Missing Pearl

Missing Pearl...

Bandi Sudheer comes from a backward class family. He is the youngest one in the family. After finishing class 10th he chose Mathematics as his main subject along with Physics and Chemistry in the Intermediate course. Later he appeared for EAMCET exam and good rank. He joinded in the Engineering college, Narasaraopeta(Guntur district) to study Bachelor of Technology(Elec tronics & Communications). He passed the course getting First class with Distinction. The certificate is provided by the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad. He finished his B.Tech in May, 2008. Now he is searching for the job which is related to his subject, Electronics and Commuications.

His father died long ago. His mother used to work in a company as a daily wage labourer which manufactures household utensils at Auto Nagar, Vijayawada. Now she is not going for any work due to bad health. She underwent a surgery. His elder brother finished Engineering who is in search of a job. His elder sister finished graduationa and planning to continue to study Post Graduation. The family is now living in Christianpeta, Gunadala, Viajawada. They have small house of their own roof covered with asbestos.

Johnson Pradyush finished class 10th in NSM Public School, Vijayawada. The school is administered by the catholic mission. After class 10th he joined for Intermediate opting Bi.P.C groupin Andhra Loyola College, Vijayawada. This college is independent and also administered by the Jesuits. He finished Intermediate scoring 96 percentage in the final exams. Later he appeared for EAMCET in which he secured 570th Rank. Now is going to study Medicine. Coming to his family, Johnson is the second child in the family. He has an elder brother and a younger brother. His elder brother doing his Medicine(MBBS)-3rd Year. His father works as a daily wage labourer in a rubber factory which manufactures chappels. His Mother works as an attender in a bank.

Wordless feelings....

When my wings were broken,
You helped me to fly again
When my voice was stolen
You taught me to sing again

When my soul was destroyed
You patched me up again
When I couldn't go on anymore
You were there to help me up

Now I have a reason to live
To reach out for whatever I desire
You have given me a chance to believe
That I am someone who is wanted

Now I look beyond the darkness
To where hope is alive
I rejoice in the beauty of life
I am whole, once again

You are the spark among the embers
You are the moonbeam in the dark
I can feel my spirit fly
I can smile at the world again

...to all the sponsors (Mum & Dad) from your beloved sons.

OLD BOYS AND GIRLS OF CARE & SHARE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM

List No.1\ Child No.12
VIJAY KUMAR
MADDALA
M.A Special Telugu
Working in Care & Share School

List No.1\ Child No.13
JAYARAJU
SALI
M.A Economics
Working in a NGO

List No.1\ Child No.15
SHEKAR BABU
VURA
B.COM
Working in care & share office

List No.1\ Child No.2
THARANGANI
CHINNAM
G.N.M
Working in a Primary health centre

List No.1\ Child No.20
SUNITHA
GARIKIMUKKU
A.N.M
Working in a private hospital

List No.1\ Child No.24
VIDYA SAGAR
PATHIPATI
ITI
Working in Dubai

List No.1\ Child No.27
VIJAYA RAJU
USALA
M.A
Working in Chaitanya College - Vijayawada

List No.1\ Child No.28
SUNIL
LELLA
M.B.A
Working in ICFAI University

List No.1\ Child No.30
KUSUMA KUMAR
GOSALA
B.COM
Working in Adilahbad

List No.1\ Child No.31
LAVA KUMAR
GOSALA
ITI
Working in a Private Company

List No.1\ Child No.37
NAGA JYOTHI
UCHULA
B.Ed
Studying B.Ed

List No.1\ Child No.38
JOSHI MARY
SALI
INTERMEDIATE
BECAME A CATHOLIC NUN

List No.1\ Child No.39
SWAMYNATHAM
MUVVALA
M.B.A
Working in a Private Company

List No.1\ Child No.41
SUVARTHA
CHINNAM
A.N.M
Studying A.N.M

List No.1\ Child No.42
VIJAYALAKSHMI
PATHAPATI
A.N.M
Working in Govt Hospital Hanuman Juntion

