More than 4000 trees were planted in the months of August and September in Chilver & Dhannur villages. Tree were distributed to the various institutions (Schools, Temples, Mosques, Church) and community members for home stead plantation. Avenue plantation was also undertaken in Chilver village (2km) and Dannur village ( 1km ). The following trees were planted.

Watering , Ward & Watch for a avenue plantation his undertaken to ensure sustainability. Community numbers look after the trees distributed to them.

Motivational talks to discover their power within for success at different schools in India: By Roeland Martin

1 to 23 rd September 2008.

An Introduction based on a true story of his success in life:

When I was a teenager, I asked my friend what he thought we should become when we were grown up. “A problem solver”, was the reply. There is an enormous shortage of problem solvers in this world. Everyone has problems, our parents, our teachers, our friends, everyone…

“That’s fine”, I replied, “But where can we get a degree in problem solving? Which University has a course where we can learn this?”

We decided to ask our fiends and parents what their problems were and after a while we realised this was just too big a task. How, for instance, would we be able to find an answer to their problems? Some of them were just too large to handle. So we worked out that we could not solve the problems of other people, but if we could possible find a way of making people happy, their problems would either get much smaller of even disappear. It is the way of getting rid of the negativity.

How would we be able to make people happy? We decided to go about making them smile, which was not easy when their mind is on their problems. One day we were playing football, the opposition team scored a goal against us, which did not make us happy at all. We did notice that the boy scoring the goal, put his thumbs up in the air, shouted with joy and was very happy indeed.

A week later we went to the cricket and we watched the guy scoring a century, holding up his bat with the left hand and putting his thumb up with the right hand. We decided that this was the sign we had been looking for. We promised from then on that we would greet people with our thumbs up, we would put our thumbs up when we were leaving each other, we would put our thumbs in the air every time someone told us about a problem to let them know that we felt for them and that we hoped this sign would make the problem disappear. We would put our thumbs up first thing in the morning and at the same time we would think of our friends, knowing that they would do the same and think of us.

“Thumbs up club”- Join it and be a successful person: Now I’ve become known as the “thumbs up” man. If anyone wants to become my friend they have to join the “thumbs up” club. They have to practise putting their thumbs up, just like all of us members of the club. We have found that it works. By doing this, we become happy and because we are happy, everyone in our company becomes happy..

Happy people are successful people. All the power is within you. If you use this power and be happy, nothing can defeat you. Everything is possible in this situation. Do not let anyone tell you that you cannot do it.

Learn from “Bumble bee story”: Let me tell you the story of the bumblebee. According to all laws or aerodynamics and all laws of physics, the bumblebee cannot fly. Its wings are too small and the body is too heavy. And yet, it flies. Why is this so? Very simple, no one has been able to tell the bumblebee that it cannot fly. If it would be possible for us to tell the bumblebee that it is impossible, I am sure it would immediately stop flying.

Conclusion: So friends, take note of the lesson of the bumblebee. Do not allow anyone to tell you that what you want to do is impossible. Set your goals and go after them. Start to join the thumbs up club and share this story with your other friends. If you like contact Roeland for suggestions mail Id:roelandmartin@optusnet.com.au

Roeland Martin: Profile

Roeland was born in 1941 in Magelang, Indonesia. His family was Dutch, but had lived in Indonesia for 5 generations. In 1942, the Japanese Army overran the Country and Roeland together with his brother and mother were interred in a concentration camp for the duration of the war. After the war, Roeland went to Primary school in Indonesia until the country became independent in 1948.

Shortly after that the family moved to the Netherlands where Roeland completed primary school and then went to the High school. He did not like the classrooms and the learning process and he was constantly playing football instead of attending classes and doing homework. Football was his passion and he became a very good football player.

At the age of 18, Roeland migrated to Australia, where he worked as a storeman for 8 months and then joined the Australian Army. In the Army he became a radio operator and as such he was most of his time traveling around Australia and New Guinea, wherever communications were required. Six years later he left the Army, he was a sergeant now, but he wanted to try his luck as a civilian. He had become interested in positive thinking, goal setting, public speaking, etc and he firmly believes that everything is possible, if you dream about it and if you want it strong enough.

