Pingla Ashram Project India

13th Southall Sikh Scout Group UK
Registered charity number 1132938                                                                   
Date: October 2014
Dear Sir/Madam
I am the assistant group Scout leader and part of the project team of 13th Southall Sikh Scout Group.  On December 22nd 2014 we will travel with our explorer scouts to Patiala a town in Punjab India and help build a classroom extension at the all India Pingla Ashram which will accommodate and enable local deprived, disabled and abandoned children and adults.  Such facilities are not easily accessible for these people some of whom are innocent victims of disease and have been abandoned

I am turning to you with great hope in my mind to ask for a small contribution of minimum £50.00 or whatever amount you wish to contribute from your hard earnings to go towards my target of raising £3000.00. I will be offering my own practical skills on voluntary basis, money raised will go towards this project.  I have also written to other generous people like you so that we can become one big family pooling our funds to raise the target.   If you are at all in a position to help then please kindly donate.  My deadline to raise this fund is 15th December 2014

I am fully confident that you will not hesitate to help me raise these funds as you may have done for a similar project we did in Moshi Tanzania in 2008 and become part of this noble deed.  Your small contribution will help change the lives of many young children and adults who live in extremely difficult circumstances.  Every child should have the right to education. I believe that all children are a gift to us from God and it is only by God’s blessings that we get an opportunity to lend a hand in this way.  

Education is Key Factor in everyone’s life. 
Every child, no matter their background, has the right to education. Every child has the right to knowledge. 
As Assistant Group Scout leader for 13th Southall (Sikh) Scout Group UK, I am leading as well as participating in this inspiring project of building a classroom and an extension at the all India Pingla Ashram Patiala  which will give children, the homeless and those with special needs, access to education and valuable resources. 
Scouts are the largest youth organisation spread all over the world run for the youngsters by volunteering adults who work hard in their own time to give life changing experiences to children and young adults.  Our group scout has been blessed with an amazing opportunity to help with a building project for a large 'Ashram' (safe housing) for extremely vulnerable children and adults in Patiala, India. 
The Back ground.
There are more than 300 living in the 'complex', including parentless children, adults with special needs, those that are poorly and unwell as well as a large number of students. 
There is vacant land belonging to the ashram and we hope to go in and build an entirely new building to be used for schooling, health screening  as we did four years ago for abandoned deaf and mute children in Moshi Tanzania.  Lions of Tanzania provided the local support, hospitality and help with preparatory work and purchase of materials.  In Patiala the Local Rotary club is providing similar support.  All funds will be raised here in the UK same as when we went to Tanzania
The project
On 22nd December 2014, we will travel to India to start the building project which will span over two weeks during the Christmas break and end 4thJanuary 2015. We will be working in partnership with the local Rotary Club who will assist us in the pre-project work, for example, the purchase of materials and equipment and the preparation of foundations. We will be sending them the money that we have raised in order to fund this pre-project work.  All preparatory work such as foundations will be completed for our group to arrive and start working daily, working about 7 hours a day.
Every penny counts. Money raised will see towards vital development in this area and give many young children and adults the access to a life they deserve. The building project will also make way for jobs involving local craftsmen and women providing for needy families.
13th Southall Sikh Scout group who will travel to India to complete project will  comprise of Young Network Scouts and Scout leaders from the group. The project will span over 12 to14 days. On completion and after we have returned the Rotary Club will continue the work until the building is fully occupy able and help sustain the project.  This is one of the main reasons why we have chosen this project.  Our Group Scout leaders have met the Rotary club members in India to ensure this will happen.  The Masandaka school project built this way in Tanzania is still running very successfully.
The Benefits
13th Southall Sikh Scout Group aims to fundraise between £10 000 and £15 000 and I have until 15th December 2014 to raise my personal £3000 which will contribute to this larger amount. The money you donate will help  purchase building materials and equipment for the project. The building will help to seat and feed the many needy people, creating a safe, secure environment where they can feel at home. It will make the lives of the carers, inmates (patients) and their families easier, taking off a lot of burden from their shoulders.  The carers will then be able to monitor and look after the inmates in one place. The project will also engage local small craftsmen, labourers including women, enforcing a sense of community in the area and enhancing their income. 

This will be life changing experience for our young Scouts as they will be able to work very closely with the not so well off and deprived communities making them realise how fortunate they are living in comfort resulting in a caring and compassionate attitude.  This is very evident from the project carried out in Moshi Tanzania.  This exposure will also help them become good citizens of the country they live in and the world also to abide by doing good and noble deeds, sharing, showing kindness, compassion and righteousness. Each person who is participating in the project will also contribute £1200.00 each.  To pay for accomodation etc.  

So please help as much as you can.  I will be so grateful
Thank you
Narinder Singh Birdi
Assistant Group Scout Leader
13th Southall Sikh Scout Group UK
http://sikhscouts.org