St Claret School Barrackpore presents to you MISSION

St. Claret School, Barrackpore presents to you

MISSION MANKIND “ Love is the most necessary of all virtues. Love in the person who preaches the words of god is fire in a musket. If a person were to throw a bullet with his he would hardly make a dent in any thing ; but if the person takes the same bullet and ignites some gunpowder behind it , it can kill. It is much the same with the word of God. If it is spoken by someone who is filled with the fire of charity – the fire of love of God and neighbour – it will work wonders. ” - St. Antony Mary Claret

PREFACE Being one of the most beautiful countries in the world, India still possesses an ugly fate, POVERTY. Poverty is like the powerful, evil beast, that has taken about 40% of the Indian Society under its captivity. Being the younger generation and the voice of the nation, the urge to do something to bring smile on the faces of our unfortunate fellow Indians has triggered by The Telegraph’s “VNO’s SOS call to nation”. This created the spark within us which led to the birth of a small endeavor for our nation, ‘MISSION MANKIND’.

OUR HISTORY Mission Mankind was created in the year 2009, by the VIIth and VIIIth standard students of that particular year, under the guidance of our respected animator Mrs. Sushmita Bose Seal Ma’am and the blessings of then Principal Fr. John Kennedy and Vice-principal Fr. Michael Raja of St. Claret School. Team has worked tirelessly ever since, towards its goal of ‘Spreading Happiness’ and serving mankind and thus, the nation.

OUR ACTIONS Mission Mankind started off by paying a visit to a nearby area , Debpukur. Donation of about 5 Kgs of rice and sugar and 6 blankets was made to the poverty-stricken people in that area. We even came across an extremely talented 10 th standard student who was appearing in his board examination that year but he was having no electricity in his home to study at night. So, an emergency lamp was gifted to him and we consider ourselves to be fortunate enough to extend a helping hand to such a sincere and hardworking student as him. Some study materials were also given to the students in that area.

OUR ACTIONS Visit to Gandhi Prem Niwas (31 th July, 2010) : A noble and humble institution which is home to hundreds of individuals, bitten by the fangs of the deadly disease Leprosy. 35 student volunteers along with our beloved Sushmita Ma’am made this visit. A wonderful time was spent with all the residents there. We listened to their stories, they laughed with us. We tried to teach them spoken English and they responded quite well. We sang together the songs of love and happiness and enjoyed together like never before. The smiles on their faces were so captivating, it filled our hearts with happiness and satisfaction. As the day ended, we bid farewell with some sweets and thanked them for the beautiful and ever green moments that they had gifted us. We came back home with broad smiles, a relieved heart and thousands of memories and stories to share.

OUR ACTIONS Books distribution (14 th February, 2011) : “ A child without education, is like a bird without wings. ” – Confucius. But, alas! Not everyone is priviledged enough to afford education, as they don’t even have enough money to feed themselves. So, its our responsibility to help them receive education and provide them the key to “ unlock the golden door of freedom”. Mission Mankind helped 40 such financially unpriviledged children of class III to IX by distributing books to them. All the expenses were covered from the Mission Mankind fund, which was donated by the students of St. Claret School.

OUR ACTIONS Visit to ‘Providence Home’ (A loving home and family to orphan girls, run by the Sisters of Providence) (30 th July, 2011) : The providence home visit was done by 30 of our Student volunteers, and our respected teachers Sushmita Maam, Rupa Maam and Sanjit Sir. The experience we had at Providence, is something we would not have got even for a hundred million dollars. As soon as we entered the orphanage, we received a warm greeting from all the sisters and the residents of Providence Home. To the girls, we were strangers. But, the way they played with us, danced with us, laughed with us, it made us to feel loved and filled our hearts with happiness, we gifted them study materials such as books, pencils, chocolates…

OUR ACTIONS After all the games, we sat down together and all the girls told us about their tragic past, their heart-wrenching stories of how unjust and unfair the word had been to them. We listened to their stories with tears in our eyes and with satisfaction in our hearts, that we could bring smiles to their faces. We were really happy that noble institutions like Providence Home are doing such a wonderful job. The visit to Providence Home made our intention of ‘Spreading Happiness’ even more firm.

OUR ACTIONS Help provided to rebuild Home (19 th January, 2012) : A woman was provided with a financial aid of about Rs. 2000 to rebuild her broken house. Help provided to a poor boy whose father had passed away : Life is a tough journey, and at times, the journey of life gets tougher because of the circumstances as was the case with this boy of 12 th standard. On one hand, he received his reports stating kidney failure, while on the other hand, his father’s death completely shattered him into pieces. Mission Mankind was lucky enough to have the opportunity to be a help in this brave boy’s life struggle by providing him with some financial aid.

