Background
The Janeve Story
Healthcare in
Southern India
Fundraising in England
The Janeve Story
The dying wish of a Malvern woman is making dreams come true for terminally ill children on the other side of the world
40-year-old cancer sufferer, Jan Scott, traveled a lot in Asia and was appalled to see how the poorest youngsters suffered. Her illness meant that she had no chance to visit India for herself but before she died she asked husband Peter to do something to help children there in her memory. The result is the Janeve Foundation, which grants the wishes of destitute youngsters at the Kidwai Cancer Hospital in Bangalore. Said Mr Scott, “I am not religious, but I just feel that Jan knows, and would be very happy about this.” Jan’s gift has already given an eight year old leukemia sufferer his first cricket bat and another dying child the blue toy car he longed for.’
We want to help those who need it most’ says Lorraine Page, the Malvern nurse who helped start the charity in 1995. Administration costs are kept to a minimum, money and help is given directly. We build on existing relationships of trust and a common goal to achieve our objectives. We aim not to lose sight of why we started this charity in the first place.
After nine years the Janeve Foundation still remembers the spirit in which it was set up, one of wishing happiness for others. From tragedy arises hope, the hand stretches out, do you take it??
Healthcare in Southern India
Most of the population of India cannot afford adequate healthcare. Hospitals provide diagnosis and treatment free but medicines are paid for by the patient.
Treatment is not a reality for families living in distant farming villages. Travel to a big city and a hospital is out of the question. Indian families generally accompany their loved ones undergoing treatment and so, added to the cost of medicine, is the loss in earnings. Illnesses such as cancer and leprosy can go undiagnosed for years, and many people reach the stage where they are beyond help. The stark reality of healthcare in India is that over 1 million people suffer through the course of their illness with no medicineand no kind of medical help This is why we choose to help the people of India. The problem is vast and taken as a whole seems insurmountable. We however, believe that by focusing on a particular area we can at least make a difference to some.
To halt the progress of leprosy in someone costs only £21!
When poor people become unwell they are forced by the lack of care in their area to travel to a major city in search of treatment. They often have no experience or understanding of the city or the complex and chaotic hospital system (hospitals in Bangalore city are frequently divided into specialties: Cancer Hospital i.e. Kidwai, Eye Hospital, Fever Hospital, etc.)
Poor people arriving in cities are faced with a difficult, expensive and, in some cases, fatal quest for medical care. Touts who prey on sick people's fear and inexperience patrol the bus station platforms. When the touts find someone who is unwell they take them to a private hospital where the patient often receives poor quality or unnecessary medical care. In return for this substandard treatment the poor patient often has to go into debt or sell their meager assets
Fundraising in England
It is not enough to just throw money at a problem. The Janeve Foundation relies on volunteers to organise and maintain solutions.
The idea for a fundraising event comes from
an individual or club and there is a meeting to decide details,
venue and date. Various volunteers in England are informed,
publicity material is circulated and people are made aware of
the event. All time and effort is provided on a voluntary basis
with most venues being provided free or at minimum cost
By deliberately remaining small and focusing on specific areas,
we minimise our costs and empower individuals to help us. Our
fundraising efforts arise spontaneously according to need. Volunteers
who visit India fund their own traveling expenses, and can choose
to support whichever project they see fit.
No charges are made for administration. Therefore every penny donated reaches the people for whom it is intended. In addition, any money raised here in pounds sterling goes a lot further in the Indian Subcontinent.
Awareness
is also a big issue. We have many successful 'Indian Awareness
Days' in schools around England where children learn about all
aspects of Indian life, from its rich culture and religious
diversity through to the difficulties and challenges facing
its people