The Ashoka Tree Blog

"One person can make a difference, and everyone should try." John F Kennedy This week we are inspired by one donor who very generously contributed four big sacks of adult diapers. These were passed on to two residential relief homes in Kochi. # donations   # kochi   # kochingos   # inspiration   # kochin   # payingitforward # makeadifference

Art is not a thing, it is a way.. A way to make learning more fun, a way to brighten up a space, a way to make children feel they are important.  Excited children at this anganwadi will now get to learn colours and numbers the fun way. They are also excited about walking into a brighter class room.  Thank you Abigail, our enthusiastic volunteer, for getting this done.  # theashokatree   # paintinganganwadis   # kochi   # makelearningfun

The rains are lovely with everything turning lovely shades of green. Then again, there's much more to the greenery around. Mosquitoes are now the main reason doors and windows remain unopened throughout the day in spite of the intense humidity after.   Every mosquito bite can be much more lethal than you know. Having visited enough play schools in Kochi with children having just recovered from mosquito-related ailments, mosquito proofing is now one of our key projects aimed at making children's time in playschools safer.  Mosquito nets for doors and windows at an unaided play school in Chambakkara, Kochi, have made all the difference. ​ #kochi   #kerala   #dengue   #mosquito   #prevention   #donations   #indiangos #kochin   #netting   #mosquitoes   #preventionisbetterthancure #preventioniskey   #mosquitonet

The sanitary napkins contributions are still pouring in.  Thanks to the women of IOC Panampilly Office and some good folks from Kakkanad we made a generous donation to the female destitute ward of the Ernakulam General Hospital.

Over 29 years, and counting, Jumaila Teacher's testament to her work is the enthusiasm with which her little group of 14 children trot in every day.  Here is a lady who's made do with limited resources, balancing family and work life, to create a safe and happy environment for every 2-6-year-old who's crossed the threshold into her anganwadi everyday.  With Jumaila, it's never about how much she has to do, but what more can be done. She is The Ashoka Tree's Woman of 2018.  # InternationalWomensDay # HappyWomensDay   # IWD2018

*The Author is an Intern with us at The Ashoka Tree Past the skyscrapers, through the winding roads, you will find yourself able to hear the laughter of children that is when you know you have reached the right place.   Me being a person with several previous experiences with kids, I did have mild case of cold feet, but once I saw the kids I began it was all water under the bridge. I think I was more delighted to see them than they were to see me. Although since every coin has two sides, it was disheartening to see the walls of the play school colourless. Hence to change that, what I thought would be best was to paste cut- outs of colourful paper flowers and leaves, or of the stars and moon and the planets on the walls. The walls completely submerge the joy that runs through the environment there.   The second thing I think they require would be new visual poster boards. The ones that they have are currently torn and don’t seem to be very useful for the kids. M...