Annual Day 2010

The last one month was quite a different scenario at the HOPE foundation School. If you had walked through the school corridors, you would have seen all the children excited about preparations. If you stop and enquire, you would have found out that the preparations were for the school Annual day celebration. This was an opportunity to showcase their talents.

This was a great event organised with much involvement from the Parents. Some parents put together a dance routine too. In more than one ways it was a miraculous day.

As the day of the event approached, the first miracle started. The rains commenced in Bhuj. Where for the last 30 years (at least) it had not rained for more than couple of days, it was raining for 2 weeks constantly. Though this was a good thing for Bhuj, it was a bad news for the School, as it would hinder the event, to be held in the open ground.

As the day approached the forecast had not altered, as more rain was predicted. The options were to postpone or find a hall. This led us to finding the Town Hall. This was the 2nd miracle. The hall was booked on all days except the day we wanted for event, this was the 3rd miracle. It was cheaper than hiring 600 chairs for our school, and it came with 1000 seats, with a huge stage and a wonderful acoustic setup, this was the next miracle.

On the day of event we were apprehensive if all will come due to change of location and rains. We had initially expected 600 people to come. But, as miracles go, over 800 hundred people showed up. The children were really excited and let their best flow in all their performances.

The Chief Guests were Mr. Viraj Barot, Principal of Sanskar English Medium School; Dr. Kashyap Buch, Senior Physician in Government Civil Hospital; Mrs. Stella Buch, member Inner-wheel. Many other guests also graced the occasion. The events included dance routines from the Primary classes, fancy/fashion show from the Nursery classes, skit, Songs by teachers, dance by parents and a video presentation of the past years. The children who had excelled academically in the past year were rewarded with prizes by the Chief Guests. The prizes were sponsored by a friend of HOPE foundation in Bhuj, who liked to remain anonymous.

Chief Guests


Lighting of Lamp by Mr. Viraj Barot, Principal, Sanskar School.

Mrs. Stella Buch lighting the lamp

Mr. Christopher ligting the lamp

Welcome Dance - Dholna

Welcome Dance - Rajasthani Style - 5th/6th class

Parents Dance - Kutchi Style

Fashion Show - Nursery

Choti-si-asha - Dance by 1st Standard

Dance by 1st standard

Dance by 3rd standard - Disco

Students in audience

All audience

Remarks by people who attended:

“I have covered so many programs; this is one of the best I have been too.”
Mr. Khatri, Reporter from the Kutch Aam-tak newspaper.

“This is a well organised event, which would be a bridge between our schools for the future.”
Mr. Viraj Barot, Principal – Sanskar English medium School.

“We, the kutch people, ourselves do not know the dance, but heartening to see the Principal madam learn and dance along with the parents.”
One of the parents.

“This is a wonderful event; you should have invited many more people from the press.”

Mr. Bavesh, Reporter from Aaj-Kal News.

Volunteers from Mumbai

Volunteers from Mumbai, came over for 3 days to help the School Program. During their stay they participated in the ongoing Summer camp and held story reading sessions,taught new songs and also staged a skit on the final day program of the Camp.

They also helped the school by repainting the main gate and the school windows. Their involvement in this program is very appreciated, while plans are on for a bigger group intervention of the same nature during the Dusera holidays in Oct'10. Anyone interested in volunteering and being part of the school work, pls contact on christopher@hopeww.in

Jeetu song teaching.


Story reading


Preparing for paint work


Painting main gate


More painting on gate


Painting School windows


Denish and Jeetu painting window


Skit for summer camp final day


Skit for summer camp final day


Ashok explaining the moral of skit

Training in Photography

Reena, travelling around India, found time while in Bhuj to volunteer and give some time to the students of the HOPE foundation School. During her 2 week placement, she taught basics on how to handle a digital camera to the 4th and 5th standard students. She also gave each student opportunity to take photo and present in form of a simple assignment. During this period, she also taught a bit more on yoga for the 5th standard students, which was a effective support, since it is part of the Health & Physical Education curricullam.

Explaining the Camera - 5th Standard


With the 4th standard


Yoga lessons

Republic Day - 2010

Republic Day of India was celebrated on 26th of January. An exciting time for the school and its students as we celebrate the glory of our nation.

Students performed Exercise Drills, Yoga based drill routine and a special dance tableau, for a medley of patriotic songs culminating with the famous Jay Ho, by A.R.Rahman of Slumdog Millionaire fame.

Prizes were given to students who had won in various competitions held during the previous year.

Flag Hoisting and School Assembly


Drill by Students


Jay Ho by students


Drill by Students

The team that performed Yoga based routine

Volunteer at School

Allison Belben, volunteer from UK, came back for a 2nd visit in January. She had previously spent a week with the school during December'09. In her 2nd visit she took more Yoga classes for the 5th grade, as this is part of their Health and Phsical Education subject as per state board curricullam.

She also prepared some activity based pictorial story books for use in classes. This would help children understand the language better.

She has also helped train a group of boys from 5th standard to perform a special yoga based drill routine as part of the Republic Day celebrations on January 26th.

Yoga session for 5th standard in progress


Warrior Pose


Allison with the students of 5th standard

The Pictorial story used by Allison & Pearly

Allison with her Story Chart

N-couraging Teachers

During the Diwali holidays, as the students were given their 1st term vacations, the teachers came to school to evaluate, prepare report cards and plan for the next term. During this time, Some additional activities were conducted by the school management to encourage them. Some coaching on Spoken English was given to them in workshop method. A week was set apart for some fun activities too. During this week, various competitions were organised for the teachers, like cooking, rangoli, 1 minute games, etc.

Spoken English class in progress


Teachers in spoken English class


Teachers displaying their cooking skills

Various food items

Mouth-watering dishes

Exciting variety.

Delicious food

Everyone gets a bite

Extra helping allowed too

Executive Officer visit's School in Bhuj

Mrs. Joyce Correa, Executive Officer, Women & Children Programmes for West India visited the HOPE foundation School in Bhuj in the 2nd week of September. As part of her visit, she met the children, the teachers and had a short visit of the Bhuj city.

Joyce is known for her passion in helping the poor and needy. She had a few words of encouragement to the staff before leaving.

Teaching staff meeting with Mrs. Joyce


Mrs. Joyce (in blue in center) with all teachers

Teacher's Day - 2009

The role of a teacher is one of the most challenging of all roles in the world. A teacher, at times, has to be a Mother, Father, Counselor, Educator and Friend. To honour such this unique role India celebrates September 5th as Teacher's Day.

This year, the school management and the students held a small function to honour the teachers of our school. They were welcomed with garlands, given a seat of honour. Students recited poems, followed by gifts by management to the teachers.

After the official function, the teachers got together for a time of singing and chit-chat.

The Teachers with garlands at the seat of honour


All children in full colour to encourage


All teachers receiving gifts from Management

A light moment

Singing after the function