This was his next passion and Roeland was determined to become a motivator and a teacher in this field. He spent all his free time learning the subjects and he spoke at as many functions where he could. He now travels to India every year where he speaks at both primary and secondary schools. In the mean time, he worked as a salesman with a large business equipment company in Australia and within 5 years he became the national sales manager and subsequently the general manager of that company.

He resigned in 1976 and started his own business as a retailer of health foods, a business he still runs today. He is also a successful share investor and he has been invited to speak on share trading many times for different organisations. He is heavily involved with the Queensland Investors’ club in Australia.

Roeland loves to go to India each year where he assists Dr Shankar Chamala in the good work being done by the SRDF. He speaks to every one who is interested in being motivated and he plays football with the children so that they get the maximum enjoyment whilst learning how to be successful.

Rob Patick (Director-ARLP COURSE 14) and Karim with their 32 Rural Leaders selected from all over the country visited Chilver to see some of the activities under taken by SRDF. Dr. Chamala was asked to give a brief introduction about SRDF and the main framework of involving stockholders based on the Participatory Action Management (PAM) model.

Village Sarpanch (village elected leader) Mr. Raja Goud welcomed and give information regarding the village profile. As the course is about rural leadership, participants asked various questions as to how the village leadership is contested and his vision to develop Chilver.

They also wanted to know which of the leadership roles have given him high satisfaction and which other roles gave him dissatisfaction. Other local leaders like Mr.M. Narashima Reddy and P. Narshima Reddy has a good interaction on the role of leadership in rural development.

All participants visited community learning centre in chilver and seen some of the activities and met young women under going tailoring classes. They interacted with SRDF scholars and other village community. They walked through the village to get a feel of the rural condition of the India. They visited Government High School interacted students & Teachers. More importantly student played cricket with Australians, sang songs together and had good interaction. The Head master felt happy to note that student were conversing English confidently and happily with the visitors.

Dr and Mrs. Chamala felt happy to provide this opportunity for village community interact with Australians as it gives the students and the community leadership a chance learn about Australia and promote international understanding and peace.

Rob Patrick said: “From all of the participants of ARLP course 14, we would like to thank you for sharing the wonderful work you are doing through the Shanker Rural Development Foundation. It was a great pleasure to see the next generation of community leaders being given opportunities of gain education and skills that will shape their futures. We especially enjoyed the cricket and the singing. All the best in your endeavours!”. Some of the participants were interested in coming to work for SRDF. They also presented a couple of cricket bats, balls and a donation of $250.

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The University of Queensland (UQ) conducted 2006 Australian Scholar -Athlete Games in collaboration with the Institute for International Sports (USA), the Queensland Government and UQ Sports to unite 100Scholars from Asia Pacific Region across a weeklong program of sport, culture and education. The management of the event offered six scholarships to Shankar Rural development Foundation to bring five scholars and one coach to this great event. SRDF involved the Rotary Club of St. Lucia, Brisbane and the Rotary club of Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad was involved in the selection of scholars and hosting the program as these clubs worked as partners in a matching grant program in Chilver school development.

Based on the criteria the following scholars were selected from 15 applicants:

1. Mr. Anirudh Gupta- Team leader- Plot no: 505 Road No. 22 Jubilee Hills , Hyderabad -PIN: 500033, India
2. Mr. G. Krishna- Post : Chilver , Mandal :Alladurg, District: Medak, A.P. India
3. Mr. A. Ramulu- Post: Kalivemula, Mandal: Sangareddy, PIN: 502285. District Medak, A.P.India
4. Miss. – Prerana-Post:
5. Miss. Sanchari-Post: .
6. Ravikiran Tenali, Coach: Post: Tennis Foundation, House No.8-3-231-70A Yousufguda, Opposite Indoor Stadium, PIN : 500043, Hyderabad.