List No.1\ Child No.43
AMALESWARI
SONTI
G.N.M
Working in a Private Hospital

List No.1\ Child No.47
SURESH
ARJA
M.L.T
Finished MLT

List No.10\ Child No.13
JAYARAJU
BADUGU
M.B.A
Studying M.B.A in Tanuku

List No.10\ Child No.14
KISHORE
JANGALA
MASTERS
STUDYING B.ED

List No.10\ Child No.15
RATNA KUMARI
JANGALA
MASTERS
Finished studies

List No.11\ Child No.03
THAMBI
INTHETI
M.B.A
Workin in a Software Company

List No.11\ Child No.104
SUBHASINI
CHELLA
ENGINEERING
Studying ENGINEERING

List No.11\ Child No.14
SUDHA
DARAM
B.Ed
Completed B.Ed (D.Sc coaching)

List No.11\ Child No.28
LAKSHMI PAVANI
DOKKU
MASTERS
studying in Machilipatnam

List No.11\ Child No.41
AGNES MANI
KAMBHAM
B.Ed
Completed B.Ed (Married)

List No.11\ Child No.62
PADMA
DEGALA
B.COM
Asst. Auditor - Machilipatnam

List No.11\ Child No.85
YESU MARIA
MADDELA
ENGINEERING
Studying ENGINEERING

List No.12\ Child No.21
VAMSEE KRISHNA PRASAD
PATCHALA
ENGINEERING
Studying ENGINEERING

List No.12\ Child No.31
VINOD KUMAR
KAKUMANU
ENGINEERING
Studying ENGINEERING

List No.12\ Child No.39
ASHOK
MUNNANGI
ENGINEERING
Studying ENGINEERING

List No.2\ Child No.10
YESU RAJU
VASI
M.A
FINISHED TEACHER TRAINING

List No.2\ Child No.100
KUTUMBHARAO
SARILOTHA
B.SC
Working with a private company

List No.2\ Child No.135
ARUNA KUMAR
MANDHAPATI
B.SC NURSING
Studying at Badrachalam

List No.2\ Child No.14
RAJESH
DEVARAPALLI
B.A, B.ED
STUDYING B.ED

List No.2\ Child No.149
SUBHRAMANYAM
SAKA
POLYTECHNIC
STUDYING at Machilipatnam

List No.2\ Child No.17
RAJESH
GARIKIMUKKU
M.A Economics
Working in a Private Company

List No.2\ Child No.19
NAGAMMA
GARIKIMUKKU
M.S.W
Working with a private company

List No.2\ Child No.21
RAJESH
MANDHAPATI
M.A Mass Communications
Working in N TV

List No.2\ Child No.217
AMRAVANI
ARJA
ENGINEERING
Studying in Tenali

List No.2\ Child No.236
SANJAY
PEETHALA
M.SC
Studying M.sc

List No.2\ Child No.273
NAVEEN KUMAR
KURMA
Polytechnic
Completed Polytechnic

List No.2\ Child No.293
RAJITHA
SURISETTI
G.N.M
completed GNM

List No.2\ Child No.296
VANI
MUVVALA
M.B.A
Studying in Maris Stell College- Vijayawada

