tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69442360860652400942024-03-04T00:26:14.630+00:00Jardins sans FrontiersCharlotte Weychanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10663876212865382511noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944236086065240094.post-49285475929249902162011-03-22T23:31:00.000+00:002011-03-22T23:31:17.948+00:00Working for Rajasthan health at Disha Hospital<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEA2HLPBAhCdspcJZRxRV4rUxKClocrDHeHazyEcn_rgI4mUnuVPH4R91nVKNJ4B7IkqU8zPGljjwczz0izdwR6qBMIcyuAyzDHOw9UB8cAZWL7GO_l88x05WB8_N6WKR6WuAkAD8AU-E/s1600/Children1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEA2HLPBAhCdspcJZRxRV4rUxKClocrDHeHazyEcn_rgI4mUnuVPH4R91nVKNJ4B7IkqU8zPGljjwczz0izdwR6qBMIcyuAyzDHOw9UB8cAZWL7GO_l88x05WB8_N6WKR6WuAkAD8AU-E/s640/Children1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The children arriving at Disha with their school teachers</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">We've talked about travel and some of the amazing gardens we saw on our Rajasthan trip, while researching plants for the garden at Disha, but we haven't yet shared details of one of our Health Camps, which we all helped to run. Health Camps are a vitally important way of spreading news to the villagers in Rajasthan and while we were in India, we ran a special Children's Health Camp, where students from two of the local village schools came to <b>Disha Hospital</b> for a general medical check-up.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMQEMwG0Q3K8MF_4oDAaGgnrX35UxlMiL-9JOvkdeq_eiZzPXFA_920OeZJR9a47NCYTy8KYMKEwfGiuXt5tacEicJ-i3uT4OAod3EqHS_Hu8beFYUYeDy4AKNlObeqwfI1tX_iVRX9HV/s1600/Children3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMQEMwG0Q3K8MF_4oDAaGgnrX35UxlMiL-9JOvkdeq_eiZzPXFA_920OeZJR9a47NCYTy8KYMKEwfGiuXt5tacEicJ-i3uT4OAod3EqHS_Hu8beFYUYeDy4AKNlObeqwfI1tX_iVRX9HV/s640/Children3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr Deepak Babel carrying out a medical check</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Some 120 children from two schools within walking distance of Disha came and spent several hours with their teachers and a team of local helpers, plus the four English visitors (Paul and Pauline McBride, Chris Walker and Charlotte, who founded the Raven Charitable Trust). Dr Deepak Babel conducted the health camp, with assistance from Mr Subhash Goyal, Ms Pooja Bajaj, Mr Hetal Amin, and many other local helpers. The children were weighed, measured and had a 10-point medical check up.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VMVvYDX2qTySGUl8Il4G8-8XuBwKgJrTXnyQgmFfNcPUA9GC0CICoJdVbSBkdKzzVhq1e9hgBuUf7CToQ_h2cWejY2hx4C0s1GAuv9Oe8RkSvmje4bZlLuGhYWihokk5IkMbCkTr9mv8/s1600/Children4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VMVvYDX2qTySGUl8Il4G8-8XuBwKgJrTXnyQgmFfNcPUA9GC0CICoJdVbSBkdKzzVhq1e9hgBuUf7CToQ_h2cWejY2hx4C0s1GAuv9Oe8RkSvmje4bZlLuGhYWihokk5IkMbCkTr9mv8/s640/Children4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlotte with some of the younger children</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">With more than 100 students, ranging in age from three to 12, we organised a full activity programme for them while they were waiting to see the doctor, including drawing, singing and a traditional Rajasthani puppet show, with a health theme. All volunteers turned their skills to entertaining the children and we also provided a healthy lunch for them.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWtb1DNq39vemZLB-u_Gl2q5r7GI6ZkmQLLzOGOJbjvSWt7j0zfU5fxOnU62BYDfjjJ414yOlogo_1YQcC4-Djn5Lt2A78QFvYjSHccZPlNbbq2D72y-SNjfNMwH-QISfvKfZ8r_7P8Sq/s1600/Children5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWtb1DNq39vemZLB-u_Gl2q5r7GI6ZkmQLLzOGOJbjvSWt7j0zfU5fxOnU62BYDfjjJ414yOlogo_1YQcC4-Djn5Lt2A78QFvYjSHccZPlNbbq2D72y-SNjfNMwH-QISfvKfZ8r_7P8Sq/s640/Children5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pauline (left) and Deepak serving the food for the children</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Everybody joined in to help and for once the Indian caste system was left behind. Paul, Pauline, Chris and Charlotte organised the drawing competitions, where the children were asked to draw their homes and families. In the next entry, we will be featuring some of the artwork they produced and asking you to help us choose the winners.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6e-_x3gIx9ixZehAA7fJjFUuQ5WGktnvas-k32zuGdnuhHzyxdgjRObQ8JepiWHEXBYFfE87LojsChvx52pHAoC5jmpd3NaVwrchc8YiO2j5HRr-25vdcOHGkQR-Fdeg533zxjYUw3yBz/s1600/Children2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6e-_x3gIx9ixZehAA7fJjFUuQ5WGktnvas-k32zuGdnuhHzyxdgjRObQ8JepiWHEXBYFfE87LojsChvx52pHAoC5jmpd3NaVwrchc8YiO2j5HRr-25vdcOHGkQR-Fdeg533zxjYUw3yBz/s640/Children2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris Walker, helping with shoes after the medical check</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Chris had to turn his hand to shoe-putting-on-skills as the children finished their medical checks, and Deepak and Pauline got busy serving the lunch (above). But all in all the day was hugely successful and both children and adults thoroughly enjoyed themselves. When the children left, they were all given soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeenwWeEQbxaHmcW8ZJXcnG4c5iLHlA7aj-Mpaka_5xQeNZb1RTrFMRXEPklwAEB3j-tb3fqnBFu68UNHU9fFcBqjQrFMt3bqhBktpb4At4yIoM59j7VCI7OcW99PL5S9NGEfBMvm7MQH/s1600/Children6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeenwWeEQbxaHmcW8ZJXcnG4c5iLHlA7aj-Mpaka_5xQeNZb1RTrFMRXEPklwAEB3j-tb3fqnBFu68UNHU9fFcBqjQrFMt3bqhBktpb4At4yIoM59j7VCI7OcW99PL5S9NGEfBMvm7MQH/s640/Children6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the groups of school children at Disha</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">When a project like Disha starts, it is vitally important to let the villagers know that there is a hospital nearby where they will receive free treatment, so Health Camps need to be run on a regular basis and aimed at all sectors of the community to encourage the villagers to visit the hospital for the first time. Once they know it is there, they will return when they need medical help.