Dearest Rupaji, Yesterday I watched the very wonderful video about the opening of Sandipani Muni Secondary School. I was very moved. It is like a visit to the spiritual world. I am totally amazed how these children that have undergone extreme hardship and often abuse, blossom into gopis of great effulgence, joy, beauty and purity. Amazing and very moving! You and FFLV staff are doing such a wonderful service!! 

Doctor Ludwig Jacob. Chairman - CEO Dr. Jacob’s Medical GmbH, Mainz, Germany 
 

Turning withered souls into beautiful beings

Two years back, while visiting Sri Vrindavan I came in contact with Food for Life Vrindavan. FFLV has been undertaking various social projects; food distribution, medical services, water projects, environmental projects, organic farming, animal protection, elderly care, social development, and educational services. 

As an educationalist myself, I explored their educational field with great attention and wonder; here’s a school whose admission criteria is not a fee or a good grade, but the level of poverty. Unless the child comes from the poorest of the poor there is no hope of admission at Sandipani Muni schools. So much so that the school has a waiting list of 500 children and many more parents knocking at the door. 

During an interaction with the elder students, I personally witnessed the good standard of teaching and the amazing change in these children’s lives. Their intellect has been sharpened and their confidence built, turning withered souls into beautiful beings.

I heartily thank the management as well as the teachers for their dedicated service to these poor destitute children, giving them a chance to live a worthy life. I also extend my help in turning the Sandipani Muni schools into a world class schools. 

R.K. Parashar, Rrtd 
M.A. English, Psychology, Hindi 
M.ed. MOL Linguistics 
Government State Awardee in Education 
Educational Advisor, DAV public schools, New Delhi 

They have given us and taught us a lot more

We came to the Sandipani Muni School with the intention of improving our Hindi doing some voluntary work with the children. Our experience at the school and working in such close contact with the children has rendered this trip a magical experience that has opened our eyes to a reality that we couldn’t have even begun to imagine. The school is an oasis surrounded by confusion and poverty. On the eve of our return to Italy, we are short of words in describing exactly what the children have given us because they have given us and taught us a lot more than anything we could ever have given them. Thank you to each and every child and to every smile that has changed our lives and given a new dimension to the meaning of existence. We are thankful to Food for Life management for giving us this opportunity to come. These children have entered deep into our hearts and we will do whatever we can to help continue this wonderful mission.

Erica (left) and Silvia (right) students of State University of Milan (Italy), Faculty of Culture and Languages. 

Stella Lemmi, Italy

A truly worthy cause 

I would like to congratulate Rupa and his team for delivering the basic necessary commodity of education to help uplift these children from their cycle of poverty. It is inspiring to see the selfless work and the steady progress of projects, so much so that the doctor/patient community of my practice in Canberra has adopted this as a truly worthy cause. We always look forward to our yearly visit to the school to catch up with our sponsored children and to bring over the generous donations from the Australian public. Keep up the good work. 

Dr. Rashmi Sharma, Canberra (Australia). 

My first visit to India 

I always wanted to spend some time doing social work with children and, as soon as I graduated from school in Switzerland, I searched for an association where I could spend few months offering service. Somehow I came across Food For Life Vrindavan and just by looking at the website and corresponding with the volunteers, I felt inspired. It is my first visit to India but the children made me feel at ease from the very beginning. I was a bit scared my first day at SMS. But I saw faces that would have brought me so much joy in the following days. I was overwhelmed by the affection, the smiles and the joy in their eyes. Even today, after three weeks, this special reciprocation still goes on, in fact it seems to increase with every smile. As my first experience as a volunteer I would have never expected something like this, I feel very fortunate by what has been gifted to me here. 

Delia Pisoni, Switzerland. 

Sacramento Gujarati Samaj Youth Group, CA, USA

This year I made my second trip to India and again I went to Vrindavan and visited the Sandipani Muni School, the ’School of Joy’, as I like to call it. When I went to India last year I felt a very powerful impact and the strong desire to escape from that world, which is so fascinating and so hard at the same time.
In Vrindavan you can find a joy of life and an enthusiasm that for us Westerners is hard to comprehend. Sandipani Muni School is an oasis in the desert, a shelter where children find affection and care along with learning and personal growth. The eyes of these children are full of happiness, and when they surround you that happiness overwhelms you. I have found in Sandipani Muni School the point of arrival in a journey that began years ago. 

