Football tournament

Though Cricket is the craze in our country at the moment, what with Team India winning the World Cup 2011 and all, yet there is a lot of talent for other sports as well, which is proven by some sporadic yet spectacular performances around the country at times.

In the HOPE foundation school, a 2 week long football tournament league was introduced for the first time. 7 teams took part in this from various Primary classes. On 27^th March 2011, the semi-finals and the final were held. All players were awarded with prizes for participation while the winners and runners-up received trophies and few goodies.

The most interesting thing about this tournament was that the players have never played football in their entire life and they learnt it from the PE teacher Mr. Rajakumar, who himself has played in District Level in Karnataka. The student have put in much hard work by coming to school early morning everyday and practiced before school and have achieved this incredible feat. We hope that they continue to hone their new found skills and put it to good use.

We welcome sports volunteers who can come over to the school and spend time teaching the student more.

Principal kicking off the Semis and Final

Players and referee enter ground

Toss and Kick-0ff

Trophies and goodies

Winners - Leopards Team

Runners - Giraffe team

With Coach Rajakumar

Special Mid-day meal

Mr. Kishore Vadhia from UK is a very close friend of HOPE foundation. He has constantly remembered the poor and needy throughout the country. He also remembers to remind his friends to do the same.

Recently through his inspiration his friends gave some money to the school to host a special meal during lunch time for the students. The students received 2 days of some special and traditional Guajarati food during the lunch time from this generous donation. We thank Savitaben Parmar, Madhubhai J. Chauhan and Tulsibhai J. Chudasama along with our common friend Mr. Kishore Vadhia for their kind donations which helped put smiles on these young ones.

Drawing competition by Bajaj Insurance

In February the Bajaj Capital Insurance company supported a drawing competition for the entire school. They have promised that 200 selected students will get special certificates signed by celebrities like, Sachin Tendulkar, Virendra Sehwag both of whom are top class Cricket players of the Indian Team, which recently won the 2011 World Cup.

We were very surprised and impressed to see some wonderful art work and the themes behind some. We wish these children all the best as they strive to achieve something exceptional with their lives.

We also welcome volunteers out there who can help nurturing the budding artists in these children, to come and spend some time with our school and support our art dept.

Trip to the Bhuj Railway Station

In February 2011, as part of the Life-skill development program, the students of the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th standards were taken to the Bhuj City Railway Station which is nearby to the school for an educational visit.

The authorities at the station gave us a free hand in taking the children around and explaining to them the basics around railway travel. Some of the students had never set foot inside a train before and this journey for them was very exceptional and exciting. After the trip the students had their lunch in the railway station itself. We thank the authorities for joining us in educating our students.

Not all the students get to sit on benches and write on desks, as we cannot afford the same. But thanks to some generous donors, few benches are provided to few classes and the children get the privilege of using it.

Mr. Jayant Tanna, a volunteer from UK, who was on his 2^nd visit to the school in 2009 to train our teachers, noticed that few students of the 3^rd standard did not have that privilege. When he spoke about this back home in UK, Mr. Ashvin Vithlani came forward to donate towards the same.

In January 2011, thanks to that donation, we were able to get 5 new sets of Bench-cum-desks. This were provided to the 3^rd standard and now all students have the privilege of sitting on benches and write using the desks. Thanks to the friends who have continuously supported the cause of the needy.