Friends of Sangam Foundation

Friends of Sangam Foundation is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, number 4627919,

registered office 281 Redcatch Road, Bristol, BS3 5DY.

Friends of Sangam Foundation is Registered by the Charity Commission, number 1098382

ANNUAL REPORT, 2007 - 08.

During the past year FOSF have been pleased by the progress of Sangam School and also increasingly worried by the difficulties faced by Sangam Foundation in India.

The school has been flourishing under its new head mistress, Mrs Vijata Arya, and the results of Class VIII in their public examinations were excellent – 100 per cent pass rate including some in the first division. Thanks to the careful administration by Sangam Foundation there have been no financial crises for the school.

In December 2007 May Youett (a teacher and a friend of several of FOSF) visited the school on FOSF’s behalf and was very ‘impressed with the children’s and teachers’ enthusiasm and the dedication of Mr Singhal’(the honorary secretary of Sangam Foundation), and she wrote that ‘Now I want to spread the word about this tiny remarkable school in the heart of India so others can support it and more village based children have the opportunity to attend.’

During the year FOSF prepared a leaflet, ‘Help us Build on Success’ which was distributed principally with copies of The Friend, the weekly Quaker magazine. We thank our friend, William Waddilove, for producing this at a time of personal difficulty. Response to this appeal for support was disappointing. We thank our treasurer, David Fish, for his work on our behalf.

More disappointingly, because of advice from Mr Singhal, FOSF has had to delay its uptake of possibilities/offers of funding because of uncertainties over the future of Sangam School itself. It is appropriate to stress here the tireless and skilful service that Mr Singhal has given to the school and his detailed reporting to Eleanor Nesbitt as the situation has developed.

Sadly, as Council Members were informed in April, ‘Sangam School is facing a period of particular difficulty because of the hostility of some villagers. This almost certainly stems from the soaring land prices which mean that the village council is apparently set on making it impossible to run the school, with a view to then capitalising on the site.'

On 24^th April at a meeting of Sangam Foundation the following resolution was passed:

‘the Governing Body of Sangam Foundation, not finding the atmosphere prevailing in

Indri village conducive to run Sangam School any more, resolves that the land and the

infrastructure created thereon be returned to the Village Panchayat, Indri. It further resolves to approach the competent authorities of the Government of Haryana to appraise them and seek their guidance for completion of formalities for the transfer of land and infrastructure back to the village. The Governing Body further resolves to authorize the General Secretary to take all necessary action and steps to implement this resolution.’

It needs to be stressed that the head teacher and staff of the school are not being informed until the Government of Haryana authorities approach them, and that the school is continuing to run as normal. As yet it is unclear whether the Panchayat will in fact make provision for the school to continue and whether staff will be needing substantial compensation payments.

Signed

(Original signed by Elaenor Nesbitt)

On behalf of the Directors of Friends of Sangam Foundation.

21 June 2008, Friends Meeting House, Coventry

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