</div></div>Charlotte Weychanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10663876212865382511noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944236086065240094.post-65608174515456060032011-03-12T11:29:00.000+00:002011-03-12T11:29:17.697+00:00Step well back in Jodhpur to enjoy this ancient city! A landscape architect's delight.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUbB4QhTJVuai-WYOSbxoPI60LrMAXyC11h57XmvbO332BR84atyX9kNyRPHzz3t-DcEkneAxDS1Z8XDwMps5nykiokyPYrgTayWvhNX0IJhp995iBhpJDdaLbdYYCyRDbhQ-TD1U-tM3/s1600/Stepwell1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUbB4QhTJVuai-WYOSbxoPI60LrMAXyC11h57XmvbO332BR84atyX9kNyRPHzz3t-DcEkneAxDS1Z8XDwMps5nykiokyPYrgTayWvhNX0IJhp995iBhpJDdaLbdYYCyRDbhQ-TD1U-tM3/s640/Stepwell1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The modern step well incorporated into the design of Umaid Heritage in Jodhpur</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Our sojourn into the Thar Desert behind us, we travelled south to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Jodhpur</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> to see what we had come to India for .... gardens!! There are two great gardens of note here - the <b><a href="http://thegallopinggardener.blogspot.com/2011/02/jodhpurs-famous-fort-garden-under.html">Chokelao Bagh</a></b>, at Merangarh Fort and the beautifully maintained <b><a href="http://thegallopinggardener.blogspot.com/2011/03/behind-palace-gates-in-jodhpur.html">Bal Samand</a></b> gardens. Yet nothing could have prepared us for the surprise we found near the palace - a modern interpretation of an ancient water management system - and an art form in itself!</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnhH4Bo8zYpUpzIbrwOiL3jIRgEnm0hoMsFS4WD6C2i7evLeqnBSKgsTmahvazZjZO7XrFApwiVwzjM2xyDTYinFwwdby4GXVHWh8nP_wigBk2mc1AojP07TTbTaVGCLXtq1tqQ5tk2xs/s1600/Stepwell2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnhH4Bo8zYpUpzIbrwOiL3jIRgEnm0hoMsFS4WD6C2i7evLeqnBSKgsTmahvazZjZO7XrFApwiVwzjM2xyDTYinFwwdby4GXVHWh8nP_wigBk2mc1AojP07TTbTaVGCLXtq1tqQ5tk2xs/s640/Stepwell2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chand Baori in Abhaneri, near Jaipur - one of the finest surviving step wells in Rajasthan</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Our first stop in Jodhpur was the Umaid Heritage gardens, which are worthy of their own post, so visionary is the design of this new gated housing development laid out below the famed Umaid Bhawan Palace (below) - which serves as both home to the Maharaja of Jodhpur and as one of the world's great luxury hotels.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVj_p3X2ILwUEvOmo3e02vu0I526MW_XaJfjRhZ59q-PmyF1L2EkWBd9z8_hyphenhyphen03G8gPjKIXlihGMHJei0pIM5sRvskp01IbuSakTKbKNS1eL4r6TN3msLGiIoxYNP6x_46p5BzRMLOvWv0/s1600/Stepwells8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVj_p3X2ILwUEvOmo3e02vu0I526MW_XaJfjRhZ59q-PmyF1L2EkWBd9z8_hyphenhyphen03G8gPjKIXlihGMHJei0pIM5sRvskp01IbuSakTKbKNS1eL4r6TN3msLGiIoxYNP6x_46p5BzRMLOvWv0/s640/Stepwells8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Umaid Bhawan, Jodpur - the Umaid Heritage gardens are beyond the palace</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Step wells (known locally as </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">bawdi</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> or </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">baoli</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">) are unique to the Western Indian states - a form of water management dating back to the 6th century - conceived to overcome extreme weather conditions in Rajasthan and Gujarat, where there is monsoon for three months of the year, followed by nine months of drought. Construction involved the digging of huge trenches, lined with stone blocks and steps, allowing access to the falling water table throughout the dry months.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1j7mfb3YhGZeg1mmWfbe2arLl65TfscGf1w5r3IAJ2DDyhlb1jctx-RmmUs3IR9dO7woULuV5xNj98AUWaTb8pAhyphenhyphenpaiXttGA7thB2t23KDXPNj6-3CvRg7sQ_FkL00Y8_R-WVk0rj_D2/s1600/Stepwell4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1j7mfb3YhGZeg1mmWfbe2arLl65TfscGf1w5r3IAJ2DDyhlb1jctx-RmmUs3IR9dO7woULuV5xNj98AUWaTb8pAhyphenhyphenpaiXttGA7thB2t23KDXPNj6-3CvRg7sQ_FkL00Y8_R-WVk0rj_D2/s640/Stepwell4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 3,500 Escher style steps at Abhaneri step well descend 13 stories to access water in the dry season</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There are step wells throughout India's Western states and one of the finest is found at Abhaneri (above) near Jaipur, where 3500 Escher-style steps descend 13 stories to access the water below. This baori incorporates a temple, and would have served not just as a functional building, but also a meeting place and somewhere to worship, given the scarcity of water in the long, dry months.