List No.2\ Child No.304
KANTHAMANI
VURA
G.N.M
Working in a Private Hospital

List No.2\ Child No.31
ANJALI
VORA
B.SC
WORKING IN A SCHOOL

List No.2\ Child No.37
JYOTHIRMAI
KUCHIPUDI
B.SC
WORKING IN A SCHOOL

List No.2\ Child No.43
SURESH
GADIDESI
ITI
Doing Apprenticeship in BEL

List No.2\ Child No.6
LAKSHMAIYA
VATIPROLU
B.A, B.ED
WORKING IN A SCHOOL

List No.2\ Child No.7
KOTESWARA RAO
KUCHIPUDI
B.A,
GOING TO BE A PRIEST

List No.2\ Child No.77
SUDHAKAR
DASARI
M.A
Working as a teacher - Machilipatnam

List No.2\ Child No.80
RAMBABU
PALA
M.SC
Studying M.sc

List No.2\ Child No.92
SRINIVASA RAO
BATHULA
B.A
TEACHING IN A SCHOOL

List No.25\ Child No.13
SAILAJA
RAVANAM
G.N.M
Working in a Private Hospital

List No.26\ Child No.22
RAJENDRA BABU
VARTA
M.C.A
Studying M.C.A

List No.27\ Child No.28
FRANCIS
PENUMANCHA
B.SC
Working in Uyuru

List No.29\ Child No.26
ASHOK
CHINNAM
M.B.A
Studying M.B.A

List No.4\ Child No.28
MOHAN
PENIGUNDE
M.S.W
Studying M.S.W at Bhimavaram

List No.46\ Child No.28
JOJI
ELISALA
M.SC
Studying M.sc

List No.49\ Child No.6
ANAND
C
M.C.A
Working in Hero honda company

List No.6\ Child No.34
VIJAYA LAKSHMI
DUKKUPATI
G.N.M
COMPLETED THE COURSE

List No.63\ Child No.01
PRABHAKAR
PARSWAPU
M.C.A
Studying M.C.A

List No.63\ Child No.263
SURESH
NETHALA
Polytechnic
Completed Polytechnic

List No.63\ Child No.268
RAVI
MANDLA
B.B.A
Siddartha College of Hotel Management

List No.63\ Child No.62
KUMAR
KUNCHIPUDI
Hotel Management
Studying in Hyderabad

List No.65\ Child No.295
SUDHEER
BANDI
B.Tech
Finished B.Tech

List No.7\ Child No.18
ANIL KUMAR
GADDE
ENGINEERING
STUDYING ENGINEERING

List No.70\ Child No.154
SUBBAIAH
MUTYALA
B.B.A
Studying B.B.A in Vizag(SITAM)

List No.70\ Child No.26
PAVITHRA BABU
GADDAM
M.A Economics
Planning to do B.Ed

List No.70\ Child No.36
PADMA
SALLA
B.COM
Working in care & share office

List No.70\ Child No.74
KARUNAKAR
VURA
C.A , ICWA
Working in RSM Associaates

List No.70\ Child No.92
SUDHAKAR
PARSWAPU
Hotel Management
Studying Hotel Management

List No.8\ Child No.76
RAVI
NETHALA
B.A
Constable training

List No.8\ Child No.80
DILIP KUMAR
GOKAPAI
ENGINEERING
STUDYING ENGINEERIN

LIST 70
SEKAHR BABU
BUNGA
M.B.A
Searching for a Job

LIST 63
RAJEEV
PALAPARTHI
Polytechnic
Working in an Insurance company

LIST 63
JHANSI RANI
PAIDIPAMULA
G.N.M
completed GNM

SANTHA RAJU
MEDEPALLI
M.SC
Studying M.sc

LIST 25
CHANDRA SEKHAR
CHAPPIDI
M.C.A
Studying M.C.A

LIST 25
SUNITHA
CHAPPIDI
M.C.A
Studying M.C.A

LIST 11
NAGABABU/THOMAS
MANDHAPATI
B.COM
Working in a Private Company

LIST 63
NAGESWARA RAO
B.A
Working as a teacher

GARIKIMUKKU RAJESH

He finished his Masters in Economics from Central University, Hyderabad. Right now he is working with a private company. He is native place is Pedapatnam which is 100 km away from Vijayawada city. He father and mother are agriculture labourers. He has one elder brother who got married in the year 1997 and has three children. His elder sister finished B.Sc from J.M.J College, Tenali. She also completed her Bachelor degree in Education. She is working in a private school and at the same time preparing to write D.Sc exams in order to get into a government school. He has to ambition to enter into Media Sector. He completed his elementary studies in Manginapudi Beach. And then he finished High school studies in Machilipatnam.

CHANDRASEKHAR CHAPPIDI

He is from Pedapatnam. He is doing his Masters in Computer Applications in Chaithanya Engineering College at kakinada.He finished his elementary schooling in Tharangani Matha elementary school at Manginapudi Beach. Then he studied in St. Francis High school until 10th class. He did his bachelor of science in Siddartha college at Eluru. He is very good story writer.

