A very Happy Christmas to you
All as we pray for God’s rich
Blessing and His peace in the
Year 2017
Manipur News
December 2016
For more information please visit our website: www.manipurtrust.org.uk
The Final Building Project is on the Drawing Board
The twin purposes of the Manipur Charitable Trust has been to organise sponsorship for the students and to
raise funds so that the Emmanuel Christian School has suitable buildings for its staff and students. Maintaining
sponsorship is a task that will continue for as long as it is needed. However the end of the building project is
now in sight. There are now three blocks that contain classrooms, a hall, science laboratories, computer room,
and a library. There are also accommodation blocks for staff and students. However there is one building that
is still needed – a new primary school.
For some years there has been a primary school in Haipi Village. It is built on the side of the village sports field
(see picture on page 2) and while it has a very picturesque setting, it is no where near fit for purpose. There is a
query about its ownership – does it belong to Emmanuel School or to the State? Both of these problemssuitability and ownership – can be solved by the construction of a new building, much more in keeping with
educational needs of primary aged children.
Plans for the new building have been drawn up and an estimate of the costs has been made. There are always
fluctuations in the cost of materials and the exchange rate of the Indian Rupee against Sterling, but we
anticipate that the building will cost just over £100,000. The Trust has more that a third of this money already
saved, but this still leaves around £60,000 to be raised.
The Trustees believe that its funds should be made available for the final project and that we have sufficient
funds to make a start. God has blessed the building of a school from Kai and Muriel’s initial vision and we
believe that a new primary school building would be an excellent end to the Trust’s capital expenditure.
If you are able to support this work with a special gift, we would be very grateful, but please continue to
support the various usual fund raising events that will be taking place over the next year.
Simon Carver
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government will be upon his shoulder,
and his name will be called
“Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of
Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Please pray for:
•
The staff & pupils of Emmanuel School
•
The search for more qualified Christian teachers
•
The pupils sponsorship scheme
•
Kai as he tries to achieve as much as possible during his visit to Manipur
early in 2017
•
The Trust Committee in the UK
•
The search for Maths and English teachers
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Chairman’s Remarks
As we go from autumn to winter and the temperature drops and the weather is grey or wet, what cheers me up
is to see on Facebook pictures of Emmanuel School staff and students at the school campus not just in their
classes but also enjoying events together and celebrating.
Above is the picture of all the staff in September at the Teachers Day Celebration. They are given recognition
of their contribution to the education of the children via a prayer of blessing and thanksgiving to God for them.
The picture below was taken at the Annual Sports in October: Teachers vs Students football match. Sporting
competition between staff and students is one event that all students in every school around the world enjoy to
watch and participate in and see if they can beat their teachers!
The building behind the above picture is the existing Primary School which is in need of a new building to
provide larger classrooms and areas for activities of the children especially during the rainy season. Replacing
the Primary School building will be the last construction work undertaken by the Trust to complete the school
project. To even start on this last building the Trust will need 80 – 90% of the projected cost of £100,000,
currently we have £40,000. Please pay for the Trust members as we seek God’s guidance in our endeavour to
accomplish the vision which prompted the venture of the school project in the first place!
Psalm 34.8: “O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.” We pray that you
will take refuge in Christ this Christmas.
Keith Fox
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
•
•
•
Mcsp Prayer on Monday evenings
Coffee Mornings on occasions at DSBC after Morning Service.
Manipur Evenings if and when invited
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Who do you want to be .. .When you grow up?
For those of us born last century (!) the above question usually got an answer like a train driver, nurse, teacher,
doctor. Recently my granddaughter moved on to secondary school, and the Junior School year book included a
brief outline of each year 6 pupil, with their hopes for future careers. These ranged from astronaut, computer
geek, dancer, through to zoo-keeper – no kidding!
So it is interesting to see how the ex-pupils from Emmanuel School have fared since leaving.
We do know that several ex-pupils have come back to Emmanuel School as teachers. Also the School clerk and
the accountant are ex-pupils.
Three have become officers in the army and another, a high-ranking Deputy Inspector General in the Manipur
Police Service. There are also others serving in the army and police in various capacities in parts of India. One
ex-student is working with World Vision in Guwahati. Some students are currently continuing their studies at
universities in New Delhi, Bangalore and Shillong. Three of them have successfully completed their Ph.D.
Two of the ex-students have completed their MBBS degree and are now medical doctors. Also, it is pleasing to
note that some five girls, ex-students of Emmanuel School, have earned B.Sc. Nursing Degrees in Bangalore
and are now employed as lecturers at Nursing Colleges. This does not include the achievements of the Nepali
students who form 50% of the total number of students at Emmanuel School – they seem to have vanished from
the school radar! Perhaps the school ought to have an alumni set up to keep in touch with former students!
It is encouraging to learn how much these young people have benefitted from their time at Emmanuel School,
and how they have become valuable members of their communities.
As mentioned elsewhere, the focus for our fund-raising now is to provide a good primary facility so that
children can begin their educational journey with a good Christian foundation.
Thank you all for your support, as fund-raisers, donors and as sponsors for the needy young people.
Vivienne Kendall
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Kai’s Report
At the end of what was undoubtedly a spectacularly colourful autumn, we are
once again at the threshold of dark winter days and on to the advent season.
So, it seems only proper that we take stock of our activities during the year to
see what has been achieved towards completion of the Manipur school
project.
We remain grateful to our generous donors, several with gift aid declaration,
and because of this, our treasurer was able to claim as much £2,685.66 as tax
refund in 2015 from HMRC! At our summer BBQ on 9 July we raised
£1043.48 and Keith and Christine’s Garden Lunch on 3 September £395.75,
the bad weather did not dampen the spirit of the supporters! As regards the monthly coffee morning, with the
blessing of Dagnall Street Baptist church board of deacons, it has been shifted to the Cross Street Centre, and is
held on a few chosen Sundays during the year. This draws more people while it eliminates the problem of
transport for the elderly supporters.
Our plan is to construct an eight-classroom building for the Primary School when funds become sufficiently
available. The rooms in the Primary School at present are not only in a deplorable condition but also too
congested for pupil activities. They need purpose built classrooms for effective lessons.
As regards normal school activities, I have regular updates from Hengam, the Principal. So far as the extracurricular activities of the school are concerned, October is a busy month for them: they have just finished their
annual sport, followed by a four days gospel crusade, which was attended by five other neighbouring schools.
The staff and teachers are in good spirits. However, sadly they are making little headway with their application
for Higher Secondary status recognition! Health permitting, I hope to go out there early next year to initiate
construction of the Primary School building!
Meanwhile, I would like to take this opportunity to greet you all in the name of our Lord and wish you at the
same time a very happy Christmas and peaceful 2017.
Kai
For further information please contact The Manipur Trust, 12 Worcester Rd, Hatfield AL10 0DX
Tel No 01707 885 223 or Email [email protected]
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