The philosophy of Scholar-Athlete Games is to foster greater intercultural understanding and tolerance, to build friendships and to empower the young leaders of the future. To assist youth to spread the word of about the Games aims and the themes of “Share – Learn-Change”

The program was great success see the press clippings.

In 2007 Miss Nadia Zeaiter & Miss. Mithra Bakhiari from Australia and Brant Arthur and Bronwen Arthur from USA spent time in Chilver and Dannur as part of their Development masters interns. see their profiles. This exchange program has facilitated understanding of different cultures and promoted appreciation of development issues and opportunities.

Roeland Martin also gave motivational lectures to school children in Chilver and Dannur in 2007. He is also visiting again in September 2008 also to promote sports especially football among youth.

In order to encourage girl students, merit is ranked among the female students only and these students may come from any surrounding villages to Chilver and Dannur. A total of 30 new merit scholarships were announced. Another 15 new scholarships are given to boys and girls from Chilver on the basis of equity.

Twenty eight (28) previous scholars who successfully passed the examinations were also awarded scholarships to complete their higher studies. However, four girls from Chilver village did not undertake higher education due to their parents’ decision to have them get married. It is interesting to note that two young girls wanted to continue with their studies after their marriage due to their husbands and in-laws encouraging them to complete education.

In all 79 scholarships are awarded to young girls and boys in 2007-08. It’s gratifying to note that among these are two MBA scholars (Ch. Sandeep and Mr. Reddy) and an Engineering scholar (Ch. Sangameshwar) from Chilver. Mr. Sangameshwar is from a Backward Class and his brother is also a SDRF scholar.

As the number of scholarships increased this year, SRDF has decided to give only two scholarships to one family at any time. Consequently, we have had to reject one scholar this year, though the girl is continuing her education. The distribution of scholars is presented below:  

It is evident that the majority of SRDF scholars are still boys. However, it is gratifying to note that 33.3% are young women are pursuing graduation. The SRDF scholarship program is reaching more than 10 surrounding villages to Chilver and Dannur in two Mandals.  

The List of drop -out youth who pursued their higher education:
1.    Mr. N. Dhanraj completed a B. A. Degree 2008
2.    M. Bapu Reddy is dong a second year B.A.
3.    Ch. Raghuveer is doing final year B. Com and looking after his family businesses, which include a shop and agriculture. He would like to complete the Degree.
4.    M. Srinivas Reddy completed his first year and is working as Gopala Mithra -a private veterinarian.
5.    Ch. Narsmlu- completed his regular college and is currently working in Hyderabad. He would like to complete his B. Com to gain a better position in the teaching profession.
6.    Patlolla Madhusudhan Reddy completed his first year but died in 2006 after a period of illness.
7.    Begari Saibabu worked at the Milk center and now lives in Chilver and works part- time.
8.    P. Narsa reddy completed his first year and now continues agriculture in Chilver.
9.    Chintakayala Narsimlu no details
10.     Jambige Chendrappa completed his first year and has now purchased harvesting machine and busy with this work.
11.    D. Arvind Goud- completed his first year and ran local toddy (kallu) shop and now married.
12.    Bingi Sangameshwar completed his first yearB. A. and is now working as a scooter mechanic in Alladurg.
13.    Peddapuram Mohan Reddy completed his first year B. A. He now owns an auto and runs it for taxi purpose. He is not married.

Comments: Encouraging drop out youth is a good idea. It is gratifying to note one has already graduated and is now completing a Diploma in Computer applications. He would like to continue to Teachers training. A couple of youth will hopefully complete their degrees soon. Their degrees can be completed within 5-6 years of their enrolment. It is clear, however, the demands on youth to earn money makes it hard to study continuously.  An evaluation of this program is being conducted by one of our visiting scholars, Nadia Zeaiter from the University of Queensland in Australia.

• Facilitates the farmers approaching call centers/agricultural extension workers and other line department/ scientists/ input dealers.
• Gymnasium and Yoga classes for youth and public.
• Stitching Center for girls and women.
• Spiritual discourses for Senior Citizens/aged people.
• Library and listening to Open University Lectures