Mumbai India. As part of the on going 60 year celebration of Indo – German tied Clowns without Borders (CWB) was in the city to entertain the children of the city. CWB is a non profit international association dedicated to improve the situation of children who live in crisis situations of whatever type. It is the aim of CWB to perform for these children and bring laughter, joy and a memorable day full of excitement. CWB was in Mumbai and performed in Dharavi the largest slum in India performing for the less privileged children of society. Mumbai Weekly photographer Shailesh Andrade spent the afternoon with these professionally trained clowns capturing the mood and laughter at the venue. CWB was in Mumbai and performed in Dharavi with ACORN’s Dharavi Project.

Children dance on the stage with clowns in Mumbai on 3 March 2012. As part of the on going 60 year celebration of Indo – German ties Clowns without Borders (CWB) was in the city to entertain the children of the city.

A performer plays the xylaphone in Mumbai on 3 March 2012.

March 2nd, 2012

A group of children from our project called Dharavi Rocks spent the day at TISS with The 1000 Crane children. Dharavi Rocks are young boys from the slums who are uplifting their lives through music.

We did bring the roof down!

Click here for more

Tens of thousands of small retailers protested against FDI in Retail and FTA under the banner of Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal. More than 10,000 traders from Kerala belonging to the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi led from the front. Protestors were arrested by the Parliament Street Police Station.

Click for Press Release

News Coverage of the event.

The Economic Times

Times of India

ACORN music project that works with kids from Mumbai’s Slums to help them see a life beyond their harsh conditions is featured in the Feb 10th edition of People Magazine in India as a featured “People Hero.”

Please click to view article, From Rags to Raagas

Bangalore ~ The vendors and farmers of the K.R.Puram market took a protest march from the market to the State BJP unit to submit a memorandum to Mr. K.S. Eashwarappa the BJP State president on the 17th of Dec. The members of Akhila Karnataka Raitharu mattu vyaparigala sangha vendors and farmers of the K.R.Puram market assembled at the market with gunny bag dress started the protest march at 9.30 AM. The march after covering the streets of K.R.Puram, took the Old madras road to reach the BJP state party office at 2.00 PM covering a distance of 30 KM. The media covered the march all along the route. Mr Vice president BJP State unit and President BJP BBMP unit received the memorandum and assured to look into the issue and get back to us with in a weeks time.

Weekly meetings at lingarajapuram, Mahadevapura and Ambedkar Nagar were held.

In Hebbal 6 meetings were held. The street vendors met the local Police Inspector to urge him to look in to the police constables harassing them for Haftha. The vendors got registered as Akhila Karnataka raithara mathu vyaparigala sahnga – Hebbal. The vendors also decided that they will contribute money to open a office in Hebbal. It was also decided that there will be some demonstration to urge the government to implement the National Hawkers policy.

In Yelahanka New town I had 1 meeting with the traders in yelahanka New town traders association.

Two meeting with the shivajinagar vendors was held. The vendors discussed about pressurizing the government to implement the National Hawkers policy in the state.

In K.R. Puram 8 meetings was held. On 17^th Dec, the vendors took a protest march from the market to the State BJP unit to submit a memorandum to Mr. K.S. Eshwarappa the BJP State president. The vendors wore the gunny bags (bags used to packaging the vegetables and food grains for the purpose of transportation) as the dress and participated in the march. The memorandum was submitted to Mr. Nirmal Kumar Surana, Vice president BJP State unit and Subbaniah, President BJP BBMP unit received the memorandum and assured to look into the issue and get back to us with in a weeks time. The vendors walked a distance of 30 KM from the market at 9.00 Am to reach the party office at around 2.00 PM. On 18^th and 19^th of Dec, we had a meeting at the Local MLA’s house which the MAL had called and assured the vendors that the market will not be demolished and the commercial complex will not be built. Along with this he convened a press meet and clarified the press about the action taken in response of the protest. The thashildar along with officials of the BBMP, and other officials were present. He also assured the vendors that the facilities at the market place like toilet, drinking water will be provided. In the following meetings it was decided that the vendors will protest to get the National Hawkers policy implemented at the earliest.

I had a meeting with the farmers and the vendors in Hoskote. Here also the discussion was on putting pressure on the government to implement the National hawker’s policy.

Photos from the BJP Protest December 17th, 2011

Buenos Aires, 02 de mayo de 2011

Informe Abril ACORN Argentina

Responsable: Yadira Micolta Victoria

El mes de abril fue de mucha bendición y éxito para Acorn-Argentina. El grupo de personas con la que estamos trabajando se ha ido consolidando cada día más y no solo eso sino que algunas mujeres de la comunidad que no estaban muy interesadas ahora son un miembro importante del grupo.

Por otro lado tuvimos la oportunidad de asistir a la 3 Feria de ONGs en Buenos Aires. Allí conocimos a muchas organizaciones que trabajan ayudando a la comunidad e hicimos lazos con ONGs que puedan beneficiar a los miembros de Acorn-Argentina. Uno de ellos fue el hecho de conocer al Club de Cine infantil La Linterna Mágica de Buenos Aires, quienes les dan la oportunidad a niños de escasos recursos de poder ver cine educativo. La Linterna Mágica de Buenos Aires le ha dado la oportunidad a 20 niños hijos de los miembros de Acorn-Argentina de asistir gratuitamente a ver las funciones todo el año, para nosotros es una alegría muy grande ya que sería la primera vez que estos niños pueden asistir al cine.

Por otro lado estamos haciendo contacto con la Organización Árboles Sin Frontera con quienes podríamos llegar a un acuerdo para iniciar una huerta que beneficie a los miembros de la comunidad.

Otro logro importante es el inicio de las clases de Inglés, Emma, una voluntaria de Estados Unidos dio la primera clase, deseamos la próxima semana continuar con ellas. Solo que el mal clima no nos ha permitido hacerlas con regularidad. También es importante contar la labor de Ali Schwach y su compañero Jessi, dos chicos de Estados Unidos que nos acompañaron un sábado en el Club Acorn.

Por último cabe resaltar el esfuerzo de nuestros miembros Mónica, Verónica, María, Alberto, Dennis y demás que han ayudado a iniciar la construcción del Centro cultural. Con mucho esfuerzo lo hemos iniciado, pero con la fe de que lo ¡Lograremos!, al hacerlo no solo conseguiremos más miembros para la organización sino que también alegraremos el corazón de los niños y jóvenes del Barrio Dorrego en Gonzalez Catán – La Matanza.

Este mes seguiremos trabajando en la construcción, e iremos a escuelas en donde contaremos un poco sobre el eco-ladrillo para iniciar con ellos la campaña e involucrar a estos chicos y a sus padres en la organización. Haremos algunos proyectos para pedir donaciones a las diferentes embajadas y trataremos de hacer muchos lazos con otras organizaciones.