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAHdCN911l_ZWoZyNpIc1lKKnW-1pTdG07p8eGRlEn4mbIMGk55G2uu7R0lmbtPvmDSyRVxYxJ5Z04DRmuW6IEulG7L6w11gmGh9GL-OJm8impm6uCjYILdmWlYVajYQbeM53HVmekZYX/s1600/Stepwell7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAHdCN911l_ZWoZyNpIc1lKKnW-1pTdG07p8eGRlEn4mbIMGk55G2uu7R0lmbtPvmDSyRVxYxJ5Z04DRmuW6IEulG7L6w11gmGh9GL-OJm8impm6uCjYILdmWlYVajYQbeM53HVmekZYX/s640/Stepwell7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Escher-style steps (left) and Indian family (right) show scale of the steps</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Umaid Heritage site in Jodhpur is a joint venture between the Maharaja of Jodhpur and a well established property developer - Essgee - who commissioned architect, Hitash Patel, to design this new residential enclave. And while the houses are spectacular, it is the step well that will surely classify this development as history in the making. Considerable effort has gone into the garden planning here, but it is the ancient water management techniques that will keep this plot green throughout the dry season. This is certainly a plot to watch because I feel sure it will not only win prizes for innovative design, but also for rekindling ancient Indian traditions.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5N5VlyMJh5K1TNc1-bnAYRBfz_diyVNoHYlYTFMmYj4G2ehUK6vdumV9B-ulwvDjHnhcCM0SWcnKPpo37s99Bf1R566Cvi5u9yxS6EordXI2QiCFsRzOodEwxFaE8Vbaf1nkVt4mTCRta/s1600/Stepwell3-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5N5VlyMJh5K1TNc1-bnAYRBfz_diyVNoHYlYTFMmYj4G2ehUK6vdumV9B-ulwvDjHnhcCM0SWcnKPpo37s99Bf1R566Cvi5u9yxS6EordXI2QiCFsRzOodEwxFaE8Vbaf1nkVt4mTCRta/s640/Stepwell3-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ancient techniques incorporated into modern design make the Umaid Heritage step well unique</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Charlotte Weychanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10663876212865382511noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944236086065240094.post-1062026861929682592011-03-10T13:21:00.002+00:002011-03-10T15:22:35.863+00:00Skirting the Thar - the Desert Festival<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoc0qoZoW6vVe4UdYC-EtgyWfHjqXw0f6fsLl-9bTmUI5aOBWCxHznKIRrDJEjcKXriDF0-xbbdw6Y_hZyrHhtMW9kGlAh8EQeDSi_P1FcJ1qh1YmPhkac5pjDYoWxz-qPCVNS5tiAfS5s/s1600/JaisalmerCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoc0qoZoW6vVe4UdYC-EtgyWfHjqXw0f6fsLl-9bTmUI5aOBWCxHznKIRrDJEjcKXriDF0-xbbdw6Y_hZyrHhtMW9kGlAh8EQeDSi_P1FcJ1qh1YmPhkac5pjDYoWxz-qPCVNS5tiAfS5s/s640/JaisalmerCollage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So much for all my good intentions to post regularly from India! Somehow we got swept up in such a flurry of places, events and India-style "happenings", along with such patchy internet connections, that JSF fell by the wayside as we four intrepid travellers visited forts, castles, palaces and gardens. My fellow travellers - Paul and Pauline - have done much better and have chronicled our adventures on their </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://sussexprairies.wordpress.com/">Sussex Prairies</a></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> blog, which you can follow by clicking the link.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOb63rnPBVAsfw7L_cszJ9fHP-SJmSL14tFqcvTcY4IAS9lCdDBGkRH9b_u3jdHoBhDGO9XJTZXtFZ3f9TkhkQdrfKxRMnIokb_7PXWneGfpwYtvF_vldAM2FcCAceAj-YqeMMXRx7FLd/s1600/JSFMar1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOb63rnPBVAsfw7L_cszJ9fHP-SJmSL14tFqcvTcY4IAS9lCdDBGkRH9b_u3jdHoBhDGO9XJTZXtFZ3f9TkhkQdrfKxRMnIokb_7PXWneGfpwYtvF_vldAM2FcCAceAj-YqeMMXRx7FLd/s640/JSFMar1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A not so "wandering" calf, firmly tethered outside our haveli in Phalodi</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So filled with remorse, I pick up the reins nearly a month later, from where I left off in Phalodi, the strange, NorthWest frontier town that borders on the Thar Desert. You only stop and stay here if you want to see the remarkable crane feeding ceremony mentioned in my last post. Sad to say, but Phalodi is a real one horse town, filled with wandering cattle and piles of dung that make midnight meanderings around the town an absolute "NO, NO, NO". Although its magnificent Jain temple is worth more than a passing glance. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6iBk_cfuihNa1K5hxmywK931jUlPOlWNYyWfsj5OAMyJD2LglouV5NHDb2XdlVSD3jMrgfFmAnBW4Z2PkGXGZ9cWSGZi0OBWKU14cSZlTnatzoGoyDf-qs8tzYing9lqJnLlQq-nlBYO/s1600/AJA1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6iBk_cfuihNa1K5hxmywK931jUlPOlWNYyWfsj5OAMyJD2LglouV5NHDb2XdlVSD3jMrgfFmAnBW4Z2PkGXGZ9cWSGZi0OBWKU14cSZlTnatzoGoyDf-qs8tzYing9lqJnLlQq-nlBYO/s400/AJA1.jpg" width="440" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The tiny temple (left) is filled with wonderful, ornate glass and mirror work, shimmering in the sunlight. Few visitors get this far in Rajasthan, but if you do make it to Phalodi, make sure you put this temple on your list of places to visit before careering off on a camel in the Thar Desert.