Plastic contains substances which can cause cancers, genetic mutations and damage to human reproduction if they leach into water supplies. Plastic waste dumped like this by the side of the river is being washed into the stream during the monsoon rains and ends up in reservoirs from which drinking water for countless communities downstream is taken. Please think about the damage you do when you carelessly dump your plastic waste.

At last, the sun has come out and the children at the Nag Mandir kindergarten are able to enjoy their play centre. Fond thoughts of Jenny who passed away earlier this year for her very kind gift.

Great growth on the farm with pumpkins lady fingers, bitter gourd and turmeric flourishing. The worms in the compost are multiplying nicely too!

During this rainy season many people are suffering from eye flu. Dr Shreya uses the health camp to show a group of village women how to make a soothing eye wash by boiling water with rose petals which have anti-inflammatory properties and cool it in the refrigerator. She carefully explains how the infection is passed along through touching the eyes with contaminated hands so they should to wash their hands often and bath their children’s eyes with this cool rose water when they come home from school.

Thank you to Austrian Civil Servant Florian who has come to the end of his year working with us. You have been a huge help to our team in a wide variety of areas from painting the play equipment and playing with the children to re-making the stitching women’s website and setting up and organising the screen printing of our new bags. It has been great having you Florian!

Devastating monsoon rains have caused damage all over Himachal Pradesh. A small bridge on the road above Nishtha was washed out by a flash flood causing great inconvenience to the local people. Fortunately we can approach the schools we provide extra nutrition to by car from another side but many daily workers including two of the women who work as Nishtha carers for special children have much further to walk every day.

Heavy rains have brought down masses of garbage in the village streams which can cause flooding if they are not cleared. Even in the pouring rain our staff at out there making sure the channels run smoothly and there is no damage to local hillsides and farmland.

Nishtha delivered another 100 blocks to a construction site in Palampur where they are being used as permanent floor filling. We are happy to have made another tiny step to save our local area from the deluge of plastic waste. Please everyone, segregate your waste!

We are delighted that local musician Rishi and dance teacher Vandhana have agreed to provide a music class for our students each Sunday. The students are all vey enthusiastic about this opportunity to learn in which they will learn local songs and dances with talented musicians. We are looking forward to a great performance in a few weeks time!

Shaksham celebrated his 7th birthday along with the other special children who came to spend the day at Nishtha on Saturday. He was delighted with his cake and present and everyone had a wonderful time playing with the colourful balloons and singing happy birthday.