Visit of friends

James Shoemark & Caroline Maclellan from Edinburgh, Scotland, visited the school this Feb. Their visit was to get acquainted with the school and the wonderful students. To see how since the earthquake in 2001, lives have been changed. Their desire is to be part of such change. We deeply appreciate them for taking the time and coming here and encouraging us.


James & Caroline with the 3rd & 4th Graders


Shopping in Bhuj


Getting a feel of the campus

Colour Splash on Republic Day

On the 26th of January, '08 We celebrated India's Republic Day at school by holding a Painting competetion for the students.

This was inspired by the movie Taare Zameen Par. It was wonderful to see all students come prepared to use their skills and paint whats on their mind.

They will be presented with prizes for their efforts in the month of Feb'08.

Enjoy the colour splash on these photos.

The students of 1st Grade


Friends of within 3rd Grade together


More of the 1st Grade


The 4th Graders


Teachers overseeing the competetion


Bringing out their talents


Colourful ideas


Creative colouring - Simi Kakkal - 2nd Grade


Exciting Pattern - Rajwinder Kaur -2nd Grade

New Benches for the school!!!

Finally, the day many students have been waiting for has arrived. 3 class rooms have Desk-cum-benches for the students.

It was an exciting moment for all students, as they were peeping form the windows, waiting to capture a spot for themselves on the new benches. The new look in class is going to be of great help. These benches will go a long way in helping the students improve their handwriting, raise their viewing level parallel to the black board, and also instill a sense of confidence to have their own space in the class. It would also help their uniforms be more tidy. In all sense the new addition to the rooms is a winner.

Now the rest of the students are hoping and waiting that they might also have the privilege of such in the near future.

If any one out there is interested, please contact us, for further details.

Brand new Bench-cum-desk for




Changed ambience



Grateful hearts




Excitement in the air

Open week at school

The school held its Open week during the 3rd week of January'08. The teachers maintain a performance register which has the data per student for each term and helps moniter the progress of the student. On a day during the Open week the parents are requested to collect the report card and go over the performance register along with the teacher and student, in order for them to be aware of their child's status. Below are few photos of parents with the class teacher.

Mrs. Sujata Kulkarni with Parent in Senior KG (A)


Ms. Salma Ismail Lakhani with parent in Junior KG


Mrs. T. Sridevi with parents in Senior KG (B)

Children's Day Celebrations

November 14th was the Children's Day celebrated in India. We at the School had a great time.
The Plan was to have all Teachers spend time with their respective classes and share the yummies that everyone had brought. The teachers too got something special for their class. After all that, everyone came together to watch each other perform. Some sang songs, some recited poems, stories, while osome others danced. It was a wonderful day, specially for the Children.


Teacher with their class


Time with the class


Outdoor for some classes


All teachers ready for the day.

Friends from South

Its been a while since I posted. School's been on a roll, exciting as ever. Some of our friends had dropped in last week for a visit at the Center and everyone had a wonderful time. Some of the pictures durign their trip.

All Students in a Drawing Competetion

Friends helping the students

Sunset at Mandvi Beach

The Latest

Following are few words on recent happenings at the Center of HOPE-Bhuj

Ravi Ruparel is a volunteer from UK. He spent 6 weeks training the local youth in Basics and few techniques of Cricket. The whole idea was to bring together the youth from local community and create a network of volunteers for the CoH's developement initiatives in future. The boys had a great time, as you can see.

Stretching Exercise

Fielding Practise

More Stretching Practise

The 4th Grade children were initiated into the ways of gardening, to enable them to understand biological life better and also to be involved in growth, around themselves. All the students were invloved from the initial stages of cleaning the small patch and ploughing it and sowing the seeds. We shall soon see Lady's finger grow on these plants.

Cleaning the Patch

Hands on job

All involved

Getting to Sow

The teachers have taken a lot of interest in the education of or students, therefore they have started using visual methods a lot more to pass on the lesson. There have been an increase in wall displays at the classrooms, which was something that was decided during the recently concluded Teachers Training Workshop. As you can see I have posted a few for your viewing;

Chart for Colour

Moral Story Chart

Science Chart

Fruits Chart

Moral Story Chart

The Indepence day on August 15th was special as it was the 60th year celebration. The school had a time of the Tiranga (Indian Tricolour Flag) being hoisted and the few children mentioned the importance of the Day in their speech. The students who stood out in the area of Cleanliness, Discipline and Studies recieved prizes for the same from Ravi Ruparel. The last part of the day was a dance routine by the students which was taught by Ravi.

Beginning the Assembly

Flag Hoisting

The Dance Troupe

Prizes distribution

The effects of rain in bhuj

More pictures from the days of rain from Bhuj.

In front of the School Campus


The Amphitheatre Lawn


The School Playground


The Hill overlooking Bhuj


Shanthinagar-locality from where students come


Ashapuranagar


Fishing at Ashapuranagar

Rainy Days at Bhuj

Its a very rare but welcome sight when it rains in Bhuj which is in the Kutch District one of the 2 most driest place in India, the other being in Rajasthan. Therefore when it rains, people unlike elsewhere do not run into their homes, but on the contrary run out into the streets to enjoy every bit of the ever elusive waters from the skies. Even when it is as devastative as was the case the last couple of days!

It was a very painful sight to see people having water run into their homes due to overflowing of water from the local Amritsvar Lake, which was again due to heavy rains. But as I went around trying to measure the extent of damage, it was a very happy crowd that I saw around, happy for the coolness in the middle of heat. I had captured some pictures of the levels of water flow & also some of the excitment in people, some even fishing as the fish were forced out of the lake. Take a look and enjoy!