THARANGANI CHINNAM

She is from a place called Sathenapalem which is closed to Manginapudi Beach. After finishing her ANM training she working sowmya hospitals in Vijayawada. And then she got a job job in government primary health centre at Chinapandraka, Bantumilli. She got married in the year 2005. She has a daughter who is three years old. Her father died in the year 2008 who working in the Tharangani Matha Parish Hostel as a gardener. Her mother works as a cook in the same institution. She has three sisters.

FELICITATION TO MUMMY AND DADDY

On 26th of Febuary Forum for Child Rights organised felicitation function at Thummalapalli Kalakshetram in Vijayawada city. Eminent people like Mayor, former Mayor Venkateswara Rao were present at the event. Children from Care and Share, SKCV, Navajeevan and Bishop Azaraiah gathered and put up some entertainment programs. The felicitation was arranged in a grand style. The interesting part of the event was the feliciation done the children from SKCV and Bishop Azaraiah. All the guests praised the services and good works that the care and share doing for the street children and orphans in Vijayawada and different places in Andhra Pradesh.

NATIONAL AWARD FOR CARE AND SHARE

Care and share Charitable Trust received a NATIONAL AWARD FOR CHILD WELFARE 2007 by the Government of India. On 5th of Febuary Daddy Noel Harper the Chairman and Mummy Carol Faison the Founder received the award from Ms. Sonia Gandhi. The Government of India acknowledge the services that the Care and Share has been doing since 1991 and appreciated by giving this award. All the Children and the staff in Care and Share Organisation expressed their happiness about the ahievement.

LITTLE PRINCE PLAY AT HYDERABAD

Children of Care and Share Charitable Trust enacted an English play named "The Little Prince" which is directed by an Italian Andrea "Gundu". Actress Bhuminka and the hero in the movie "Vinayakudu" were present at the function.

WORDS FROM FORMER STUDENTS:

The First Sponsor (List 1 No 1) - Ida FRIGO

Care & Share in the News (Part 2)

This video is about Care & Share in the News (Part 2) which was telecast on a local TV station.
"NENUNNANU" (I AM THERE FOR YOU) is a popular Show on N TV. Recently it received an award as the best Feature TV Video. This show is directed by Rajesh Mandhapati.
To view this Video please visit this link.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5793726184365126226&hl=en

Care & Share Alumni on TV

This video was telecast on N TV (a Telugu News TV channel). The quality of this will be low because we compressed it. Sorry about this.
To view this Video please visit this link.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6878467877225281592&hl=en

"Express Yourself"

A Two-day Workshop - "Express Yourself" - was conducted for the children of Daddy's Home by the former students of Care & Share. Nikhila Henry, a Journalist from The Times of India, Rajesh Mandhapati from N TV and Ramesh Babu Para from The Central University of Hyderabad conducted this Workshop.

A Day with Colours...

An ART WORKSHOP for the children of Care & Share at Daddy's Home was conducted on 26 October 2008. Artist LALITHA DORAI from Hyderbad went to Daddy's Home to conduct the Art and Yoga classes. We are indeed grateful to her for sharing her time and skills with our children.

Sekhar Babu BUNGA

A simple man with many good qualities, Sekhar Babu BUNGA, is from a village called Pedapatnam. He did his Elementary and High school studies at Machilipatnam. Later he did his Intermediate and Graduate studies at the Andhra Loyola College, Vijayawada. He is an MBA from Andhra University. He completed his Masters in Business Administration in the year 2006. His first job was with ICFAI University as a Marketing Executive. He is now working for Care & Share in the Accounts Department. He is a very humble and religious minded man. His father and mother are agricultural labourers and the family owns some fields in which they grow Rice. Sekhar has a younger sister who got married two years ago and a younger brother who has joined the Jesuits and is now studying in the seminary. He has a big family of relatives. His Grandfather had 4 sons and 2 daughters.

Sekhar's Daddy
Carlo Gamboso &
Mummy Patrizia

Karunakar VURA

Karunakar is studying to be a Chartered Accountant. He completed his CA Inter and ICWA. At present he is working in RSM Associates, an Accountancy firm in Vijayawada. He has a younger sister who is in Dubai. His father is a farmer and cultivates Rice. His mother does not keep good health since she is a diabetic patient. The family recently built a new house. Karunakar is also from Pedapatnam village, an island near Machilipatnam. He started schooling late, but he always stood first in his class. He is a hardworking person. He never gives up easily. He is a cousin of Sekhar Babu Vura. Both of them studied together since childhood.

