I travelled to India in July 2011 and visited the DOM school in Ramgarh at the end of July 2011. I was very impressed by the buildings, structure and layout of the school and that it educates 650 children of which 212 remain and stay at the school. Of these 212, 89 of the children’s parents pay privately to have their children attend the school. This sum of money goes towards the upkeep of the school and all the children. There is also a hospital within the school which provides eye operations/surgeries to those that are disabled and require the treatment. It is a remarkable service for those most needing who cannot afford any treatment.
I was very impressed by the school and particularly overwhelmed by the children’s generosity the way in which they took me in and made me feel a part of the school/charitable project. Although the children are from very dire backgrounds, some have no parents or their parents are lepers, at no point did the children I met reflect their upbringing/background or their parent’s poverty or handicap. They were simply happy, naturally inquisitive and excited to have someone from UK there at the school sharing an interest in their school and in particular them and the D.O.M. charity.
I spent about 10 days at the school which flew by frankly. I met all the teachers individually and collectively and they were both friendly and accommodating. I must say I spent most of the time with Mr. Rajesh Kumar the Manager of the school and stayed at the school with his family and would like express my gratitude to him and his family for putting me up and showing me around and looking after me. He is a true asset to the D.O.M. charity, a humble man who is very dedicated to the cause and plight of the charity and school. I say many instances of him treating the children as though they were his very own and not giving any particular child special attention but sharing his time and love with all of them.
I took part in the day to day activities of the school including attending classes, participating in meals, going on a trip. I was completely taken aback by the caring nature and enthusiasm of the children and engaged with them on many occasions from watching TV, eating pizza and, dancing. I was trying to make the time I spent their enjoyable both for the children and myself.
I had several experiences at the Divine Onkar Mission School in Ramgarh and especially with the children. The children were truly amazing and so full of life despite their upbringing and family life. They had character and were keen to hear from myself having come from abroad in the UK. Some of the children were fascinated as to the life abroad and the languages, cultures/society, education/schooling, games, films, books and life in general. I tried to bring some of the experiences to the children such as simply eating pizza which they have never had (such a simple treat/lunch bite or dinner in the UK), dancing to English and Indian music and trying to teach them moves and learn some as well!, discussing books and films and to send some over for particularly interested children, going to the cinema with the whole school to watch a children’s film and the atmosphere was just ecstatic and electric the children were over the moon and simply in heaven.
I also attended he leprosy colony from where some of the children’s parents reside and was emotionally affected as it was very difficult seeing people with this condition. The parents were very happy to see us and welcomed us.
At a site there were make shift houses that needed the roofs covered and with the aid of Rajesh helped the residents to cover them so that at least they had shelter which is one of the very fundamental primal needs of humans which is one of the charity’s small projects to help those require shelter.
I tried to become a part of the school for my duration of the stay and thoroughly enjoyed my life changing experience and would highly recommend that at least once everyone should visit he charity’s school at Ramgarh and the hospital which offers an unbelievable services to the disabled.
Having experienced an unforgettable experience in my life with the foresight of Tersam Lal the Founder and Visionary who set up the charity in 1991 and has continually persevered with patience, great humility, love and kindness and foresight to bring the DOM to its present position and wish to thank him from everyone who is involved in this remarkable charity.
I wished to help the charity and to promote its awareness even more and at Mr. Lal’s request I had professional photos and a video made prior to my leaving the school. Photos and video were handed to myself on my day of leaving Ramgarh and I had them sent to the office in UK to Mr. Lal immediately so that he could edit the video and starting utilizing it as a further promotional tool for the D.O.M. charity.
I can categorically state that D.O.M. is a genuine charity and its projects in India are real and make a unbelievable amount of difference to the lives of the children, their families, the areas and the volunteers and the charity members and should be made more aware in the public eye so that more volunteers contribute both of their resources and time. All the monies raised 100% through donations are given directly to the projects and I understand that the charity has a warehouse which it runs by selling items to the public to fund its day to day expenses.
Having experienced at first hand the charity, school and children and all those helping to make the projects work and better the welfare and educational needs of the children and their parents it has many positive attributes and attractions especially in the uplifting and needs of the divine children as I believe all children are divine in humanities eyes as they are the future of the world. So if anyone invests time, money, resources in the children and the charity they shall be investing in everyone’s future and the children’s by making it a better global environment.
As a result of visiting the charity’s school I personally have had a life changing experience in terms of the children their plight for education, food, clothing, housing/shelter, recreation, friendship/love, physical, social and psychological needs, of which the DOM charity, school, its staff provide an unlimited and never ending supply of believing in the DOM charity and children whole heartedly.
Since returning to the charity all the future success and wish to praise Mr. T Lal for his compassion, thoughtfulness, gratitude to his fellow mankind in growing the D.O.M. charity from an acorn to an Oak tree and dedicating 20 years of his life to selfless service and nurturing, growing the UK. I have made a more conscientious effort to promote the charity and to assist the charity financially, physically and emotional and I wish the charitable organization all the best.