The We-Care initiative was set up two years ago by the WGAA, in a bid to assist our ex-teachers and class IV employees. The idea was to give them a funding cushion to supplement their pension (which in some cases is as meager as Rs. 800-1000) and help them improve their quality of life. With access to limited funds, we agreed to provide this on a ‘need’ basis rather than ‘across the board’.

Till recently, we were sending an allowance of Rs.2000 per month to five teachers, to be continued through their lifetime. Sadly, one of them - Mrs. Baig, who worked at the school hospital in our time, passed away. This year on the request of one of the teachers, we have enhanced the amount to Rs.3, 500 per month.

We are also extending our ‘care’ to some of the old class IV employees. One of the School bearerji’s 18-year-old son developed a debilitating disease that has destroyed both hip joints, and left the child immobile. He is confined to a stretcher all the time. We are trying to assist with the bi-lateral hip-replacement surgery that will allow him to walk and live a life of dignity.

 We are also sending an annual amount of Rs.50,000 to Himjyoti School, Dehradun for the complete education and living expenses for one girl child.  The School aims at empowering girls from economically weaker sections by providing them quality education free of charge.

On behalf of the WGAA and the We-Care team, I’d like to thank every one of you who has very generously donated to the corpus that is slowly but steadily building up. The Batch of ‘84 that had their 25th year re-union last year, has contributed a large sum of money to the fund. Kudos to them!

We have put aside a sum into fixed deposits so that we can earn interest on it along side. However, we can do with all that we can get. Many of the teachers of yore, who contributed so richly to our lives and are still remembered fondly by batches from the 60s and 70s, are not as fortunate as we would like them to be; some live in penury and others just about get by.  While it’s wonderful that we remember them fondly, it is not enough – we need to put those thoughts into action. We urge all of you to send any amount that you are comfortable with because every penny will go a long way.

Our thanks is very small compared to the joy that lights up the faces of those who know they’ve been remembered, appreciated and acknowledged. That is truly the biggest thanks!  We can only hope that the School will continue to be as fortunate in those that will guide the future of young Welhamites the way we were lucky to have been guided by all our mentors. May the legacy our teachers left behind continue to steer the School and its girls to greater heights!

THE WE-CARE TEAM

For any enquiry regarding We-Care or if you would like to donate to the fund, please contact Sujata (Verma) Kulshreshtha (O/248, Batch of 1979) at sujata.kulshreshtha@gmail.com or 09810222305

Please note:

Donation made to Welham Girls Alumni Association is exempt u/s 80G(5)(vi) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 vide letter number DIT(E)/2008-09/W-204/185 dated May 5, 2009 issued by the Director of Income Tax (Exemptions), Delhi for the period from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2012