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-SQKblKwf8km1qVEiMFyyN4_qELpt3-2SFCI15XhDnLYt4ogtRCe_g5ifOl0GoXbSVeImoaLF4M0G_N4vBioPYoTOtD7ZNFw4RRkezeP2hBMdE9ugf_RtIfRDlnSvgDnLxFtyygrig6f/s1600/JSFMar2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-SQKblKwf8km1qVEiMFyyN4_qELpt3-2SFCI15XhDnLYt4ogtRCe_g5ifOl0GoXbSVeImoaLF4M0G_N4vBioPYoTOtD7ZNFw4RRkezeP2hBMdE9ugf_RtIfRDlnSvgDnLxFtyygrig6f/s640/JSFMar2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smiling holy man, found sitting below a tree within the hill fort of Jaisalmer</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">From here it's on to Jaisalmer, the ancient hill fort town that rises out of the desert in the Westernmost part of Rajasthan. This is a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">strange place, and not one that I'm likely to return to because it's become such a slave to tourism that every sign screeches about "Lonely Planet" write-ups; every tout tries to sell you a camel safari into the desert; and every spare wall within the city is covered with tourist tat - Ali Baba trousers, carpets, fabrics, and endless pashmina shawls that will not only lose their sparkle when you get them home, but are also likely to disintegrate the moment you try to launder them.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcEvkrOoScrOXSVk6tzBy2wkCBIa1G8kWw4wfsxNCbvUXgRnJt3JsIJiJ754U2wJ586XfpUCb4zYU9saHMpgNx9BQZYh5MmPvduM89J-Ny9KZ4jSBR9p0ASedsMiBjeNlHfmZTqFYVyDQ/s1600/JSFMar3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcEvkrOoScrOXSVk6tzBy2wkCBIa1G8kWw4wfsxNCbvUXgRnJt3JsIJiJ754U2wJ586XfpUCb4zYU9saHMpgNx9BQZYh5MmPvduM89J-Ny9KZ4jSBR9p0ASedsMiBjeNlHfmZTqFYVyDQ/s640/JSFMar3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two children quietly waiting in a sidestreet in Jaisalmer, before they join the Desert Fair parade</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We had travelled hundreds of kilometres across deeply rutted roads for the Desert Fair, but soon realised our folly, when the parade started on Day One! We had thought we were coming to a Pushkar style camel fair, but found ourselves enmeshed in a noisy, but colourful parade (top), where camels and drivers were festooned with acrylic decorations. But it's alright, because life looks up after this .... and we start visiting the gardens of Rajasthan.</span></div></div></div>Charlotte Weychanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10663876212865382511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944236086065240094.post-45145134286080553972011-02-15T04:11:00.000+00:002011-02-15T04:11:08.840+00:00Travels through Rajasthan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKnxhybeLBIFB9-MY_q8CRUZwegEE8fZDJLDr2XAdSwiVNEPsYJvWz_DY97hXY-KgXUJOz_WN4U6XjnMjM02C2cmROn8vuk4fz1LYYu9jUdM-nwBXaNNEuwFX08F2Vgw5rHPtXWnuoCXB/s1600/JSFA-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKnxhybeLBIFB9-MY_q8CRUZwegEE8fZDJLDr2XAdSwiVNEPsYJvWz_DY97hXY-KgXUJOz_WN4U6XjnMjM02C2cmROn8vuk4fz1LYYu9jUdM-nwBXaNNEuwFX08F2Vgw5rHPtXWnuoCXB/s640/JSFA-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Just a photo-entry today, as my fellow travellers are sleeping after four exhausting days on Rajasthan roads, but we'll be blogging together later in the week. We've completed the first part of our journey - Paul, Pauline and Chris arrived in Ahmedabad in the middle of last Thursday night (+ 5.5 hours UK time, + 9.5 hours EST) and we drove to Udaipur where we spent three days working on the garden and other projects at Disha.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1fuobhkRB4-dKSBb2hNAyMKLs8z-PRaiYaGm7SqxnYqXSUNG-TsZT1u2POkTO6nVIdSUclgoEDqpL6y3rpDoMmMJ7PiJ7HmbhHT2VVLx06za_qnvSGhyjdH9s33ISo2jNItGVZswNISM/s1600/JSFA-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1fuobhkRB4-dKSBb2hNAyMKLs8z-PRaiYaGm7SqxnYqXSUNG-TsZT1u2POkTO6nVIdSUclgoEDqpL6y3rpDoMmMJ7PiJ7HmbhHT2VVLx06za_qnvSGhyjdH9s33ISo2jNItGVZswNISM/s640/JSFA-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pauline and Paul, Chris and Charlotte (on arrival in Udaipur on 10 February)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">From Udaipur we travelled north through Jodhpur to Phalodi (see map on previous entry) where we spent the night at an ancient haveli before leaving at dawn to see the cranes being fed at a tiny village in the middle of the desert (<b><a href="http://tinyurl.com/4gzx9zn">more pictures here</a></b>).</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgwxzBG6i07bK8PrQ1iLC1i3lcELzaIMpKMOMoOOw5PxbrIAWCon6HBxASehFigTKyQhsp0nT7JoBORxFm2CKmXZXqculagyTXegA2XxQdZ7N6A5O1ptRpwnwXdvmmkFk-6sCiclrUqPt/s1600/Cranes5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgwxzBG6i07bK8PrQ1iLC1i3lcELzaIMpKMOMoOOw5PxbrIAWCon6HBxASehFigTKyQhsp0nT7JoBORxFm2CKmXZXqculagyTXegA2XxQdZ7N6A5O1ptRpwnwXdvmmkFk-6sCiclrUqPt/s640/Cranes5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Demoiselle cranes arrive in huge flocks from the desert to be fed by the village people</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Travel here is very slow as the roads are extremely congested and lane control doesn't apply, so you can only reckon on driving 25 miles an hour, including highways. Now we are in Jaisalmer, where it is wet and foggy (most unusual for this time of year) and tomorrow sees the start of the Desert Festival. </span></span></span></div></div>Charlotte Weychanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10663876212865382511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944236086065240094.post-79662547148359837842011-01-28T13:12:00.000+00:002011-01-28T13:12:18.554+00:00Getting ready to leave for India - just two weeks to go!