TOS news from around the world
The TOS in France: a bouquet of teddies!
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We have reported more than once on the outstanding work of TOS members and friends in England and Italy knitting teddies to comfort small children who have to go into hospital. (To date some twelve thousand teddies have been collected by the TOS in England.) Now the French TOS has taken up its knitting needles! |
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In early January, Armande and Paulette launched the project at a meeting of the TOS in Paris. They gave away bags of donated wool and stuffing to the volunteer knitters present. |
Old friends, George and Madeleine, declined to join the knitting project but lent encouragement. The two have been supporting the TOS for at least 35 years.
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The TOS in the Dominican Republic: bringing joy to children
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The first activity for 2013 of the TOS in the Dominican Republic was to deliver medicine and toys to the Fundación Vida y Esperanza (Life and Hope Foundation) in Santo Domingo. Our Correspondent, Maria Amparo Sanchez Franco, was accompanied by Felipe de Castro and Miguel Saviñon. They met with the President of the Foundation, Ms Juana Carpio.
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The TOS in Uruguay: Raising awareness of healthy vegetarian food
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As part of TOS activities in Uruguay, vegetarian cookery classes are being given at the TS premises in Montevideo. Apparently some of the participants attend the demonstrations on the recommendation of their doctors. Here we see Silvia Anon dispensing sound nutritional advice.
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The TOS in America: three successful, on-going projects
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Support for Native American education For the second time, the TOS in America has granted a $3,000 scholarship to a Native American student displaying both merit and need. This amount is helping to cover 27–year-old Natasha Ferguson’s expenses in her final year of training at a college school of nursing. She was selected by the college according to criteria set by the TOS. Natasha is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe from the Pine Ridge Reservation in North Dakota. “After graduation,” she says, “I hope to give back to the Native American community by working as a Registered Nurse within the Indian Health Service. After gaining some experience and settling in as an RN, I plan on finishing my education by obtaining a Bachelor of Science in nursing. I extend to you my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude for your donation to the Oglala College Nursing Program.” |
“One of my goals is to graduate in the top of my nursing class,” writes Natasha. |
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The Trees for War Veterans programme got underway in 2011 and is doing well. |
Trees for war veterans Citizens sent to fight overseas often return traumatized by their experience, as we know – and sometimes they don’t return at all. David Ely, a TOS member from the Northeast of the United States, has created a project called “Trees for Vets”. People wishing to honour a war veteran, and help the environment, donate to have a tree planted in their veteran’s name.
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The Chushul home for children in Tibet On trips made to Tibet in 2008 and 2009, American and other international Theosophists visited an orphanage of around 30 children near Lhasa, Tibet. The visitors were touched by the needs of the children and the efforts of the management to meet their needs. As a result of this contact, and with the assistance of Tibetologist Glenn Mullin, the American TS worked with the American TOS to establish a project that would improve the conditions for the children at Chushul. Fund raising was so successful that they were able to add bathroom facilities, a septic system and some new dormitory space. All work is carefully coordinated with Peggy Day of Peggy Day Adventures in order to assure effective and appropriate use of the funds. Support is still extended each year. Below, you see Betty and David Bland visiting the home. |
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