Sunil smiles when he thinks of his Mom Silvia

Sunil LELLA also called Sunny is from a village called Pedapatnam. He completed his Masters in Business Administration from the Universtiy of Pune. At present he is working for ICFAI University as a Marketing Executive. "Tenacious" is a word which describes his character well. He is also very hard working. He was fortunate to travel to Italy to visit his Sponsors - Mummy Silvia & Daddy Massimo. They offered him this trip to Italy last summer. It was a thrilling experience and he says that he learnt a lot from the trip. He did his early school studies at Machilipatnam and then his Graduate studies at Andhra Loyola College, Vijayawada. He says that his Mom Silvia is like an Angel for him. He never sleeps without remembering her. He owes his success and achievements to her. She is his strength!

Sekhar Babu VURA

My name is Sekhar Babu Vura. I am from Pedapatnam which is a small village on the sea shore of the Bay of Bengal. When I think of Care & Share I remember the story of Jesus and his disciples. Mummy Carol Faison and Daddy Noel Harper started Care & Share with a few students, most of them from this small insignificant village of Pedapatnam as Jesus called the simple fishermen from Galilee. Coming to my personal life, I completed my Bachelor of Commerce from Andhra Loyola College, Vijayawada, in the year 2003. After that I joined the Jesuits to become a priest. My inspiration was Fr. Yadala Balaswamy, the priest who picked us up from Pedapatnam and who was part of the journey of Care & Share in the initial stages. For personal reasons I left the Jesuits in 2006. I wanted to do MBA (Masters in Business Administration) after leaving the seminary but the family financial situation did not permit and I had to go to work. I hoped to study at the same time. I went to Chennai and found employment in a Call Centre working for Dell Computers. My work with them for 2 years was a great learning experience for me. A couple of months ago I met Mummy and Daddy again after a gap of several years. It was a happy reunion. When I shifted to Hyderabad and was looking for another job they offered me the opprtunity to work with them. This is how I landed in Care & Share from where I first learnt to fly.

Regarding my childhood and family. I studied upto Class 5 in the School and Hostel at Manginapudi Beach with Fr. Balaswamy where Care & Share took roots. My father was a farmer and my mother also worked in the fields. I have an elder sister who is a school Teacher and an elder brother who is now working at the Farm in Daddy's Home. All through my school and college studies I stayed in hostels. That was a difficult experience to be away from home. Sometimes I am terrified reliving life in the Hostels. Of course talking about the positive side I learned to be disciplined and self-controlled.

Mummy and Daddy are my living gods and angels. They have given life to so many children. The kind of love and concern both of them show towards the children is awesome and amazing. I am ever grateful to them.

They Redefined Love

Raju SALI is from a village called Bhaskararaopet near Machilipatnam. India is a country of thousands of villages. One of the problems in India is lack of good education facilities in rural areas. Poverty in India is also caused by the difficulty in getting a good education. With the help of Anna & Michele Rossi, Raju Sali finished his MA (Master of Arts) in Economics & M Phil (Master of Philosophy) from Andhra University.
Anna & Michele Rossi are not from India but Raju calls them Mom & Dad. This new family began 17 years ago. They redefined the sense of love and relationship in his life. Raju is happy with his adopted Mum and Dad and loves them more than anything in the world. He is thankful to Care & Share because it created the roots for many new relationships like his.

Love Changed His Life ...

Swamy is from a village called Pedapatnam. It is an island on the shore of the Bay of Bengal near Machilipatnam in India. His parents were poor farmers and could not afford to give him an education. He was helped by Care & Share to study upto his MBA. Paolo, his adopted father from Italy helped him to study and took care of all his needs. This was a real father and son relationship. A relationship that knew no boundaries and no distance though they lived in two different countries. Care & Share helped to build this relationship. Both of them are in contact with each other writing letters and sending e-mails. Paolo used to come to India every year during the winter season and would spend several days with Swamy. After completing his Masters in Business Administration Swamy began to work for the ICFAI University as a Marketing Executive. He recently got married. He proudly says that Paolo changed his life. It was a long journey of 17 years. Now he would like to give back the care he experienced. This he says is the only way he can show his gratitude to Care & Share and to his Beloved Daddy Paolo.