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="480" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="auto" src="http://www.aardvarkmap.net/mapitrans/T7TV9F7I" width="640"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">With less than two weeks to go, the four intrepid travellers are getting ready to leave for India. Right now we are all in different parts of the world - Paul, Pauline and Chris are back in the UK and Charlotte is still in the US. But as we prepare for departure, we thought it would be helpful to have a map of our proposed travels in India, so you'll know where we're posting from when we get there.</span><br />
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</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3ND-16JUcRLE-KMZyKQBo9fncLGGaSg5GtePr34eX2895PinBadRuHpjJ8fLv6DD5qHlG4fjqVAmgHWfEOgj3r7KAiEX7RR0R0xrvfmikIhQmuq1K25gRoI-wMAWYsKkyDGY96rY8P2f/s1600/Udaipur2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3ND-16JUcRLE-KMZyKQBo9fncLGGaSg5GtePr34eX2895PinBadRuHpjJ8fLv6DD5qHlG4fjqVAmgHWfEOgj3r7KAiEX7RR0R0xrvfmikIhQmuq1K25gRoI-wMAWYsKkyDGY96rY8P2f/s640/Udaipur2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Udaipur, city of palaces, lakes and flowers</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Starting point is Ahmedabad in Gujarat (bottom tag on the map), where Charlotte will meet the other three when they arrive from the UK ... somewhat jet-lagged and with time clocks out of sync since it will be the middle of the night on the Indian clock, but just before midnight British time. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">From here, we head north to Udaipur to Disha Hospital, to look at the garden and spend some time exploring the magical lake city, filled with palaces, lakes and flowers.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScmul8lb-OW6MvOeC4wv3gLiTKM9ETPLlJQO6BJ1RbbTb6Y8315JTp6ceont7xj4Db7IjzjqRRNZ6FBKECoejiy9YCohmJjsdW7dsraYdX0NfO-ilqgTCEeFPLOeLFs6RtLpNNdZTddGe/s1600/Jodhpur1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScmul8lb-OW6MvOeC4wv3gLiTKM9ETPLlJQO6BJ1RbbTb6Y8315JTp6ceont7xj4Db7IjzjqRRNZ6FBKECoejiy9YCohmJjsdW7dsraYdX0NfO-ilqgTCEeFPLOeLFs6RtLpNNdZTddGe/s640/Jodhpur1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Then it's northwards to Jodhpur (above), Phalodi and finally Jaiselmer, for the Desert Fair which takes place mid-February. This is a first for all of us and we're hoping to see camels and a lot of colour. Plans for the rest of the trip will be made as we go along, but we're planning to see some interesting places ... so watch this space!</span></div></div>Charlotte Weychanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10663876212865382511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944236086065240094.post-7589126182234857382011-01-10T17:00:00.000+00:002011-01-10T17:00:43.646+00:00The story of Disha Hospital in Rajasthan ... so far!<div style="text-align: justify;">We're really pleased that so many of you have signed up to follow our progress in the last 10 days - thank you for all your wonderful messages and support! But many of you have also asked for more information ... and as I'm not computer literate enough to upload the brochure we use, I've used the text and images here, so you can read more about how this project started - Disha Hospital and The Raven Charitable Trust.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZD8Ps2rIoLaYZKQlW8ovxjl9t_NLaH99swOmN1egF-0lVkmHswknoB4NJfFGCVXahc9rtMRmZAo489GcROaTxOcFD-HVGKuajll3-57bWYOEQHNtW9iyLEO0C-chtBlP1hYOtQxbFXlqi/s1600/RCT+Progress+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZD8Ps2rIoLaYZKQlW8ovxjl9t_NLaH99swOmN1egF-0lVkmHswknoB4NJfFGCVXahc9rtMRmZAo489GcROaTxOcFD-HVGKuajll3-57bWYOEQHNtW9iyLEO0C-chtBlP1hYOtQxbFXlqi/s640/RCT+Progress+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">AIMS & OBJECTIVES OF RCT</span></b></div><div style="font: 10.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To provide free medical care in rural Rajasthan where there is currently none.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To implement health screening and medical regimes to underpin our philosophy: “Prevention is better than cure”.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To raise basic awareness of the value of health care in terms of longevity, well-being and security and empower the local people of Rajasthan to make their own health choices.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To educate the village people of Rajasthan about the importance of nutrition and diet in relation to health matters.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To promote the status of women’s and children’s health care within the community.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To work with specialist doctors on prevention and treatment of childhood cancers.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To provide regular children’s clinics and implement vaccination programmes in local communities.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To provide an understanding of the importance of good health for existing and future generations.</span></li>
</ul><br />