OUR ACTIONS Helping a kidney patient (28 th September, 2012) : A financial aid was provided to Mr. Gour Das for his medicines for his kidney ailment. Trip to Santi Dan (26 th January, 2013) : Shanti Dan is a loving home for mentally and physically challenged women of all ages, which is operated by Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity. The visit to Shanti Dan was made by about 30 student volunteers accompanied by teachers. We interacted with the residents in the old age home, orphanage and the building meant for HIV patients and destitute women. The whole trip, we had been through a whirl-wind of emotions. We distributed our food packets…

OUR ACTIONS among them. They showed us their paintings and other handicrafts, that they were taught to make. We witnessed so many magical moments. Finally we returned home with lots of sweet memories and a satisfaction that in this world of grief, we could bring smile to the faces of at least some people. Uttarakhand flood (Chief Minister’s relief fund) : In June 2013, a multi day cloudburst centered on the North Indian State Uttarakhand, caused devastating floods and landslides, creating country’s one of the most dangerous and fatal natural disaster. About 5, 748 people had died and 4, 500 villages were affected. Hundreds and thousands of tourists and pilgrims had fallen victims to the disaster. Every state including our had created a relief fund to provide some…

OUR ACTIONS help in this critical situation, and Mission Mankind donated about Rs. 20, 000 to the Chief Minister’s relief fund in our State. We are happy to have contributed to a national cause. Money given for the treatment of a young boy (11 th August, 2013) : A young boy, Banty Doloy met with an unfortunate accident, while carrying out his daily job to earn money for his family. He hurt his spinal cord in the process, and was gravely injured. He was provided financial help for his treatment by Mission Mankind.

OUR ACTIONS Visit to Kalyan Ashram - Chetla (23 rd January, 2014) : Kalyan Ashram in Chetla is an old age home which provides a loving shelter to many aged people. The visit was a memorable one as we listened to each one of their stories, their life experiences and interacted with them. Donations of fruits and blankets were made to the Ashram. Their stories were so inspiring and heart wrenching. We learnt a lot from them. We came back home with a happy soul and bag full of memories.

OUR ACTIONS Celebration of Grandparents Day : Mission Mankind funded the celebration of Grandparents Day on 21 st November, 2014 in St. Claret School. About Rs. 22, 077 was spent in the celebration. Our Grandparents are the pillars of our family. This hard work, sacrifices are the reasons why we are living comfortable life today. However, we often get so busy in our daily lives that we do not or rather cannot give them the appreciation they deserve. The celebration of Grandparents day was done with the idea of making the day first a bit more special for our Grandparents. The day was full of fun frolic, entertainment and happiness. There were dance performance refreshments and other games for out grandparents. The day ended on the happiest not possible.

OUR ACTIONS Financial aid provided to a breast cancer patient : A 12 year old, Sathi Jit’s family was shattered when she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Mission Mankind provide some financial aid to support her family, who were doing whatever possible to arrange money for the costly treatment, and somehow, free their beloved daughter from the shackles of this deadly disease.

OUR ACTIONS Financial aid for a deaf and dumb patient (5 th November, 2015): Lakshmi was a girl who was deaf and dumb. The news that the treatment of Lakshmi was possible, was like a source of light at the end of a dark tunnel for Lakshmi and her family. However, their financial crisis was pulling them down and delaying her treatment. However, a lot of efforts were made by her family to gather money and Mission Mankind made a small contribution to that effort for the treatment of this lovely child.

OUR ACTIONS Financial aid for the Marriage of an unfortunate girl (22 nd January, 2016): Rina Roy was provided a much needed financial help from Mission Mankind for the marriage of her daughter. Money provided to Taju Uncle (14 th September, 2016): Taju Uncle is the smiling face we see every morning. He is the one who is in charge of bringing us to school on time and dropping us safely back home. However, our beloved Taju Uncle was in tears when his children (a son and a daughter) were suffering and he couldn’t arrange the money for their treatment. Mission Mankind provided a financial help of about Rs. 10, 000 to help Taju Uncle get back his smile

