countdown to the INAUGURATION

Dr. Abraham George met his Excellency, the President of India Shri. K.R. Narayanan in early January 1998 in New Delhi. The President expressed keen interest in the work of The George Foundation. The President will be the chief guest at the formal opening of Shanti Bhavan schedule permitting.

The inauguration is tentatively planned for early July 1998. The President's ADC paid a private visit to Shanti Bhavan towards the end of February. He was impressed with the children and the campus. He gave us a few guidelines about the proposed President visit.

Shanti Bhavan is already abuzz with excitement for the Big Day. Music and dance teachers have been roped in to train the children for the inaugural function. A cultural program featuring performances by singers, musicians and dancers is being put together in Bangalore at one end and New Jersey at the other. Video films on Shanti Bhavan and on children of the world will be shown. Refreshments and dinner have to be organised. The event will end with fireworks.

Site labourers are working hard to complete the school building on time. Lists of invitees have to be drawn up. The children's costumes have to be sewn. A group of college students have committed themselves to serving as ushers at the function.

The grounds are being readied for landscaping. Lawns have already come up around the children's residences, and the vegetable garden is yielding large quantities of homegrown vegetables for our use. Fruit tree samplings are coming up slowly but surely.

Communication between Bangalore and New Jersey spans continents and oceans but the miracle of modern technology makes it possible for us to plan together. We are confident of the success of the function because of the vision and direction of the founders of The George Foundation.

Our belief that we are investing in a noble and worthy cause the future of the children of Shanti Bhavan will see us through.

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