MUMMY

It is difficult to find words to describe Mummy Carol and what she is to us.

Carol Faison is the Founder of Care & Share. She is an American. She went to Venice, Italy, when she was a young girl and lived there ever since. The Care & Share Journey began 17 years ago. In 1991 her brother Tony visited Manginapudi and saw us boys and girls in the Hostel. The photos he took back touched her heart. She and her family and friends began to sponsor some of us. Her charitable heart supported our care and education. She gave us love and care. When we saw her smiling face for the first time as little children we were captivated. What began with a few of us in a small orphanage on the Bay of Bengal soon became a programme reaching out to hundreds and thousands of children. So many have joined hands in this great work and so many children have benefitted. We, the first children, who received her love and care are testimony to it. This is the story of a Mother with 6,000 plus children. Maybe she is the only Mother who has so many kids! In spite of the fact that she has done so much she still wants to do more for the children. There are so many things that one can say about her and write about her but maybe we can just say that she is a MUMMY ... in capital letters...!

At the bottom of her e mail she has these words :
"We find joy in life, when we find people who help others, for no other reason, than it is the right thing to do." She is an inspiration to us urging us to find joy in helping others!

We love her
We are proud to be the children of Carol Mummy & Noel Daddy
We follow in her footsteps
We don't say: "Thank you" but we say to her: "We in turn will SHARE with others the CARE that we have experienced" !

DADDY

NOEL Daddy...A man of simplicity. He is always peaceful and serene. He is a man for others. He is very committed and hardworking. Love is his Address. He loves every child and cares for each of them. Patience stands first among his good qualities. We are proud to be Daddy's children. He is working for a noble cause - to help children have a better life.

Memorable Moments...

Foundation Day

We, the Old Students of Care & Share decided to start an Alumni Association. We are very happy we come together to remember the "care" we received and to "share" our love with the present children of Care & Share. Once...hands reached out to help us....now we are raising our hands ... and joining hands... to reach out to the less fortunate children and all those in need. We are proud to be part of the family of Care & Share! 15 August 2008 : Foundation Day! The first batch of students of Care & Share come together to form the "Care & Share Alumni Association"(CSAA) There were moments of fun when we, the Old Students, played a cricket match against the present Students. Though we lost the game we were happy to recreate moments of our childhood...! ...and there were serious moments when we spoke to the present students and shared our feelings, our thoughts, our experiences... and we hope that this will motivate them to "do" more and "be" more!

THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF CSAA:

Sekhar Babu Bunga, MBA (working in ICFAI as a Marketing Executive)
Sunil Lella, MBA (working in ICFAI as a Marketing Executive)
Sekhar Vura, B Com (working in Care & Share)
Rajesh Mandhapati, MA (Communications) (working in N TV)
Raju Sali, MA, M Phil (working as an Accountant)
Swaminadham, MBA (working in ICFAI as a Marketing Executive)
Francis, MSc (working in Birla Sun Life Insurance)

OFFICE BEARERS:

The following were elected Office Bearers at the first CSAA Meeting held on 16 August 2008:

Rajesh MANDHAPATI, President
Sunil LELLA, Vice President
Sekhar VURA, Secretary
Sekhar BUNGA, Treasurer
Raju SALI, Programme Coordinator

An Untold Story - Rajesh

With hope in my heart...hope for a new life...fearful of new struggles... I started my journey in life. I am from a small village called Pedapatnam which is near Machilipatnam on Bay of Bengal. Though my village is surrounded by water I don't know how to swim. But I learnt how to swim in my life with the helping hands that reached out to me! A new Mother entered my life! A voice told me to take courage and move on...and it shaped my life. She held my hands and showed me the way. A hand once passed on to me a Rs 20 note...a gift from her... I still remember...it was the first time I touched a "large" (to me at that time) sum of money. It touched my heart. It gave me hope. My Mom's hands..! Those hands that helped me... cared for me...held me..! Now I am a new creation...a fruit of her love and care. She made me what I am today and my life has now started in the real world... I completed my Master of Arts in Communications from the Central University, Hyderabad. I am presently working in N TV, a local language News Channel, as a Programme Producer. I recently received an Award for the Best TV Documentary Film. I dedicate this Award to her...my Sponsor...my Mom...Sandra Nalin! I never saw her until now. I hope to meet her one day... But even if I never do I will always remember her ... and feel her love for me!

