Fr. Joe's Wishes on International Labour Day

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Fr. Joe announces the New Guiding Board of Kripa Foundation.

 (L to R) Bosco D'Souza, Fr. Joseph H. Pereira, Mr. Linus Pinto, Ms. Krishna Iyer , Dr. Snehal Mehta, Dr. M S. Menon

Today 30th of April 2013, Fr. Joseph H Pereira, Founder Managing Trustee of Kripa Foundation announced the new guiding board of Kripa Foundation, The board held their first meeting at Kripa Mumbai along with Fr. Joe. This board will be meeting in the 4th week of every month to discuss various issues in the development of Kripa. The newly formed guiding board consist of  Fr. Joe H. Pereira, Dr. M.S. Menon, Dr. Snehal Mehta, Mr. Linus Pinto, Ms. Krishna Iyer and Mr. Bosco D'Souza. Excused was Fr. Cajetan Menezes who is in Singapore to attend a meeting.

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Sheldon Pinto

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Fr. Joe expanding the horizons of Kripa in interior Maharashtra with Mr. Shaligram Thakaji Hodgar- Manchi Hill, Sangamner.

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Eklavya Adivasi Bhatkya Vimukta Jati Jamati Va Maga Vargiya sevabhavi Sanstha Manchi Hill, was established  in the year 1995 the trust campus is located in the lush green surroundings of Manchi Hill, Tal. Sangamner, Dist. Ahmednagar  with an excellent ambience and environment for the young igniting minds to give their best of thoughts.

The aim and objective of the trust is providing quality education and training to the weaker section of the society, empowering the youth with courage and confidence to shoulder the challenges emerging from global competition, and to excel in their respective areas of work life balance.

 All the campuses of the trust are fully developed and well established having a Medical college, a D Ed college, a school from K.G.  to 12^th standard and a auryvedic hospital with all the amenities for students for their pursuit, extracurricular activities, sports and hobbies. The campus has an extraordinarily exemplary group of people – the management, faculty, students and non-teaching staff who combine together to create a unique learning environment – a congenial climate to provide a well rounded education. These institutes  maintain a commendable percentage of results continuously in the University examination

This trust  is run under the dynamic leadership of  their chairman Shri Shaligram Thakaji Hodgar. It is his sheer hard work with the help of his dedicated staff that he runs a well organized campus of various educational and health care institutes. In his zeal to help more and more mankind he observed that there was a need for starting a rehabilitation centre for alcohol and drug abuse. Mr. Hodgar personally came down to Mumbai along with Fr. Mathew and invited Rev. Fr. Joe H Pereira Founder Managing Director to visit Manchi Hill campus,Sangamner.

On 25^th April 2013, Fr. Joe drove down 252 kms to meet Mr. Hodgar. A man of punctuality, the host were surprised to see Fr. Joe reach Sagamneer much prior to the time of appointment. Fr. Joe was given a tour of the school, medical college, hospital, dairy farm, and the proposed site to start the rehab centre. Later Mr. Hodgar felicitated Fr. Joe and with great respect personally tied the traditional Maharashtrian turban for Fr. Joe and presented him with a shawl.

 In the hot simmering summer heat of 40 degrees celsius students, staff both teaching and non teaching accompanied by their principals and even patients from the hospital assembled in the open air auditorium sitting under the shades of the trees listen with apt attention as Fr. Joe  addressed the gathering. In his speech Fr. Joe shared how it was a need to make people aware about the ill effects of addiction and how especially the youth and teenage of vulnerable Indian villages should not fall victims to addiction in this rapid modernization of our country.” It is Gods providence that has bought me here” said Fr. Joe. The audience stared with amaze as they listened to Fr. Joe speak in pure Marathi and wonder struck as he sang in Sanskrit the interfaith prayer “ om tat sat ¤rí náráya`a tu…” by Vinoba Bhave. And the invocation to Patanjali as a yogic “yogena cittasya padena vacam….”

Mr. Hodgar in his address thanked Fr. Joe for his visit to his campus and said that although a businessman he was fully convinced after hearing Fr. Joe speak from his heart to his students, staff and patients that indee Fr. Joe was indeed a  man of God, come into Manchi Hills to eradicate the ills of addiction.