Giorgio & Caroline, Italy

 R.K. Aggarwal, Nanyug Market, Ghaziabad 
 

Every day I take my children to school before going to work. Their school is clean, functional, and stuffed with everything imaginable. Living in the West, it was expected by me that my children would go to a good school. That expectation, in combination with the daily routine, leads me to take this blessing for granted. When that happens, I think of the children in Vrindavan. For many of them, it is expected that they do not attend school and never receive an education.

When I found Food for Life Vrindavan and met Rupa, I saw that this group was making a significant difference in the lives of Vrindavan’s children and poors. Even before I took my family to Vrindavan, (which was an unforgettable experience) to meet our sponsored children, I had the sense of personally and directly touching these children’s lives by contributing to Food for Life Vrindavan. I have been sending money to various charities for some time. You know that the money is doing well, but it is often a bit impersonal you don’t get to see the actual impact that your donation is having. The opposite is true with Food for Life Vrindavan.

My family and I have a sense of connection with these children and their families. It is a joy to share what we have and to know that our modest sharing is making such a profound impact on their lives. I can only hope that someday they, too, can feel free to expect that education will be a normal part of their lives. Food for Life Vrindanvan is making that happen. I’m along for the duration.

Kurt Mausert. Attorney at Law, Upper state NY. 

Many sadhus come regularly for prasada. One day I questioned one sadhu if he was also taking prasada in other temples. His comment was, " At Banke Behari you can have very nice darshan of Thakurji, but here you are feeding us every day. This is possible only in your Mandir."

Rupa Raghunath Das

Kamalsan Das (UK)

Overwhelmed by the atmosphere!

A group of Patrons visited the Sandipani Muni School for a day of festivities. The school had put on various items for a large audience. The items included special dances from Vraja, short dramas in hindi and english, and a presentation by the teachers on the work of the school. The patrons were overwhelmed by the atmosphere in the school. These children are the poorest in vraja and are getting a chance to get educated...such a rare opportunity. The group served lunch to all the children which was sponsored by Rasik and Panna Mulji in loving memory of their daughter Palvi. Later the children served all the guests a wonderful feast. We finished the day by giving out gifts to all the children. The guests were touched by the children and helped the school by participating in the sponsorship program.

Srutidharma das, Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK

It is hard for me to put into words the deep emotions I felt when I walked into FFLV Sandipani Muni School. My heart twisted in pain when the principal informed me that some of the infants had rarely tasted milk before coming here. At that moment I made a resolve that I would provide milk for all the infants in Sandipani Muni School. As I walked from one classroom to the next, I was astonished at the transformation of the children. Children that had once played in drains and stood negelected in dusty streets, were now seated behind desks, attentive to the orders of their teachers. If only we could accomplish this miracle for all the neglected children in Vrindavan. 

Eira Patnaik, USA 
 

Every cookie helps!

Nadia Kamala, Vani and Panchali helped their moms bake cookies and cupcakes and very diligently sold them at a Sunday feast in their community in Alachua, FL.

They wished the money to be used for the children of Sandipani Muni School. Thank you all for the wonderful service. Hearing of your activities and sponsoring a child in your school makes us feel very connected to Vrindavan.

Tapasvini dd, USA

Serving with sincerity

Our family gets asked to donate money to manyorganisations each year. We give smalldonations to some as a goodwill gesture, but the only organization we give a substantialdonation to is Food for Life Vrindavan. There are two reasons. The first  is that with FFLV, almost all of our donation goes to those who need it, not to overhead expenses. Secondly, and the most important reason, is that we implicitly trust the people at FFLV and the sincerity in which they serve.

Peter Burwash, author and lecturer, USA

 

---

 

I came to Vrindavan, with my seven-year-old daughter Riley (Radharani), to advance culturally and spiritually. I accompanied her in the FFLV van at least once a week, ove r a period of three months. During this time, we visited a variety of village schools and assisted in the distribution of hot nutritious meals to undernourished children.