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">SOWING THE SEEDS OF CHANGE FOR BETTER </span></b></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">HEALTH IN RURAL RAJASTHAN</span></b></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>21 Fatehpura, Udaipur 313001 Rajasthan, India tel: +91 982 814 2100</b></div><div style="color: #0b22a2; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>http://theravenfoundation.blogspot.com</b></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Contact: Dr Deepak Babel</b></div><div style="color: #0b22a2; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>drdbabel@gmail.com</b></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Mrs Charlotte Raven</b></div><div style="color: #0b22a2; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>charlottesraven@gmail.com</b></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Registered Charity No.</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>34/Dev/Udr/2009</b></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #391d8e; font: normal normal normal 114px/normal 'Bordeaux Roman Bold LET'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">DISHA</div><div style="color: #391d8e; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>THE RAVEN CHARITABLE </b></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 14.4px/normal Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>TRUST</b></span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Arial Hebrew';"><b>“</b></span><b>The measure of a country</b><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Arial Hebrew';"><b>’</b></span><b>s greatness</b></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b> should be based on how well it cares</b></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b> for its vulnerable populations</b><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Arial Hebrew';"><b>.” </b></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Arial Hebrew';"><b></b></span><span style="color: #4f26ac;"><b>Mahatma Gandhi</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #4f26ac;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKTq_QEM9Uq8RSZCsRHOk5grT1EFaRpxRR0t1qG3Ub1SbfUakAinQR0IpDtqIKBdzeKx0Lz9WRTdTP-E5WyPAPzsoZmH8Zu11DJEAOSESCeWzh4RnNKHiqzHF_bG4-WoZt9jIOauhT7gQ/s1600/RCT+Faces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKTq_QEM9Uq8RSZCsRHOk5grT1EFaRpxRR0t1qG3Ub1SbfUakAinQR0IpDtqIKBdzeKx0Lz9WRTdTP-E5WyPAPzsoZmH8Zu11DJEAOSESCeWzh4RnNKHiqzHF_bG4-WoZt9jIOauhT7gQ/s640/RCT+Faces.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font: normal normal normal 24px/normal Samarkan;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4f26ac;"><b></b></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 24px/normal Samarkan;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">About The Raven Charitable Trust...</span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Lucida Grande'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 24px/normal Samarkan;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Raven Charitable Trust (RCT) is a non- government, not-for-profit organisation with a mission to provide free medical care and a long-term Health Literacy programme to the village people of Bari District outside Udaipur in Rajasthan, India.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Trust and Charity (34/Dev/Udr/2009) were established in 2009, and have constructed a 4,000 square foot hospital at Lio ka Guda, Udaipur, which is now completed. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The hospital – called Disha - was inaugurated on 31</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 6.7px/normal Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">st </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">October 2010 and will provide basic medical care, including treatment of minor illnesses and accidents on site. It will be staffed by fully qualified medical practitioners and in cases where patients need ongoing medical treatment and support they will be referred and transferred to Udaipur.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This story began in 2008 when Charlotte Raven, an Englishwoman who had previously worked in India, returned with her husband, as a tourist. He became seriously ill in Udaipur and was treated by Dr Deepak Babel. Illness is never a pleasant experience, but in this case it brought together two people with a shared vision and fundamental belief that:</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“All people have a basic right to medical care”</span></b></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Dr Babel and his family, who own and run Lake City Hospital, Udaipur promised to collaborate on the hospital project if Mrs Raven would raise funds for construction. And this is how Disha began. In March 2009 the Raven Charitable Trust (RCT) was formed and the rest has become history - Disha is now officially open and ready to serve the local community.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">At Disha we aim to provide an excellent standard of primary medical care, without charging patients for consultations. Dr Deepak Babel and his father, Dr Chandra Babel, will operate regular walk-in clinics, with the support of technicians and specialists.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There is a laboratory on site for pathology tests and in cases where patients require surgery, there is a fully-equipped operating theatre at Lake City Hospital in Udaipur.