Fr. Joe also had a special briefing for the principal, doctors and teaching staff of the various institutes which later ended in a question and answer session.

After the function all who attended were served a sumptuous lunch. On his departure to Mumbai, Fr. Joe assured Mr. Hodgar that this would not be his last visit but a beginning to a new phase of Kripa collaborating with Mr. Hodgar in Manchi Hill.

The whole visit was arranged by Fr. Mathew. Fr. was accompanied by Bosco and safely transported through and fro from Mumbai by Khemchand.

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Fr. Joe executes a de-addiction camp in the naxalite areas of Chainpur, Jharkhand with the help of the Sisters of Holy Cross

To take serious note of the rampant increase in Drug Addiction among youths of Chainpur, Gumla district in Jharkhand, the Sisters of Holy Cross Congregation suggested the need of a Rehabilitation Centre in the vicinity. Rev. Fr. Joseph H. Pereira met the team and affirmed to start Kripa Chainpur to which they pledged their support.

In continuum to this, from 05^thto 20^th April 2013, Kripa Foundation in collaboration with Holy Cross Congregation, conducted at De-Addiction Camp at Holy Cross Kripa, Chainpur, Gumla, Jharkhand for alcoholics and addicts. The programme was inaugurated amongst a gathering of Addicts and their families, religious personnel, eminent members of the state, local leaders, well-wishers and staff of the centre.

In-house therapeutic sessions like, yoga, meditation, Educative Inputs, AA and NA Meeting, Music Therapy, Games and Drawing Competition; depicting their addiction, were conducted for the attendees who richly benefited from the programme.

The addicts will visit the centre, once a week for follow-up programme so that the counselors can monitor their progress. The families of the addicts also interacted with the staff and expressed their gratitude to the organization for conducting the camp and also promised to extend their support in curbing the menace of drug addiction in the area.

His Eminence, His Grace Cardinal Telesphore Toppo of Ranchi visited the centre and in his homily thanked the staff of Holy Cross and Kripa for their work in reaching to those afflicted with the disease. The camp also had visitors like His Lordship Rt. Rev. Bishop Paul from the Diocese of Gumla and the Provincial and her team of Holy Cross, Hazaribag, who interacted with the addicts, their families and staff of the centre

This camp was well supervised and conducted  by Fr. Seraphinus Ekka and Bosco from GSO of alcoholic Anonymous who specially went all the way from Mumbai to the naxalite ridden areas of Chainpur under the guidance of Fr. Joe to conduct this de- addiction camp and great support from the Sisters of Holy Cross Congregation.

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Mozen H
Kripa Vasai

 

Dr. Ashok Bedi from Milwaukee conducts a Jungian experience along with Fr. Joe and the Kripa Staff from all over India

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In our ongoing process of online studying with Jungian Centre Chicago, renowned Jungian psychoanalyst and author of many books, Dr Ashok Bedi. MD a psychiatrist from Milwaukee took a session on 'interpretation of dreams' with Mumbai Jungian Centre, today the 24^th of April 2013 from 7:30 am onwards.

 The session was attended via tele-conference by Rev. Fr. Joe Pereira Founder Managing Trustee of Kripa Foundation along with the Directors of kripa Foundation, Project Directors, and Kripa staff from Nagaland, Imphal, Darjeeling, Shillong, Assam, Mumbai, Pune, Mangalore and Goa. Also present were guset from the US.

 

 The session on Jungian perspective and interpretation of dreams was extremely informative and insightful. Dr Bedi made the session very interactive and engaging by sighting personal experiences and explaining to the attending staff, how he understood and interpreted his own dreams and how that helped him rise above the problems he faced in various situations. This input was also synced with his relevant experience in the field of addiction, which greatly benefitted the staff in their growth as professionals and experiential counselors.

Fr. Joe suggested many relevant topics that could be discussed in the next session which will be held in June and how the staff could utilise these valuable inputs in thier dealing with clients in Kripa.

