Whenever one comes across reports dealing with poverty, illness, epidemics or
other human tragedies, one's conscience triggers an impulse to do
something to help. This is most commonly undertaken by making a
donation of money. However, donations of money usually spawn
questions as to where the money really goes, and doubts often emerge
concerning the efficiency and transparency of the aid organizations.
We have asked this of ourselves too, and have realized that an
optimal level of efficiency and transparency at the lowest expense is
best attained by being at the right place at the right time.
Where do we operate?
In areas where there is genuine suffering: in the slums of India's
cities and towns.
When do we operate?
Well ahead of time, before the young children fall prey to
illnesses which have now ceased afflicting the industrialized
societies of the West. For a paltry sum, the equivalent of the cost
of a cigarette package, we are able to protect an Indian child
against a variety of illnesses. Illnesses which appear to be harmless
can cause serious damage to children living in slum areas because
their immune system has generally become weakened from
undernourishment, lack of vitamins, and deplorable hygiene. Our job
is to help get them vaccinated against mumps, measles, German
measles, polio, dyphteria, whooping-cough and/or tetanus. Naturally,
it is an illusion to think that one can change abruptly the living
conditions in Indian slums. It would be better, however, to attempt
whatever is possible rather than to do nothing at all. One often asks
oneself why bother at all with "healthy" children. Wouldn't
it be more moving and certainly more conducive to the tugging of
heartstrings - and loosening of purse strings - to show donors photos
of handicapped children whose crutches they have financed? But we
wish to avoid the need for such photos. This does not mean that we
deem other aid methods to be wrong or unnecessary (e.g. foster
parents' associations), only that those methods exceed the
possibilities of our own organization . But every helping hand
nevertheless is important, because it is simply not true - as is
often suggested - that too many charitable organizations already
exist and are vying for their share of poor people. This most
certainly is not the case in India.
Our work:
Indian children who are born in
hospital are officially vaccinated at birth against certain diseases,
and again later on they receive vaccination in school. However, most
children are not born in a hospital but at home. The term "home"
in an Indian slum is rather difficult for the German (or, for that
matter, Western) mind to imagine: the dwelling generally has no bath,
toilet, clean water or electricity. Children who live under such
conditions rarely go to school and thus cannot integrate into the
health care system. Our volunteers visit children in these areas and
set up vaccination camps. This operation entails setting up for one
day, in each case, either a doctor's office or an appropriately
improvised room where Indian doctors and assistants can carry out the
necessary vaccinations. These vaccines are purchased locally in
India. Once the vaccination has been performed, each child receives a
small gift (stuffed toy, toothbrush, ice cream) to distract her/him
from the pain and discomfort of the shot. Additionally, we issue
specially-printed vaccination certificates so as to facilitate the
paperwork in the event subsequent vaccinations are needed. We also
give special attention to the vaccination of girls who, in matters
relating to preventive health care measures, are often assigned
lesser importance than boys. Our German helpers work on a voluntary
basis, using part of their annual holiday to participate in this
project. Some of the Indian doctors and assistants are paid by our
charitable organization for part of their work, but some do work
without pay.
The total cost per child at a vaccination camp amounts to
less then 1 Euro.
We are endeavouring to improve the health conditions of all
children in India. In order to reach this goal, our charitable
organization needs your financial assistance. Your donations are tax
deductible. Please note down our organization's name
(Fördergemeinschaft für Kinder in Indien e.V.) as well as
the tax number (71-608/09730/ Finanzamt Bremen) on your transaction
slip and send it along with your next income tax declaration form.
How can YOU help ? The easiest way is by making a
modest donation. We would also welcome small stuffed toys that we can
bring as gifts to the children, but please clarify first with us
before sending them owing to limited transportation facilities for
the items. In any event, your active participation in Germany and in
India remains equally important. We would greatly appreciate if you
passed on this information to friends, acquaintances and colleagues
so as to help our organization become better known to the public.
Exhibitions and talks, followed by a small collection round, have
already taken place in the past, as well as family feasts where
presents were replaced by a collection box to which family members
contributed. Other examples of fund-raising projects carried out was
a race that took place on the feast of St. Nicholas (Dec. 6th), and
project weeks on India organised by schools. There are many ways you
can help. If you have a good idea or would like to actively
participate in our work for the children in India, please contact us
at one of the following addresses. We will gladly provide you with
more detailed information. Also material can be made available, such
as a video DVD (two short reports which were shown on local TV named
„RADIO BREMEN“ and several amateur films of vaccination
camps in India).
Yours truly,
H.-J. REGGE, president of Fördergemeinschaft
für Kinder in Indien e.V.
German Charitable Organization for Children in India (registered in Germany)
main address in Bremen / Germany :
Foerdergemeinschaft fuer Kinder in Indien e.V.
c/o Hans-Joachim Regge,
Fesenfeld 57, 28203 Bremen, Germany, Telephone: (0049) - 421 -
71111 Fax: (0049) - 421 - 71111
internet : www.kindergarten.org email:
regge@regge.com 2nd email: regge@arcor.de