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">However, providing medical care is only the start of RCT’s work. The long term success of the project lies in our ability to educate the rural people of Rajasthan about the value of healthcare at the most basic level, so they will be sufficiently motivated to make decisions for themselves.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">RCT will therefore be working in conjunction with other NGOs and we have incorporated a conference/teaching room and accommodation for visiting doctors at the hospital, so RCT can implement its Health Literacy programme and offer on-site training in conjunction with local providers.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Our Health Literacy programme will ensure that medical experts work alongside existing local organisations and education providers, to ensure that the basic healthcare of rural communities are met. by pooling their knowledge.</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We are optimistic that RCT can make a real change to the way in which healthcare is delivered and understood in rural Rajasthan and we hope you will help us.</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tEcdA6lmyCuDobgBB1kcKYv0ywnW2RGQluFXWKpiMIwcsLIQ1zUF9WQo92SY68omwqYUixkPbGk_4F7CJUA31rbXxUywZS7OJImMXehnrK0IzVxBByGMmXauaIngibA3xa7PJh7PGCeI/s1600/Faces1A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tEcdA6lmyCuDobgBB1kcKYv0ywnW2RGQluFXWKpiMIwcsLIQ1zUF9WQo92SY68omwqYUixkPbGk_4F7CJUA31rbXxUywZS7OJImMXehnrK0IzVxBByGMmXauaIngibA3xa7PJh7PGCeI/s640/Faces1A.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A wonderful Rajasthani face - this woman needed a radical hysterectomy, but was unable to afford it - cost including surgery and all aftercare was just £150 (US $225) - RCT made it possible!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Arial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">India is already the world’s largest parliamentary democracy, yet there is currently no state provision of healthcare in Rajasthan, where most income in rural communities is derived from agriculture, which is vital to the Indian economy.</span></i></li>
<li><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Disha project is intended to be a working model for future healthcare projects in Rajasthan and will be unique in that it will not only provide medical care in rural areas where there is currently little or none, but will also be committed to setting up an innovative and accessible Health Literacy programme, aimed at improving not just the lives of the patients it treats, but also their families and their communities.</span></i></li>
<li><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Raven Charitable Trust will provide basic healthcare in the community which will enable the Foundation to assess the medical needs of the people and establish what their longer term needs are in terms of health provision.</span></i></li>
</ul>Charlotte Weychanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10663876212865382511noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944236086065240094.post-83929962899563537852010-12-31T14:19:00.002+00:002011-01-01T17:40:15.016+00:00The birth of a new blog - we hope you'll join us as we build a garden the other side of the world!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0zwhVaGDczv9zlKqHtasyyFyGi9FyQio8sfY-irYgQAdLLGCaa7LAu3ZpqBk-t5Lc30Y0hS7J74q0xjEWCaN0qcYgB7vuZrGYUyEGqPs-bfGxXEvOqoDAZ_DJ2nTrhnr8roqeU6b-wBI/s1600/Sussex1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0zwhVaGDczv9zlKqHtasyyFyGi9FyQio8sfY-irYgQAdLLGCaa7LAu3ZpqBk-t5Lc30Y0hS7J74q0xjEWCaN0qcYgB7vuZrGYUyEGqPs-bfGxXEvOqoDAZ_DJ2nTrhnr8roqeU6b-wBI/s640/Sussex1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sussex Prairies in bloom in the summer</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is the beginning a new adventure for four intrepid travelling gardeners! We'd like to introduce ourselves because we're going to India to plant a garden and we hope you'll follow us on our journey. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sounds simple, or maybe just extraordinary, but if we tell you a little more about the history of this project, you may understand why we're doing this! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Charlotte is already well established in the blogging world and goes under the name - <b><a href="http://thegallopinggardener.blogspot.com/">The Galloping Gardener</a></b> -</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and for those of you who already know her, you'll be aware that besides visiting gardens around the world at an alarming speed, she's also the founder of The Raven Charitable Trust in Rajasthan<b>.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Paul and Pauline McBride are the brains and brawn behind <b><a href="http://www.sussexprairies.co.uk/">Sussex Prairies</a></b> in England's East Sussex - a glorious garden that some of you may already know, planted in Piet Oudolf style; and a wonderful Bed & Breakfast that you may have even stayed in. The fourth team member is Chris Walker, organiser extraordinaire, who's helping with Disha's new Gap Year programme for those taking time off between school and college.