A Son waiting to see his Mom,

Rajesh MANDHAPATI

Reaching-Out Day

13 September - It's Daddy's Birthday! We celebrated it as "REACHING-OUT DAY". We wanted to make this day meaningful and so we decided to spend this day for others. In the morning, we (the children of Daddy's Home and the Former Students) cleaned the streets of Buddavaram village and gave them 20 big plastic garbage bins. In the afternoon we spent time with the children - Talking to the children, motivating them and playing games with them. This how we made Daddy's Birthday special. We hope to make this an annual feature.

Rajesh in the News

From an article published in the HINDU Newspaper. You can find the link at: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2007/04/02/stories/2007040201190100.htm

Probing an Asterisk

Students from the city campus participate in the festival with a film inspired by reality. SYEDA FARIDA finds out :

SHOOTING STARS - The young filmmakers of "Nageswara Rao 'Star' " look beyond hep and happening to explore larger issues.

An admission list on a campus notice board with a few asterisks, denoting reservation categories, bag eyeballs. No memorandum here. The disquiet against this practice takes the shape of a film that students make as part of a campus assignment. The film - Nageswara Rao 'Star' - was screened at the recently concluded Hyderabad International Film Festival.

Citing the asterisk, "Outside the campus we don't have a different identity. We decided to write a script relating to our identity and linked to historical incidents. The film was inspired by the Tsundur massacre. Nageswara Rao, also the protagonist in the film, hails from a place near Tsundur. The massacre affected some part of his existence," says the young filmmaker Rajesh Mandhapati, a M.A Communications fourth semester student, SN School, University of Hyderabad.

Moving beyond regular News Bulletin productions that most Communication students produce, making a short film of festival standards on campus was a feat for the young achievers who decided to select a sombre theme for a narrative. "Discrimination is in-built in any set up -be it on class, caste or gender. Further, it is easy to speak on hep and happening things. There are issues, such as reservation, which you come across in hostels and classrooms. Just that people don't talk about them. When you have a student sitting next to you telling the story, you start thinking," says Nikhila Henry, who worked on the film script with Shonreichon. Rajesh and Nikhila, who edited the film, have public service messages on the Girl Child for UNICEF and Prasar Bharati Awards to their credit. Siva Kumar comes on board on the concept.

Journalist-turned-filmmaker William Nessen's narrative set in Indonesia served as an influence for these filmmakers. As part of the course we have to see a lot of films. What inspired us to make this film in the format was The Black Road - Inside Aceh's Struggle for Independence screened at the Mumbai International Film Festival that we attended. We used the self-reflective mode of narration that the film showcased. It is good that Hyderabad is coming up with Film Festivals," says Shonreichon who aims to be a Writer.

The two months of production saw the team travelling. " We went to the villages and met the families of victims. Most wanted to let the wider audience know about the issue. The film was shot in various locales in the city and on campus. We did not want it to sound as a dry documentary. Further it is not victimisation but identity assertion," adds Nikhila.

Talking about the striking title for their flick - "We did not decide upon it till we edited the film. We never expected to screen the film at a festival," says Nikhila who plans to be a media professional, much like the journalist in The Black Road.

Post festival plans ahead for the stars include working on their untitled short film, a 10-15 minute fiction film and class assignment. "It is again about discrimination. I think we are obsessed by the concept. This one looks at class discrimination through a narrative that features an encounter between a raddiwala and a rich girl," says Rajesh as he looks forward to making feature films in some time for a vocation.

An Award for Rajesh

NENUNNANU Programme of N TV was given an Award for the Best Feature video. This Programme is Directed by Rajesh Mandhapati (a Former Student)