Raj has (as ever) been busy over the last few weeks since he returned to India. I had contact with him today and he has just returned from Chennai (Madras) where he has been running a camp for 13-16 years old boys. It was organised by J- Team ministers.There were 42 boys from Chennai , most of these boys come from a non-Christian background. Raj had a really good time building relationships and sharing the gospel with these kids. He aslo did some practical sessions in self-esteem.
Raj has asked me to alert you to some of his current prayer requests which are:
- Opening of the bank Account for the Trust - you wouldn't believe how complicated this can be but please pray for favour on granting this decision so that we can easily give to the Trust from the UK
- Land for the drop in centre and hostel. We really want to see this land come into being
by the New Year as (as you will have read earlier) we have a team planning to go to help set up the adventure centre in January 08 and a team from Hereford going out in July/August 08. As you may know my family and I (Dave) will also be going to be with Raj for 5 months next year (see http://www.thehiders.co.uk/ for more) and want to spend some time specifically helping to set the hostel up. Please pray for a good piece of land (free ideally!) for these projects - It may seem like a luxury prayer request but having spent lots of time with Raj his need for some kind of jeep (4X4 vehicle) is getting critical. Raj seems to spend a lot on getting people around (visitors from the UK or teams of people out there) and, with his faithful motorbike at last on the blink, he really needs to get a vehicle to get people about in (adventure camping etc). This is a big prayer but....we have a BIG GOD!
- Finally do pray for Raj as he is setting up a national youth workers conference in November. This will be something very innovative for India - more on this another time....
Raj has spent some time recently writing up what has been achieved over the last year (2006-07). It really is staggering reading. Here are just some highlights:
DEVELOPMENT OF THE FISHERMEN TRUST:
- The business vision plan for the fishermen trust was completed beginning of April.
- Paul Dass, Annie Malcolm, Miriam Praveen and Vijay Praveen agreed to be trustees
- Met with Charetred Accountant for the first time on the 6th Nov (Praveen/ Dave/ Raj) .
- CA has written deeds and these have been agreed by the Trustees
- 21st of Feb 07 trust registered
- Tax exemption applied
- Funds secured from Christ Church for two years starting from March 07 .
- Following camps have happened:
- Hebron guides camp
- BCM camp
- J Team
- Sreeni’s group
- Moore road group
- BBC youth
- BBC family camp
- Land yet to be identified
YOUTH DROP – IN CENTRE:
- Happening slowly but not much progress made.
- Creating awareness/ sowing seeds
- Land identified /under negotiation
RELATIONSHIPS:
- Church relationship strengthened / youth /young- adults relationship strengthened at BBC
- Speaker for youth conference / three churches came together- Chennai Aug 06
Enabled a small church to run VBS (holiday club) for un -churched children - Not much progress made in area of social care
- Srineevas visited UK for four weeks as part cross culture experience.
- Anupa from Chennai currently has enrolled for a one-year program with CYE training in water sports.
- Young people from Christ Church to come in Aug but things didn’t materialise
- Beth and Anna visited India for three weeks in April 07 as part of cross-cultural experience
TRAINING:
- Did training for SABC Youth workers conference in Informal education –March 06
- One day visit to training outdoor centre for students exposure.
- Leaders have been training in conducting camps / -Progress made.
- Conducted SU Avalanche Camp staff training July -06
- Training has been conducted for churches youth leaders/ BBC, ETC ,
- Dates are set for the national youth workers conference for November 07
DEVELOPMENT OF THE FISHERMEN TRUST:
- Publicity of the trust
- Apply for tax exemption
- Create Bank account for TFT
- Decide roles for the Trustees
- Raise funds for the trust
- Dedication of the trust through Church
- Employ 2nd staff member
- Trustees training
- Projects implementation / land for ADV/DIN/NS
- Set-up advisory Trustees for the projects
- Land purchase
- Identify land.
- Develop potential to build an adventure centre at friends place.
- Raise support and awareness in the UK for adventure centre
- Use local contacts to collocate data on available land and potential camp site
- Learn to swim camps
- More adventure camps
- Possibility of making our own canoes
- Volunteers to work on our site
- Construct low and high rope course
- 1st Camp on new site
YOUTH DROP – IN CENTRE:
- Create awareness for drop in centre
- Secure funding for the project
- Establish advisory group /seek assistance in setting up the drop in centre
- Rent a building to be used as a drop in centre/ night shelter
- Drop in centre fully functioning
- Proposal for talk bus to be made
- Set-up hotline for young people to call
- Strengthen relationships with churches in UK /ind
- Help local youth organisation
- Have visitors from UK
- Raj to visit UK to touch base/talk to potential funders
- Help in putting a team together for a project for The Samaritans
- Network youth workers/ churches
- Network with Bangalore Youth Transformation (BYT)
- Organise HIV conference through the Samaritans
- Oasis girls camp
- Christmas feeding program
- Create a hospitality team for the UK visitors.
- Identify needs which the TFT could help for other charity trust
TRAINING:
- Raj to go through training in adventure sports while is stay in UK.
- Work on the national youth workers conference in Oct
- Send proposal for Bible colleges to train their students in YW
- National youth workers conference
- Work towards an Indian version of youth work magazine
Exciting eh?? Why not e mail Raj and encourage him. Click here and mail him now!
