2.  More current collaborative projects

The Kern Foundation

How many of you have heard of the Kern Foundation of the USA? Most of you, doubtless. Did you know that for the past three years the Trust has offered a matching grant to the American TOS in aid of the Golden Link College in the Philippines? The TOS in America, aided by the TOS in New Zealand, France, England, Uganda, Australia and Canada, has again managed to reach its target for the matching grant. The grant, with additional local funding, has permitted the construction this year of a four-storey building that houses a new hall, canteen, library, additional classrooms and activity areas. The additional building became necessary because of the opening of tertiary courses.

The Kern Foundation was established in 1959 by the eminent Theosophist, Herbert A. Kern Sr. Its basic objective is "to aid the spiritual enlightenment of as many people as practical by exposing them to the theosophical philosophy". At the time of creating the Foundation, Mr. Kern felt that one of the ways his aims could best be accomplished was by assisting theosophical organisations with special emphasis on dissemination of theosophical ideas through the written word and educational endeavors. We have only to think of Quest Books as one of the many projects made possible with the Foundation's help.		Here we see Herbert's older son John with his wife Anne. John has been an advisor to the Corporate Trustee since the Foundation's inception. Fifty-one years of devoted service for John and many more to come, we hope. It is through John's good offices that we receive the matching grant. The Foundation has made an exception in approving the Golden Link College in the Philippines as a project for the TOS in America. He says, "As a U.S.A. private foundation, we must focus on grants within this country. Thus the TOS matching grant program is a stretch but is a part of our wish to help energize the TOS in the American Section, and thus through it the world." In helping to develop grant programmes, there never was a more enthusiastic and yet measured, diplomatic yet firm, innovative yet prudent ambassador!

There is something very encouraging about receiving a matching grant. It shows confidence in the capacity of the staff at the Golden Link College to construct a theosophically-oriented educational establishment. Further, the grant has helped forge the international identity of the TOS. For the first time we have a project for which consistent international cooperation is needed over an extended period. Real efforts are required to coordinate the collection of donations to reach our target each year. This helps bond us. The TOS is very grateful to the Kern Foundation and particularly to John.

Books for Golden Link College

The TOS in Australia and New Zealand have helped supply books for the library at the aforementioned
Golden Link College. This year, dynamic NZ workers, Maureen and Alf Paterson, have sent a second
container of books and other goods useful for the Golden Link School. A third one has been started.
Each container holds more than 11,000 books so we are talking about a 'weighty' project here!

Eye testing in India

The eye check programme facilitated by Dr Sunita and C.V.K. Maithreya of the TOS, Chennai in collaboration with Udhi Hospitals has picked up pace considerably this year. Over ten thousand needy school children and adult slum dwellers have been screened since the project started in September 2007. Glasses and cataract operations have been provided to those in need at no cost. About 75 workers on the Theosophical Society's Adyar Estate and others in the area were also screened this year. This work has drawn interest and support from groups in India, Italy, Australia, France, England and Canada.

	Dr Nagaraj and Mr Amudanathan of TOS, Chennai have particularly worked hard on this project. Here we see them overseeing eye checks at the Spastics Society of Tamil Nadu, Ayanavaram Branch.

Heart Surgery Babies

The TOS in Italy, Australia and England have sent donations this year to the TOS in Tanzania for the travel expenses of the babies flown by the Lions Club to India for heart surgery, where they receive world class treatment at a tenth of the cost in Western countries.


Deepa Kapur, Correspondent of the TOS in Tanzania, with a young heart patient

All this collaboration and fraternal support from country to country is encouraging. Compared with well-known aid organisations, the gifts and donations sent to TOS projects in economically disadvantaged countries are very modest. They are worth a lot more, however, in terms of the brotherly links they represent. Members take a lively interest in each other's work and bonds of friendship are formed. The TOS maintains a policy of channelling donations directly to its projects and not deducting a penny for administrative overheads. This helps in no small measure to inspire trust.

Hands-on

You may say that that it is easier to sign a cheque for a humanitarian cause than to roll up one's sleeves and do something oneself. In fact our members do roll up their sleeves! Donations don't just drop out of the blue sky. Hundreds of Theosophists are involved in hands on fundraising work. Here are just a few examples.

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.

John Sell of Auckland, New Zealand designs inspirational theosophical bookmarks for sale.

Carla Nobis of the TS in Italy shows one of the many fine items of handiwork she makes for sale.

Elizabeth Sell of Auckland, New Zealand paints for the TOS.