This session is intended to be a part of a series of sessions that Dr Ashok Bedi would be conducting with kripa staff as a liaison person of the IAAP Developing Groups in India and as the President of the USA India Jung Foundation - a charitable foundation in USA.

 

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Ms. Krishna Iyer

Kripa Foundation

Developement Manager

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Fr. Joe receives the 2nd highest fundraiser as a " Dream Maker " : from Bollywood star John Abraham

Father Joseph H. Pereira, Founder and Managing Trustee, Kripa Foundation was awarded the second prize in the Dream Makers category of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2013 held on January 20, 2013. Fr. Joe collected nearly Rs. 700,000 through his single-handed efforts for the Kripa Foundation, the largest Non Government Organization in India that rehabilitates drug and alcohol addicts while caring for marginalized segments of the society such as HIV/ AIDS victims and slum children.

The award was presented to Fr. Joe by Bollywood actor John Abraham and BJP Spokesman, Shaina NC at a glittering ceremony held recently to felicitate runners who had netted the highest amount of donations for the charitable organizations they represented.

The event, held at the The Trident hotel in Nariman Point, Mumbai was attended by  Dr. Indu Shahani, Chairperson, United Way of Mumbai . Also in attendance were Shri Chhagan Bhujbal, Hn’ble Minster, Public Works & Tourism, Shri Anil Deshmukh, Hon’ble Minster, Food & Civil Supplies, Shri Jayant Kumar Bhantia, Chief Secretary, Shri J S Sahariya, Additional Chief Secretaruy, Sports & Education, Shri S J Kunte, Commissioner MCGM and Shri Satyapal Singh, Commissioner of Police, among others.  Attendees also included Sumeet Singla Regional Head Corporate Affairs, India & South Asia, Standard Chartered, the title sponsor, Girish Ramachandran, Vice President Corporate, Tata Consultancy Services and Vishal Jhunjhunwala, Head Corporate Brand Tata Consultancy Services, the Associate Sponsor, and senior officials from partnering companies.

Organizers announced, the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2013 generates Rs 18.61 crores in donations -an increase of almost Rs 2.5 crores over the Rs 16.07 crores generated in 2012 and will benefit 230 NGOs as compared to 197 last year.

Speaking on the occasion, Fr. Joe said: “This award clearly indicates the excellent work that well wishers and Friends of Kripa are doing for the Kripa Foundation. But above all, this is also a significant pointer to the fact that the general public is now fast realizing the hazards of drug and alcohol addiction and the devastating effects it has on the society. Our participation also highlighted how the scourge of HIV/ AIDS has spread rapidly and this award is also a recognition of the work Kripa Foundation is doing in this field to rehabilitate the marginalized sections of the society."

Team Kripa which participated in the SCMM 2013 the 10th edition of the event- consisted of people from all walks of life such as businessmen, senior executives, physicians, engineers, journalists, students, counselors, prominent women, industrialists and former patients from India and abroad.

Padma Shree Fr. Joe said, Kripa Foundation will continue to participate in all future SCMMs with larger teams and wider support from the public and sponsors. "Without support from the public, we cannot fight the menace of drug and alcohol addiction, which are reaching endemic proportions in India. Sadly, women too are falling prey to addictions due to hectic lifestyles and inhumane family demands that requires them to tend  to kids, feed the family while pursuing a decent career. We call upon the society, especially women, to seek Kripa's assistance, since we treat all our patients with utmost anonymity and have two dedicated centres- in Pune and Goa, for rehabilitating women addicts. Our research indicates women are more addicted to sedatives, cough syrups, tranquilizers and anti-depressants, as well as other potent prescription drugs that can have long-term harmful effects on their mental health. Increased consumption of alcohol among women from an early age is also evident in today's society, which poses an alarming scenario for the country," he said.  Fr. Joe later told staff and patients at Kripa Foundation that it was their love that had seen him win several accolades over the years.

 

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Ashwin Honawar & Brett Rodricks

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A video clip of the event at Hotel Trident Mumbai

Awareness program for floating population of labourers by Kripa Vasai

Awareness Programme at Labour Naka, Vasai

On 19^th April 2013, Kripa Vasai conducted an Awareness Programme at Labour Naka, Vasai; the time being filled with laborers and shop keepers. The team went around interacting with passersby’s and shop-keepers; continuously giving information on the organization; its activities and services and distributing pamphlets.

