England

For several years now, a simple and enjoyable fundraising activity has been organised three or four times a year by UK TOS Treasurer, Greta Walker, and former TS National Treasurer, George McNamara. They hold Theosophical Tea Parties (the "Tea-and-coffeecal Society") at TS HQ in London. Each meeting has a theme such as "countries we have lived in", but theosophy, life, the universe and everything are also discussed! Before or after the gathering, people are free to visit the TS Library which has an outstanding collection of books.

France

The International Secretary of the TOS, Diana Dunningham Chapotin, participated in an anti-nuclear march in Paris. She also spoke to Japanese and European television crews and a number of journalists.
Asked by the Japanese interviewers what message she had for the Japanese people, she said: “France and Japan have something in common: their citizens have been programmed over the years to believe that they cannot live without nuclear energy.  And yet we know that we have no choice but to make our way out of dependence on nuclear energy by consuming less energy and finding renewable sources." 

Adyar

Here we see (right to left) Dušan Zagar (Slovenia), Agnes Gaasemyr (Norway) and Blanka Blaj Borštnar (Slovenia) arriving at the H P B Hostel for boys at Adyar, with the traditional decorations in the entrance way to welcome them.

Kenya, East Africa

Members of the TOS in Nairobi, Kenya, organised a Christmas party for 30 children at the cancer ward of Kenyatta National Hospital. 

They presented the children with gifts including teddy bears knitted by TOS members in Italy.

Pakistan

The TOS in Pakistan organises a number of Qandeel schools. ‘Qandeel’ means ‘lantern’, and symbolically signifies the shining of the light of knowledge among the participants.

In this programme an educated woman who resides in a low income area is employed as a teacher. One room in her home is converted into a schoolroom during the day. The TOS provides equipment, materials and a small salary for the teacher.

In many cases, if not enrolled in the Qandeel schools, the boys would be playing in the streets or going to a religious school. The girls would be doing domestic chores and caring for their younger siblings. The Qandeel schools are therefore a golden opportunity for these children to start a new life.

Philippines

Golden Link College, founded by the TOS in the Philippines, celebrates United Nations Day by holding a programme in October on the Sunday nearest the UN Day. The children usually wear the costumes of different nations, with a sash mentioning the name of the country. The parents and relatives of the students are invited to attend.

Then a programme is held in the hall of the school where students deliver speeches on subjects related to the UN, World Peace, Universal Brotherhood, etc. They also introduce selected countries and feature something special about that country’s geography, history, architecture or customs.

Canada

Elizabeth Smith, a very active member of the TOS in Canada, and her husband, Dave, adopted a little Shetland sheepdog named Desti (short for Destiny). He is 13 years old, almost deaf and with diminishing eyesight.  Desti’s former owners were no longer able to take care of him because of circumstances beyond their control.  They felt it would be more humane to have him put down than place him in an unsuitable home or animal shelter. Elizabeth and Dave stepped in and adopted him and he is now happily continuing his retirement under their loving protection.  The surviving former owner was overjoyed to entrust Desti to Elizabeth and Dave.

India

The big event in the year of the TOS Mumbai Region is the five-day TOS colloquium with 50 delegates that takes place in October or November, at hill stations near Mumbai.  The group’s convenor, the indefatigable Brother Rusi M. Toddywalla, assisted by a solid team of helpers, always arranges a varied programme of activities, directed particularly at young people so that they gain confidence as workers and helpers of humanity.

France - Congo

Last year, the TOS in France joined the Liberal Catholic Church in an educational project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is lending support to the extension of a school for disadvantaged children in a war-torn suburb of Kinshasa. The school is being equipped to increase its roll from 80 students to 150. The TOS funded the purchase of school books, locally-made benches and an electricity generator at a cost of nearly US$7,000. The Liberal Catholic Church has reliable members in the city to oversee the project, which is essential in this sort of situation. The teachers are members of the Church and are paid a symbolic sum for their services.

Sweden

The TOS in Sweden supports four educational and residential establishments for children in difficulty in the neighbouring country of Latvia, under the steady and devoted leadership of TOS National Director, Birgitta Stålhammar.

India

TOS Delhi NCR Region has established another vocational training centre for rural women, "Brahmshakti Mahila Prashikshan Kender", at Kanawani Village, Ghaziabad.

In the first phase a mix of ten hand/foot-operated sewing machines with ancillary equipment have been provided for starting low technology training such as dress designing, cutting and tailoring, etc. A qualified teacher has been employed for this purpose.

