Newsletter Winter 2022

Wishing you a blessed Christmas. May you and those you love, be safe and warm. May the true spirit of Christmas resonate in your hearts, bringing peace, love and unity to our troubled world.

When Christmas comes families meet to celebrate and importantly, we choose to place the children centre stage. Children are our future, we need to cherish them, they are precious and special.

For our little boys and girls in Kalimpong, India, the story is somewhat different. Some of the 45 disadvantaged children we support are immigrants from Nepal. In the last few years Modi, the Prime minister of India has stated that India is for Indians. Therefore, the migratory parents and child go hidden within the society and are used unscrupulously as cheap labour being seen as belonging to the lowest caste.

Seven-year-old Raul is such a case. We have placed him in Paramount School and have negotiated a special rate when next year he starts primary. He lives with his mum and dad in one room 8×12 containing two single beds, a wardrobe, a small table and a plastic chair. The walls are damp and discoloured with mould. The kitchen is 6×4 and has a tiny wall rack. Here the mum cooks their meals.

They share an outside hole in the ground toilet, Father carries heavy loads up and down the surrounding hills. He will take any load he can manage. Being Gurkha stock, he is used to much higher mountains. Mum must clean a private nursery (not one used by us), and whilst she can do this, they can remain in the hovel in which we found them. They are caught in a trap, unable to escape or get anything better. Unable to ask for Indian status. Lost in a community that disowns them.

Raul first came to our school pale, sad and withdrawn. We placed him on vitamin gums. He has now blossomed into a well-balanced child. With the school uniform on he is no different to the rest of the advantaged children around him. His parents are so grateful to Room to Learn (RTL). Without our help, children like Raul would go undiscovered. We are not happy with his home situation but have our arms tied. We are foreigners in a foreign country and must not become politically involved. For the local people, it is acceptable.

St Philomena’s is a girls’ Missionary School and Sister Leoni from St Anne’s Convent met us and took us to meet three of our original RTL students; Rayal, Annie and Diksha to whom the sisters have awarded free scholarships. The Sisters deeply appreciate the work of our charity.

Towards the end of our 30-day stay, we asked if a party could be arranged for our 45 children. Ritica, our Child Mentor made all the arrangements. We handed over toys, felt tip pens and colouring books we had been given and our knitting team’s stripy jumpers, hats gloves and mittens plus teaching aids. Ninety-year-old Dinah knitted mittens and embroidered the backs with alphabet pictures, Margaret knitted pullovers with numbers 0 to 10, plus and minus, and Ten Green Bottles. The children were enthralled. Our Web site will shortly host videos of these events.

Finally, the icing on the cake, Father Christmas (Brian) with his 8yr old child assistant entered at the back of the hall. ‘Jingle Bells’ blasted out from the loudspeakers. The air was electric with excitement. As soon as the children saw him they raced to be with him, all 45 of them.

The three schools North Point, Pioneer and Paramount, selected by Des, our CEO, had arranged for the children to charm us with their songs and dancing. Mums cooked the food. The hall was packed, front to back. I had a job to fight back tears as I thanked them, and several mums were also choked with tears as they explained what Room to Learn charity had done for them. Please, I make a special plea, do continue to support us, so that we can bring hope to these families. Their children can thrive in education if they are given a fair preschool chance, which every child, particularly the neediest, really does need. Let us give them hope in a struggling world. Our goal is that every child we reach will go on learning so that when they leave school, they can earn a wage to support their own family.

We thank you from the very centre of our hearts which are overwhelmed with the love and compassion you hold for these children in your loving gifts dedicated to their future. May the universal spirit of creation and love guard and guide you on your journey through life.

Ann. Founder of Room to Learn

Contact. Ann and Brian Mills,

Manor House Lodge, Old Minster Lovell, OX29 0RN

Tel 01993 775479

Charity Registered Charity No1165428

Facebook. www.facebook.com/R2LUK

Donate. https://www.roomtolearnuk.org/gifting/