Anticipating the satisfaction of a tasty meal, the simple-hearted children expressed so much joy at our arrival. Our visit was a treat for them. They cheered and ran after the van when we left - they had not only been brought a satisfying meal, but also hope! By rendering this assistance, one can see and feel the positive results at the front-line.
Assisting FFLV was an unforgettable experience, cherished moments working alongside a bona fide humanitarian service in aid of the poverty-stricken children of Vrindavan. 
It was an invaluable educational lesson for Riley, and truly the highlight of my time in Vrindavan. My heartfelt thanks and admiration go to the FFLV team, who are truly dedicated, working tirelessly to provide this true act of compassion.

Trudy-Anne Hammond, Australia 
 

---

 

 

Ever since I was a child, I wanted to help charities.  However, with spiraling admin and advertising costs, I was disheartened to learn that only around 15% of people’s hard-earned money actually -  benefits the people it is intended for.

Hence, I was encouraged when I first heard about FFLV. I was convinced that this charity was different, especially by the openness of the devotees to divulge any information about donations and spending. It is a charity that not only helps provide poor people with the essentials of life, but also puts almost all the money straight to help the needy. I was fortunate to visit India last year, and then I fully witnessed how FFLV was helping people. FFLV did everything it claimed to do. I was moved to tears to see the genuine gratitude expressed by the people who were being helped. Furthermore, I saw the real humility of the volunteers, who endlessly serve FFLV to help others. They help out of love, not expecting anything in return. Well, the whole experience really put me to shame and convinced me even more of the need to help this excellent charity, which really cares about the welfare of others.

 

Priti, UK

---

I have been to Vrindavan several times, but my knowledge of FFLV was superficial. I was just a visitor appreciating the good work and nothing more. But during a visit in 1999, I started to get directly involved. I participated in the Prasad Distribution at a school and it was love at first sight. Just that one occasion changed my life completely. I went back to my country with a few photos and a strong desire to speak to everybody about FFLV. I wanted to inform people about the wonderful programs in the villages, the thankful smiles of the children, their beautiful dark eyes hiding so many austerities and hardship. I wanted to make people in the West aware that with a simple financial support they could do something meaningful. I wanted to tell them about the delicious food, the commitment of all the people involved in the programs, and the reliable and efficient management. My enthusiasm was contagious and I caught the interest of many people.

During my recent visit to Vrindavan in January 2002, I assisted with the training courses for the women in the villages, and appreciated their enthusiasm and eager participation. But the program I love most is the evening school. These poor children have talent, potential and a sincere desire to learn, and a desperate need for attention and affection.

I am confident that FFLV is doing something useful, and I want to invite everybody-please come and see. You will fall in love, real love.

 

Nikunjavasini dasi Italy 
 

---

I was a professional photographer, but I was always searching for something more fulfilling. I began serving the Food for Life program in 1990. My service involves communication and collecting funds. I have talked to thousands of people, mostly Westerners, about this honorable charity and their response is always positive. In affluent countries, there are many services available for the needy, and therefore we have the tendency to take for granted the necessities of life like food and water. FFLV is a very broad service, providing food, water, medicine and so forth to the villages of Vrindavan. I feel fortunate to be serving the FFLV team in Sri Vrindavan-dhama.

Elle U.K

---

In one of my visits to Vrindavan in 1996, I saw the Food for Life distribtion and I felt inspired to help. Since then in Spain we have about 300 supporters who contribute to FFLV programs. We have registered a trust in Spain `Alimentos para la Vida ’ and we are activally involved in the development of FFLV activities.

 

 

Javier, Spain

 

---

My friend Ratnavali introduced me to FFLV when she came back from India. She kept telling me about all the work FFLV does. I was impressed and wrote to my Guru Maharaja asking for his guidance on the matter. He replied, but 1 never received the e-mail. When he came to London, I went to see him. As 1 sat down, he smiled and said, "I’m happy to know that you want to render service in Vrindavan!" What really inspires me about FFLV is that money is spent wisely. You can see for yourself where the money is going.

Jagruti Patel (Jambavati dd) UK
 

 

---

 

Last November I took part in a training course called the Self­ expression and Leadership Program by Landmark Education. As part of the training in leadership, we each had to gather a group of about 20 people with whom we would set up a non-profit event to benefit an even larger number of people. I had a hard time finding a good cause, which would be inspirational, until I thought of Food for Life Vrindavan.