K. Dinakaran, a member of the TS in India since 1983, is Secretary of the Kerala Theosophical Federation. He engages in service not just in this capacity but also in the context of his work at the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation. Here we see him (right) with his Regional Director at Amala Cancer Hospital in Thrissur. They are helping out leukaemia patient, Agnel Augustine, with his medical expenses.

Members of the TOS in Mahabharat in association with a non-governmental organisation called the Green World Trust engaged the students of the Venkateswar English Medium School in environmental awareness activities, including a tree planting operation near the school, a rally and a signature drive. They also started a Besant Nature Club for the students to reinforce healthy habits of physical activity outdoors and help connect the children to the earth.

New Zealand

As a fund-raiser, the TOS in New Zealand had the bright idea of obtaining an inscribed and autographed copy of Joy Mills's latest book to raffle at the National TS Convention. The raffle brought in approximately NZ$590 for TOS projects.

The winner of the dedicated copy, Chris Hensley of Napier Branch (left) with Renee Sell and Kerry James Goodhew.

Australia - Philippines

Over two years, TOS members in Adelaide, Australia, collected approximately 3,200 used books from primary school libraries for their Books for the Philippines project.

Here we see some of the members packing books into cartons ready for despatch to the Golden Link College.

Australia - Philippines

Gerard Brennan, a secondary school teacher from Sydney, Australia, regularly volunteers to teach at the Golden Link College.

U.S.A.

The residents of the Krotona Theosophical Community in California engage in modest local community service projects. At Christmas, for example, they adopt a needy family, putting in together to provide enough groceries and gifts to help make the day special.

Tanzania

Deepa Kapur, Coordinator of the TOS in Tanzania, reports that a second generation is becoming involved in service work within their community.
Deepa’s daughter, Malaika, and fellow TOS member, Bro. Dubal’s daughter, Khyati, have started a local branch of the TOS youth activity, World Care Way, which is based in Chennai, India.
The group, headed by Malaika and Khyati as President and Vice-President respectively, is dedicated to various social causes and environmental issues. One of the projects for which they are raising funds is the Tanzania Heart Babies project. They are also raising awareness of environmental issues and promoting the use of cloth bags.

Pakistan - Literacy home schools

The TOS in Karachi, Pakistan. supports literacy home-schooling offered to children and young women. The TOS in Australia and the TOS in New Zealand raise funds to pay for these schools. The TOS in Pakistan chooses to do its principal work in the area of education, believing that this is the way
in which long term change can best be effected.

Books for the Golden Link College's new library, Philippines

The TOS in Australia and New Zealand have helped supply books for the library at the
Golden Link College.

Fund-raising ideas in England

Cornelia Crowther holds sale tables regularly at TS events. We see her here (left) helped by Sandra Kelly. Cornelia also organises classical music concerts at TS HQ in London to raise money for the TOS.

   
Rustom Pomeroy and Annabel Thwaite donate their talents in magnificent recitals.
 

Meeting His Holiness, the Dalai Lama in the USA

In May, Betty Bland (President/General Secretary of the American Section of the Theosophical Society) and Tim Boyd (TSA Vice President, and also President of the Theosophical Order of Service) had a private audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They discussed some of the work that the TOS has done to support Chushul Orphanage in Tibet. The meeting took place at Iowa State University, where His Holiness also gave an hour-long interview about the situation in Tibet and took part in a panel discussion, "Educating for a non-violent world".

From left to right: Betty Bland, Tim Boyd, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lily Boyd, David Bland

More dynamic work in Orissa, India

In May, the Mahabharat Group of the TOS in Orissa, India organised a Summer Spiritual programme for the students of Venkateswar English Medium School in the city of Bhubaneswar. 

The one month long summer spiritual camp was organised under the banner "Body, Mind And Soul Awareness Programme”. During the camp the students were taught yoga asanas, pranayama (breathing exercises), meditation, mantra chantings and moral lessons. On the closing day they were awarded certificates of participation.

New building and library at the Golden Link College in the Philippines

The Golden Link College is a project of the TOS in the Philippines. The College has recently added a new building to its campus.

The new building has four floors. The front fence and gate are still under construction.

A library is being established on an entire floor of the new building.

Opposite we see the new library ready for the construction of shelves.

Recognising volunteers in Brisbane, Australia

To celebrate National Volunteer Week in May, Lynette Muller, President of the Brisbane TOS group, presented members with certificates recognising their volunteer service to the TS and to various community activities.
Here she presents a certificate to Colleen O’Rourke recognising her work with cancer patients.

Rugs for a nursing home in Perth, Australia

One of the ladies in the TOS in Perth made knee rugs, which the TOS presented to the residents of a local nursing home.
The ladies in the photograph were delighted with receiving the rugs.