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJS9Dvsa1-8K-B9HezrY87KiwfPKh9PNV9qLWnq8URgFEoQ3RZmwp8XMYrLvpg-TAKGXMamT-lAuVKjJL3f1EIrCE6OrxxGTILfFWcNFFnRxCn98jU1M0YvPV7qSU7S4Lr5ke45LCnMASy/s1600/JSF1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJS9Dvsa1-8K-B9HezrY87KiwfPKh9PNV9qLWnq8URgFEoQ3RZmwp8XMYrLvpg-TAKGXMamT-lAuVKjJL3f1EIrCE6OrxxGTILfFWcNFFnRxCn98jU1M0YvPV7qSU7S4Lr5ke45LCnMASy/s320/JSF1.jpg" width="440" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The land before building began<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Tw-XxoX1mIXqf-rk7qIB7mbauIMfvObqFnOeF4GSL4CcIfOwBUwnuWJkaYpFxd4Ny85oBYUhDJ_dt96PNRwQpxCF6kRNpMO1E9TMVWAU94VE_Y7attb8aFHi3P3MB8JlQpTtd1N6FO89/s1600/JSF2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Tw-XxoX1mIXqf-rk7qIB7mbauIMfvObqFnOeF4GSL4CcIfOwBUwnuWJkaYpFxd4Ny85oBYUhDJ_dt96PNRwQpxCF6kRNpMO1E9TMVWAU94VE_Y7attb8aFHi3P3MB8JlQpTtd1N6FO89/s320/JSF2.jpg" width="440" /></a></div>Mowing the grass at Disha<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFfhyphenhyphenj-B8hjei40BuSP3AQ508w0IOIiMzccxGEvTnwxHLkfL8CVMSR1SH7-JwdEm9fAL8lidcaYB08R1rSsRdRRIrDwzOKPHuVZGisF-7qF_F9UYFfyMYIHAOs5kITkq_5CYtaQJrIdI1/s1600/JSF3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFfhyphenhyphenj-B8hjei40BuSP3AQ508w0IOIiMzccxGEvTnwxHLkfL8CVMSR1SH7-JwdEm9fAL8lidcaYB08R1rSsRdRRIrDwzOKPHuVZGisF-7qF_F9UYFfyMYIHAOs5kITkq_5CYtaQJrIdI1/s320/JSF3.jpg" width="440" /></a></div>Disha under construction - November 2009<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFMZMh4XKPCazC0RlmSH5HKugCFWpJdmqKvUyQwUNqYW54jvKEqBas2UmTU3ATf_98flAMQIfYG4R7rRHsOKVIJGKm8eJq5S15kilDES-Osw_VXuZV1PNCH1XQ4NPIHu7ucV1jNgbWXEr/s1600/JSF4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFMZMh4XKPCazC0RlmSH5HKugCFWpJdmqKvUyQwUNqYW54jvKEqBas2UmTU3ATf_98flAMQIfYG4R7rRHsOKVIJGKm8eJq5S15kilDES-Osw_VXuZV1PNCH1XQ4NPIHu7ucV1jNgbWXEr/s320/JSF4.jpg" width="440" /></a></div>Disha in November 2010 - ready to open</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Chris has known Charlotte for more years than you'd want to know and he's become involved in the project because he's an amazingly practical person and will be helping set up the "Gap Year" programme planned for 2011. With the hospital up and running and fantastic local contacts in India, the Foundation plans to offer trips to India for school leavers and university students, with opportunities to work in the hospital, out in the local community that it serves and as the network grows, in local schools in Rajasthan.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> At the moment there's no garden at the hospital ... we have land and the ability to mow the grass when it grows (thanks to a local farmer who lends us his oxen), but apart from mud in monsoon season and grass in the dry months, there's nothing growing yet. But that's all about to change because in February 2011 the four intrepid travellers are off to Rajasthan to start making a garden at Disha.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Paul and Pauline are quite used to making a garden from scratch and are the brains behind this project; Charlotte raised the funds to build Disha and construction was overseen by her partner, Dr Deepak Babel in India (for more on this see our <b><a href="http://theravenfoundation.blogspot.com/">Raven Foundation</a></b> blog); and Chris is used to organising manpower and management, so his input is vital. And now the four of us are going to work together to make a great garden rural Rajasthan.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So why a new blog?</span></u></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We're launching this new blog to cover our travels when we visit India and to show how the garden progresses over time. But we'll also be featuring other unique gardens that serve local communities the world over.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> We're all booked to fly out at the beginning of February and we're going to start work on the garden at Disha Hospital when we get there. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Our first stop is Ahmedabad, where we'll be looking at an existing hospital garden that's been designed for the patients at Apollo Hospital. Disha is already associated with the hospital and we've been getting a lot of feedback from the consultants about the positive effects that the garden space has on patients.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> After that we head up to Udaipur to start work on the garden, and from there we're heading to the Thar Desert (Jaisalmer and beyond) and continuing on through western Rajasthan, so there will be plenty of photos and updates (as and when we get an internet connection). This great journey starts on February 10, but we will be posting before then as we get ready for the trip and we'd love you to follow our travels. If you're on Facebook you can click on the widget below ....</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> You'll see that we've chosen the end of 2010 as our launch day and the reason for this is it's about to be a New Year, a new project and a new garden for Disha Hospital. Hope that you all have a wonderful year and may 2011 be a really special year for you - we are determined that it's going to be a memorable year for The Raven Charitable Trust and all the people it serves! NAMASTE and more soon from Jardins san Frontiers around the world.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"></div></div>Charlotte Weychanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10663876212865382511noreply@blogger.com28