 

Holland is known to be one of the most charitable countries in the world, so the public are already used to being asked to help Third World countries like India. Therefore, I thought, "Why not ask them to donate to a nice program like Food for Life Vrindavan?" Thus, I organized a FFLV Benefit Party with the help of my friends, old and new. It was a wonderful little festival, including four workshops, an exhibition, two performances and of course plenty of nice prasadam! It was a very satisfying experience for me.

Rati Manjari dd Holland 

---

I had the opportunity to visit Sandipani Muni School last year and I was amazed by the potential of this project. I re­alized that with a small effort I could offer a unique opportunity to these kids. So when I went back to Italy I spoke to my wife and we sponsored a child and we started to invite all our friends and relatives to do the same. I came again to Vrindavan with my wife this year and our enthusiasm and involvement grew even bigger and we do not miss any chance to participate in programs or to organize events to promote this project and to collect funds for the school. 


        Mauro & CinZia, Bolnbieri Italy. 
 

I want to help you

Dear friend, even though I don’t know you, I want to help you, your friends and your family. I know that if I was in need, you would help me out, too. That’s why my friends and me want to help you out. When you’ll be all well, I’ll be the fi rst person to be happy about it. I wish all the happiness in the world. 

Samuele Sgroi, 5th B Rigola Elementary School, Turin, Italy

They Give Us Hope

The Sandipani Muni School is a true jewel in the crown of Vrindavan. It is wonderful to see the children’s enthusiasm to learn and to serve. You realise that they are being reconnected to their original culture. These children are the future of Vrindavan. Not only have they been given the gift of hope, but they also give us hope.

Cintia and Don Stammers, UK 
 

Dr. Anna S. King 
Theology and Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts 
University of Winchester, Hampshire, UK. 
Convenor of the Spalding Symposium on Indian Religions 
Jesus College, University of Oxford

Dear Rupa, we want to thank you and your FFLV team for the wonderful service of cleaning and maintaining the parikrama marg. Recently I went on Vrindavan parikrama with our group from London. It was so wonderful to see that it was much cleaner than ever before. Was this really India? We know very well that cleaning and greening is not an easy job. Please continue your service to Sri Vrindavan Dham and to the countless pilgrims and devotees who can now relish their visit in a much more profound way.

Sruti Dharma Das, Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK 
 

Smiling boys and girls of Varsana from ages five to ten greeted us with excited chanting of “Haribol! Haribol!” as we parked our prasad-packed Food for Life van next to the school. Kids streamed out of the school, down the narrow lanes, and ran quickly from their houses. It seemed that every single child in Varsana made their way there, either on their own legs or in their older sisters protective arms. They were smiling and seemed happy over the prospect of taking hot puris, subji and some juicy sweets. Surprisingly, even though there were probably more than seven hundred children, they sat down quickly and peacefully in orderly rows. Then Rupa-Raghunatha Prabhu led them in singing one of their favorite songs before chanting the Maha-mantra, “Mere pyari nandulala kishori radhe! jai kishori radhe, jai kisori radhe!”

Seeing the clear eyes and pure faces of these Varsana children, I thought about how Srimati Radharani played in this village as a young girl and had many intimate pastimes here with Her sakhis and Sri Krishna. These children are fortunate to live in the personal village of Srimati Radharani. And I felt most fortunate to have a chance to serve them and make them happy by filling up their bellies with Krishna prasad.

In the Adi Varaha Purana, Lord Krishna says “All the Siddhas, Bhutas, and demigods who come to earth see the people of Vrindavana as four-armed residents of Vaikuntha.” Their life is so simple and sublime—all centered around the land, cows, and celebrating their relationship with Kisora-Kisori. If they continue their simple, pure life then promotion to the spiritual world is guaranteed. Padma Purana confirms this fact wherein Lord Krishna says, “Beautiful Vrindavan is My transcendental abode. The birds, beasts, trees, insects, worms, humans and demigods who stay here with Me will all go to My own abode when they die.”

I tried my best to serve these special children, “dhama vasis” with loving care and attention. Helping others always brings satisfaction, and as Srila Prabhupada said, any service rendered in Vrindavana brings one thousand times the benefit of service performed outside of Vrindavana. In closing let us consider the Skanda Purana which states, “The piety gained by they who even slightly help the residents of Vrndavana will never end.” Jai Sri Radhe!

by Mahanidhi Swami.