Many members of the public showed their interest and also shared personal experiences of relatives and friends afflicted with addiction and promised to seek treatment for them.

 

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Mozen H

Kripa Vasai

Yaoshang celebrations at Kripa Imphal

Yaoshang Celebrations at Kripa Imphal

From 28^th to 30^thMarch 2013, during the Yaoshang( Holi) festival, Kripa Imphal commemorated the festival with Sports Programme in the premises itself for the In-house patients and staff of the centre.

The programme started with the Serenity Prayer followed by a series of games that had the participants in their elements. The teams were happy to have a few Ex-clients and Well-wishers, who apart from taking part in the programme also motivated the In-house patients to do a good Recovery programme.

 

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Mozen H

Kripa Vasai

Orientation program for school chldren- Kripa Goa

Orientation Programme for School Students

Kripa Goa conducted an Orientation Programme for students of Nano Nagle Trust on 13^th April 2013 at the centre itself. The students who having their Summer Camp were delighted to interact with the patients of the centre and enhance their knowledge on Addiction. Topics on Addiction; progressive nature of the disease, Treatment Module and Spiritual tools for recovery were explained to the students.

A film on addiction, Pehla Kadam’, was screened followed by sharing of life experiences and question-answer session.

Awareness for Nursing Students - Kripa Goa

 

 

Orientation Programme for Nursing Students

On 12^th April 2013, Kripa Goa conducted an Orientation Programme for 45 Nursing Students of 2^ndyear course. The students were explained the various activities of the organization and daily activities conducted for the patients. The resource team also spoke on the Kripa Model of Recovery and various aspects of addiction. A film on addiction, Pehla Kadam’, was screened, that enabled the students to get a deep insight into, Causes of Addiction, Role of the Family and Recovery.

The programme concluded with a testimony and a question-answer session

 

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Mozen H

Kripa Goa

Awareness program for school children by Kripa Varanasi

Awareness Programme for School Children

Kripa Varanasi conducted an Awareness Programme for S Children  of two schoold namely  Utram Maadhyamik Vidhyalaya & Hindi Prathmik Vidhyalaya, on 11^th and 12^th April 2013 respectively. The resource team shared their life experiences and gave inputs to the children on Addiction, Dangers of Drugs and Inhalants, Kripa Model of Recovery, and importance of Self Help Groups and Alcoholic Anonymous.

Nicotine and Betel Nut chewing is a common intoxicating substance used by School Children, and staff of the School were happy to have an awareness programme conducted for the children in the premises itself. Plans were made to conduct similar programmes on a regular basis and to have a counselor interact with the students

 

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Mozen H

Orientation program for nursing students- by Kripa Vasai

Orientation Programme for Institute of Nursing Education

On 15^th April 2013, Kripa Vasai conducted an Orientation Programme for around 20 students of Institute of Nursing Education , Byculla.

The participants were explained the Kripa Model of Recovery, Addiction and HIV AIDS. The film, ‘God’s Grace was also screened. In-house patients shared their life experiences that richly benefited the students. The programme ended with a question-answer session

 

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Mozen H

Kripa Vasai

Awareness program at the local fishing village in Naigoan -by Kripa Vasai & VRACS

Awareness Programme at Naigaon Market

In accordance with repeated requests from local leaders and well-wishers of the area, the staff of Vasai conducted an Awareness Programme on 17^th April 2013 at Naigaon Market; during peak hours. The team went around interacting with passersby’s and shop-keepers; continuously giving information on the organization; its activities and services and distributing pamphlets.

Many members of the public showed their interest and also shared personal experiences of relatives and friends afflicted with addiction and promised to seek treatment for them.

 

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Mozen H

Kripa Vasai

Remembering Dada of Kripa Kolkata on his 18th Death Anniversary

The 18th death anniversary of  late Prasad Guha lovingly called " DADA" by all  was observed at Kripa Gangarmpur in Kolkata on 13th April  by all inpatients and staff. The day was solemnized by  reciting of the.Bhagvad Gita , Holy Bible and Quran Sharif  as a token of respect.

