains of clothes, books, paintings and bric-a-brac just to mention a few.

The Saturday afternoon was spent setting up all the goods in Margi's yard and special thanks to Deidre for her assistance and Marion for her expertise in arranging and pricing.

We survived the Sunday 5:00am start with the early morning serious "professional" garage sale shoppers and some hard price haggling, thanks to our bargaining experience in Indian markets! Even the showers of rain didn't spoil the fun for all concerned.

The stall at the Cannon Hill Markets for the garage sale left overs took up five bays. We are very grateful to Brian who kindly gave us the use of his truck and helped us at the stall where Tobias's lively touting really raked them in.

So this rags to riches saga shows that peoples' hand me downs and throw aways can educate over 30 Indian children for a year. Isn't that wonderful?

HUNGER FOR CHOCOLATE
by Kerstin Liebchen-Meades

One of our additional fund raising events last year was the all important chocolate drive, proudly organised by Diane and supported by many of Diane's chocoholic staff at Queensland Medical Laboratory.

The fairly simple activity of making up boxes of specially selected and purchased "Cadbury Fund Raising Chocolates" - and selling them in various places - proved to be a particularly worthwhile and financially rewarding activity. A total of $800.00 was raised by placing these chocolates in strategic places for stressed and peckish people such as QML, St. Aidan's Anglican Girls School and the Cloudroom.

Thanks to all of those people with a sweet tooth.

THE FISCAL REPORT - 2000/2001
by Pamela Grayson

Despite the absence of a major fund-raising function we were still blessed with strong financial support, which came from varied sources and from the constancy of smaller ongoing activities.

From retreats organized by Victor, teachers and managers donated to the BDA some or all of the dana received by them and participants also gave generously. We were privileged with an inspiring dharma talk by Christopher Titmuss, a co-founder of the Pragya Vihar School and all monies given benefited the school. At the the Cloudroom at Richmond Road regular weekly/monthly dharma talks, meditation circles and reiki sessions are freely given and the magical 'donation box' at the door provides a constant flow. Other funding came from greeting card sales, chocolate drives, garage and market sales...all new ventures this year and our Web site as well as our recurring donors.

Funds were again personally delivered by a committee member making pilgrimage to Bodhgaya, which brings a two-fold benefit. On return, the member's stories re-inspire the committee and we gain up-to-date and direct knowledge of current project activities.

Distributed funds in November 2000 were:

Pragya Vihar School A$ 5,500.00, Sister Jessie A$ 3,500.00