OUR ACTIONS and treat his children. Money provided for the treatment of a child who met with an accident (3 rd November, 2016): A distressed father Mr. Prative Halder was provided for the treatment of his only son Sarnadeep Halder who had met with an accident. Help provided to a handicapped Man to start his own business (8 th March, 2017): Raj Kishore is a brave young man. He was handicapped, but unlike others, he had not given up on his life. He refused to live on somebody else’s pity and sympathy and decided to start a shop of his

OUR ACTIONS own. Mission Mankind made a small contribution to his honest endeavour by buying him a weighing machine for his shop. Trip to Burdwan (26 th January, 2018): On the 67 th Republic Day, our Mission Mankind volunteers embraced on a 3 hour long road journey to the District of Burdwan to pay a visit to the T. B Hospital run by the Missionaries of Charity. The visit comprised of 50 pupils and guided by 3 of our respected teachers and principal. We were warmly greeted by the sisters and other patients and we spend a lovely time interacting with them. We distributed gifts like fruits, health drinks and some other necessary commodities. The smile on their faces really made us forget the hectic long journey and made us happy.

OUR ACTIONS Money provided for the medicines of a brain disorder (30 th July, 2018): Mr. Hafizul Mondal was provided financial aid for his costly treatment and medicines of neurological disorder in which his Corona Radiata was affected. Team visit to the local village (18 th July, 2018): The Mission Mankind team once again head out to the local village to supply them with food and some basic commodities. The happiness and smiles on the faces is only what we ask for.

OUR ACTIONS Visit to Cheshire Home - Serampore (20 th July, 2018): Cheshire Home at Serampore is a welfare home for those individuals who are without the ' normal ' everyday gifts of sight, smell, touch and movement that we take for granted. It is a shelter for those who are without a voice. It was the privilege of Mission Mankind club that we got the opportunity to visit them on 20 th July, 2018. Arriving at our destination, we immediately went to meet the inmates there, and glimpsed their plight. Some had lost the ability to walk; some had been robbed of sight, some of hearing, and some of stable, conventional thought. Yet, they all had one thing in common- they had been neglected and trodden upon by society, which had rejected them as handicaps. Such, however, could not be further from the…

OUR ACTIONS truth. They were differently abled, but they were human beings; each and every one of them a diverse, kind- hearted soul filled with resilience, optimism and hope, traits which struck a deep chord within us and moved our hearts. We talked and laughed with them, sharing our stories and knowing theirs. We sung, performed dances and clicked photographs with them to treasure those priceless moments spent in compassion and harmony. We also distributed food articles, medicinal products and other amenities we had brought along with us, among the residents. We marvelled at and bought some beautiful, scented clay lamps, diyas and other handicrafts that the dexterous inmates had themselves prepared. We were thoroughly enamoured by the wonderful souls there, from whom we had learnt so much. But, it was not meant to last forever, for sincere, joyful things rarely do.

OUR ACTIONS It was, thus, with a heavy heart that we bid them goodbye, vowing to return someday again. What we gained from this unique, enriching experience is something mere words will not do justice to. We had been shocked by society's collective apathy, and then uplifted by the inmates' empathy, and the inherent positivity in them in spite of it all. We gained treasured memories that have been engraved in our hearts and minds, and ones we shall continue to cherish forever. Organising more such trips, initiatives to assist the poor and miserable, and raising funds for collective betterment are part of what we have planned, and shall undertake in the days to come. In the end, what we had done there at Cheshire Home was spread joy and love among the residents at Cheshire home in our own small way, however we could. . . For, that is what we at Mission Mankind aspire to do- spread the

OUR ACTIONS give message of love and touch lives, bringing a smile on a person's face no matter what life inflicts upon us or them. And it is a quest we shall never give up on. Mission Mankind : WHITE BRIGADE Another one of our several initiates is to make the roads outside the school premises a safe, better place. The senior members, clad in white Mission Mankind t-shirts, regulate traffic flow by leading other students to their classes themselves and guiding nursery to class IV students by hand to the primary building. Their work is entirely voluntary and doesn’t interfere , in any way, with the academic curriculum of the senior students. By this initiative not only the outsiders are prevented from crowding up but also the traffic and gate guards are not under huge work load in the morning.

FUTURE GOALS This is what we could have done since our beginning. There are several other chances we haven’t lost to make a person happy and nor we would like to lose in future. We are always ready to Spread Happiness with all that we have and with all that we are. We are taught to grow with knowledge and love and so is our message to this younger generation. Come up. Be a part in our Mission. A Mission for Mankind.

, BARRACKP ORE THANK YOU