Media Release
Bengaluru, Dec 18: Dream India Network organized ‘Christmas Sangama 2017’ for children of Dream India Foster Homes at Mount Carmel College, here on Sunday December 17. Children from about twenty foster homes participated in the well-organized celebrations.
chief guest Dr Shalini Rejneesh, IAS, secretary, education department, speaking on the occasion called upon the children to have dreams to become doctors, engineers and to attain other such levels. Dr Shalini, 1989 IAS batch woman topper recipient of several awards, prizes and felicitations urged the children to have good dreams to achieve their goals. Dr Shalini who handles Sakala has is an MBA holder from Latrobe University, Australia, PhD from Mangalore University and MA psychology from Punjab University. She is a BA and MA gold medalist. Dr Shalini who was principal secretary of various departments, Government of Karnataka, exhorted the students to have dreams for highly placed jobs for a secure future. She posed a question to the children on what Jesus had done during his lifetime. Everyone is aware of that and she encouraged them take up such jobs as Jesus had done at least this Christmas. Dr Shalini also wished them all to make use of the opportunities for studies and other activities so as to build their career and to come up in life.
Fr Edward Thomas SDB, founder and mentor of Dream India Network in his welcome to the guests and others mentioned Adam and Eve are in paradise. He made an appeal to the children to create this kind of paradise to be happy, to be at peace and to spread the love of God. Jesus who is God came to earth for all to love each other especially God’s love among all people. Fr Edward who earlier handled child care and various other children-related activities and social problems under Government of Karnataka said, "Christmas is a spiritual movement and not a caste, creed or religion based celebration as such. Christmas should be a celebration of love to be enacted repeatedly not only annually but in every person’s day to day life. Fr Edward who is a dynamic force behind the foster homes said, "Dr Shalini goes out of her way to help children and foster homes in various ways. She offered part of her own office for Dream India Foster Homes when the director denied space in M S Building." Fr Edward was full of accolades for Dr Shalini for her support, encouragement and guidance.
The chief guest and other guests of honour lit the specially made candles to symbolize Jesus as light of the world. Dr K Mathai, KAS, Ivan Colasso, Rajendra, P M Mathew and Sr Arpana, principal, Mount Carmel Degree College were also the other guests of honour.
Mathew CEO of Dream India Foster Homes delivered a Christmas message stressing on two points. "Jesus was born in a manger. He chose to be born among donkeys and cows indicating his humility and identifying himself with the poor. Jesus advocated loving one another as God loves each and every one. Jesus exhorted all to create aparadise on earth." In an analogy, Mathew, a full time facilitator, conveyed and emphasized the importance of sharing. He said, "There was a girl named Gowri who prayed before going to sleep. She prayed to God to appear to her and to speak to her personally. She was disappointed as it did not happen.
"Gowri saw a boy crying as he was very hungry. She gave him a chocolate she had and felt happy. Next, she saw a woman shivering due to cold. Gowri gave her a shawl. She could not see God anywhere. But, God appeared to her that night and embraced her. God was wearing the same shawl she had given to the shivering woman. God looked benevolent and kind. God comes to us in the form of ordinary people. Children we need to be obedient to superiors, elders and teachers. As children, he said, they could also share chocolates and other such things with others.
In his message to the adults, he said, "Christmas candle gives out light all the time, which keeps getting smaller and smaller and finally disappears. All need to be small for others and discover the joy of children, thereby hearts will be filled with peace, joy, love and happiness this Christmas."
The Foster Homes and children performed at Anugraha Children’s Home, Satgamaya Children’s Home, JMJ Snehasadan Children’s Home, Katherine Children’s Home, Krupa Children’s Home, Nativity & Carmel Ghar, Louisa Home, Kolbe Boys’ Home, Srushti Children’s Home, Provindence Home, Claverian Children’s Home, Navajeevan Balavikas, Navajeevan Children’s Home, Preethisadan Children’s Home Nav Jyothi Children’s Home, Sarayu Trust and Sparsha, Carmel Bhavan and Prajyothi Children’s Home. They performed skits, dance, carols, action songs, mono acts, magic show and speeches on Christmas. Programmes were both in Kannada and English.
Several guests, special invitees and sponsors were honoured with flowers, shawls, mementos and gifts. Some of the guests and children expressed extreme happiness and delight. The children were seen in high spirits, well-disciplined, following the instructions of the Sisters, teachers and volunteers.
About 300 children looked after by different congregations of nuns put up in various Foster Homes spread all over the city received Christmas gifts prior to their dispersal. Sr Shobha compered the entire programme which was attended by people belonging to other religions as well. Sr Jayasree was the programme coordinator. The Christmas Sangama 2017 began and ended with prayer songs.