
Just One scheduled one of its regular fruit distribution programs at the Shiva Ji Mission School on January 7th, 2017. It was to be the first for the New Year after the winter break – a break extended due to the extreme cold and fog in Varanasi. However, the government again declared a holiday on the 7th because of more predictions for extreme cold. This time Just One had already purchased the fruit for distribution, so the teachers agreed to come in for any children who wished to come and receive the fruit.
All the teachers were leading classes when we arrived, even though it was a government declared holiday. There was mathematics for the younger students, English for the older students and 2 classes had a more casual approach with Indian dance being taught. In all we served about 200 students fresh oranges and because of the reduced numbers each child received 2 oranges, leaving some of the younger children very excited and running around laughing with their oranges.
Today Just One also had the opportunity to bring an additional gift to the Shiva Ji Mission School. Globetops, a non-profit that distributes used laptops to less fortunate communities, donated a laptop to the Shiva Ji Mission School. The whole school participated in the handover, which reflected the gratitude for the support they are now receiving through the Sai Maa community. Once this was complete, the children all streamed out of the school gate eager to enjoy the remainder of their bonus holiday.