Many of the old staff along with his wife Ms. Joba Guhal shared their memories of being with Dada. The most touching being, that inspite of being a chartered accountant, he gave up his profession to do kripa' work along with his wife who is lovingly called Boudi  by one and all. Boudi shared how at  times, they faced many challenges in the running of Kripa .Today due to the efforts of the Guha family till date  more than 4000  families have benefited from the services of Kripa.

Fr. Joe in his message said that he had prayed for him at the morning Eucharistic celebration and remembered the rich experience and devotion  Dada  gave for the work

Indeed it was a day of fitting tribute to DADA. May his soul rest in peace.
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Sandeep Mitra
Kripa Kolkata
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Kripa Kolkata's presence at the 16th anniversary of SOPAN NOR GROUP AL ANON GROUP

Al-Anon, known as Al-Anon Family Groups, is an international "fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength, and hope in order to solve their common problems." They "help families of alcoholics by practicing the Twelve steps, by welcoming and giving comfort to families of alcoholics, and by giving understanding and encouragement to the alcoholic."
Al-Anon was formed in 1951 by Anne B. and Lois W, wife of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) co-founder Bill W. They recognized the need for such an organization as family members living with AA members began to identify their own pathologies associated with their family members' alcoholism.

Every Kripa centre has a similar family support system which reaches out to the families of those in Kripa recovery and meet once a week. Besides this the families are encouraged to go for meeting at Al Anon groups in the areas close to their homes. This year Sandeep Mitra of Kripa Kolkata was called as a guest speaker at the 16th Anniversary of  SOPAN NOR Al ANON group in kolkata. There was a gathering of more than 200 FA members.

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Orientation program at Kripa Vasai

Orientation Programme for CCDT

On 08^thApril 2013, Kripa Vasai conducted an Orientation Programme for around 20 children and 5 staff from CCDT, an organization that focus on health, education and vulnerability of children in the community, in the centre itself.

The participants interacted with the staff and clients of the centre and explained the Kripa Model of Recovery, Addiction and HIV AIDS. A power point presentation on the various activities conducted by Kripa, and Harmful effects of Intravenous Drug Use, Inhalants and Nicotine were shown that greatly benefited the participants. The film, ‘God’s Grace was also screened. The programme ended with a question-answer session.

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Mozen H

 

 

 

Orientation Programme for Nursing Students- by Dharavi

On 07^th March 2013, Kripa Dharavi conducted an Orientation Programme for around 23 T.Y.Bsc Nursing Students of L.T. College at the centre itself.

Basic Information on Addiction and HIV AIDS were given to the students. They also spoke on the AA / NA Twelve step program, Kripa Model of Recovery and the therapeutic sessions conducted for the clients. Other topics touched on were, Safer Injecting Practices, Vein Care and Abscess Management, Oral Substitution and Needle Syring Exchange Programme. They also interacted with the beneficiaries of the SCHEME.

 

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Mozen H

Holi at Kripa Dharavi

Holi - the festival of colors - is undoubtedly a fun-filled festival. It's an occasion that brings in unadulterated joy and mirth, fun and play, music and dance, lots of bright colors, and Unity. The festival signifying ‘good over evil’ can by synonymously correlated to ‘recovery over addiction’ in our Kripa Programme.

On 26^th March 2013, the children of the Project sprayed water colours on each other. A sumptuous lunch and sweets concluded the day’s programme

 

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Mozen H.

Fr. Joe at the Holy Tridum Services at Kripa Vasai, India

  

 

Fr. Washing the feet at the Maundy Thursday Service at Kripa Vasai

 

 Fr. Joe conducting the Station of the Cross on Good Friday at Kripa Vasai

 

Fr. Joe at the Good Friday Service at Kripa Vasai

 

Fr. Joe conducting the Easter Vigil Service at Kripa Vasai

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Breaking News ... Fr. Joe awarded for his efforts at the Mumbai Marathon 2013

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Brett Rodricks
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