Frishta News - Issue 10 - Summer 2007
Welcome to the 10th issue of Frishta News.
There is much to report on. Especially exciting is our new name, more accurately describing what we are all working so hard to achieve.
Nigel Studley
A new name for a new era
In the last Newsletter, Nigel mentioned about Frishta's journey from 'Orphanage' to 'Children's Home' and finally to 'Children's Village'. Realising how important names are to correctly convey our vision, we have decided to change our name to:
In time, we will be adding our new name to our web site, letterheads leaflets, posters and banners.
Frishta Indian Charitable Trust
Frishta now has an Indian Charitable Trust as well the charity in the UK. Rachel Studley valiantly set up the Trust in the Dera Bassi Court in Punjab during a two week trip in April. As soon as approval is obtained from the Indian Government (called FCRA) we will be able to transfer funds between our two trusts.
From 'Success' to 'Significance'
A study by UK insurer Norwich Union has revealed that over half of those questioned are planning second careers that let them make a difference by the age of 45.
William Nelson, of trend analysts The Future Foundation, said: "This research is further evidence that ... rising affluence and high employment levels mean most of us now feel pretty secure in providing for our basic needs. The ethical and spiritual dimensions of work therefore are more of a priority, and people want to believe their careers contribute towards a better future - not just for themselves, but for society as a whole".
The trend of wanting a more compassionate career shows that there's a huge interest to move from 'success' to 'significance' in our careers. The desire to serve the interests of others, however, is often thwarted by the financial and family commitments that people have.
How can these hurdles be overcome? A flexible approach is needed that might include:
- Taking a career break, often with the employer's agreement;
- Using holidays to visit or volunteer with charities and projects abroad with some time off for travel and sightseeing;
- Volunteering with charities closer to home;
- Choosing to support a charitable cause financially – seeing it as a positive spending choice, rather than a drain on one's resources.
If you are one of those yearning for more significance then please read on...!
Next Steps (or should that be 'Next Flight'!)
Frishta will be moving into a new and exciting phase in 2008 with the construction and establishment of the Frishta Children's Village. Nigel Studley will leave employment early next year and the Studley family will move to India to oversee construction, employ house parents and staff, and welcome the first Frishta children.
"Love cures people - the ones who receive love
and the ones who give it, too."
Karl Menninger
FREE Which? Online offer for Frishta supporters
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Past Events...
Chores for a Cause
During March, school children at Our Lady of the Wayside School in Solihull, Birmingham, did chores at home to raise money from their parents to help Indian street children who have no home. The extra cleaning, polishing and tidying up raised an amazing £1,000. Well done! On 29th March Nigel spoke to the children at two assemblies about his recent visit to India and how Frishta's work is progressing.
Coventry Sikh Vasakhi Mela
Frishta supporter Mindy Dosanjh not only organised a stall but got her family members to look after it (!) at the Vasakhi Mela in Coventry on 6th May. Lots of new contacts were made and £150 was raised.
HSBC Quiz Night
Steve Eustice, Ed Burn & Nigel organised a first Frishta Quiz Night at HSBC's London HQ on 20th June. Twenty two teams entered and the ten question rounds included one on India and Frishta's work. There was also a charity raffle with many of the prizes, including a pair of Champions League tickets, being donated by HSBC. The team who won the Quiz were called 'The 2012 Logo Design Team' and judging by the comments everyone had a great time and asked for the Quiz to be run again soon. In all £1,045 was raised.
"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant"
Robert Louis Stevenson
British 10K London Run
Frishta entered a team of 16 runners to this year's race on 1st July: Kathryn Bishop, friends Danielle Brouard and Louise Dent, Joe Hammond, Jacqui Gordon (who also ran last year), nurse Gwyneth Boynes, Lucy Rahal & Kate O'Reilly from HM Treasury, three members of the Bhabra clan, Meny Bhabra from Lehman Brothers, husband and wife Sej & Rupi Bhabra, Jas Dhillon and nephew Amanpal Dhesi, Roy Colvert, Ed Burn & Nigel Studley from HSBC. Money is still coming in but we are on course for raising £18,000! More than enough to build a children's home. Well done to all our runners and thank you to all generous sponsors.
See some of the Team opposite.
Here are Sej's thoughts on the race and his reasons for running...
"We all want to put our hands in our pockets and help the thousands of charities that are out there. It makes us feel good and often marks a tick in the box for our conscience.
"However, giving up time as opposed to money is often a more valuable commodity and I take my hat off to anyone who does this."
Nigel Studley (co-founder & Trustee of Frishta) is a former work colleague of my wife Rupi and we were both amazed by his burning desire to provide a new life for the underprivileged orphans of Punjab. What consistently astounds us is the time and effort put in to make his desire a reality. And he never ceases to stun us - we recently learnt that he is packing his bags to actually move to Punjab to oversee the development work first hand. Wow!
"Being of Punjabi origin ourselves, this was a cause close to our hearts and we wanted to do more than just put our hands in our pocket for Frishta, but also devote some time. That's why we, along with my younger brother, Meny, signed up for the 10k race!
"When we registered several months ago, we were all pretty unfit and just made the occasional visit to the gym so running 10km was pretty daunting. We could manage an hour run on the treadmill, but that was between the three of us!
"However, with a clear goal in sight, to run the race in under an hour and to raise at least £2,500 for Frishta in the process, the three of us started building up our stamina and started working on the treadmill. Trying to fit this with our busy work (and social!) schedules was tough, but our fitness noticeably improved. However, we still weren't reaching our target as it was just too hot in the gym. We hadn't managed to actually get on the roads and take part in a full 10km run.
"I was still a little worried on race day and with 20,000 other runners there, I didn't manage to find a place to suitably stretch. Along with beginner's nerves, I was also worried about how to pace myself as I was used to a digital display on the treadmill! I had invested in a runner's stopwatch and I tried to set the pace with Rupi and Meny close behind. The Frishta t-shirts were a great idea and it was good to see so many other Frishta representatives and the crowd cheering our names on. That certainly added a spring in our step and the first half-hour flew by. The music and entertainment on the way was great and the rain was a welcome refreshment.
"With family members at the finish line cheering us home, I was delighted that all three of us managed to finish the race between 57'20" and 57'45" and has now set the standard for next year! It's a great feeling that we've actually been able to devote personal time to Frishta, in training at the gym, and becoming a lot fitter in the process. And I almost forgot to say, we've raised almost £3,500 for Frishta, which is the most important thing and something we're all immensely proud of."
And to close...
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it is in your power to act. Do not say,... "I'll give it tomorrow" - when you now have it with you. Proverbs 3: 27-28
If you have read this far, you will have seen the article entitled From 'Success' to 'Significance'. For many different reasons not all of us are able to give up our careers or shift our families overseas to make a difference, but there is still a lot we each can do. When people marvel at the step we are about to take I often say that we are not doing it alone. We know that 'Where God guides he also provides', but also the prayers, encouragement and support of EVERYONE contribute towards Frishta's vision of 'giving children a home, an education, a hope and a future' becoming a reality. At the Frishta dinner in February I finished my talk with these words, and they seem appropriate now, "If we all care, if we all contribute, together we can build something of lasting impact." Please consider what contribution you can make.
How to become a Friend of Frishta
Nigel Studley
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Mark 10:14-16