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HAPPY NEW YEAR AND THANK YOU
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31-Dec
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As we approach the end of the year and look forward to 2020 we thank everyone for their support wish everyone a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year.
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OUR AFTERNOON CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
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24-Dec
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You might have thought that after our pre-primary Christmas party is was time for a well-earned rest. But no, we followed it with a full dress rehearsal in the afternoon for the afternoon children's Christmas programme which took place the following day. Yet again it was an extravaganza. Everyone took part from the oldest to the youngest. Children sang carols, took part in drama and danced their socks off. We cut the cake, birthday gifts to all those who had a birthday in the month, received Christmas gifts from Santa and then enjoyed our favourite occupation - dancing. It was amazing and we think you will agree a credit to the Mango House team. You can see some of the dances and carol singing on our Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/MangoTreeGoaCharity/
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A STUNNING PRE-PRIMARY CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCE
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23-Dec
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Every year Mango House puts on a pre-primary Christmas party. Every year we think it can't get any better and every year it does. For the first time the pre-primary show took place on a specially erected stage in the garden and parents were invited. We didn't know how many would come but on the day there was literally standing room only. All children took part in either fancy dress, a fashion show or dance. Parents were involved with spot prizes for things like most colourful dress and some games too. It was an absolute joy and finished with the cutting of a huge sponsored Christmas cake. You can see more photos of our dances on our Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/MangoTreeGoaCharity/
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MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!
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23-Dec
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As all formal classes are now over and we look forward to our Christmas parties today and tomorrow we wish all those celebrating a very Merry Christmas and our best wishes for the festive season.
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OUR CHRISTMAS NATIVITY
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21-Dec
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Throughout Goa many nativity scenes are erected outside public buildings, in villages, outside churches and outside Catholic homes. As we celebrate all major religious festivals it has become something of a tradition for our older boys to create a nativity scene. This year it was placed in the Mango House garden. Like many of the scenes that are widely observed in Goa alongside Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the Shepherds, Wise Men etc. the landscape is very important too. Here you can see our fields. Grass river and castle being constructed alongside the traditional crib.
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WE'RE GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS
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15-Dec
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With Christmas just around the corner our preparations are in full swing. All children have been rehearsing for our Christmas shows since November and each class is enjoying especially themed Christmas crafts which will decorate the House. Here's Lower Kindergarten's contribution.
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OUR FIRST NICK'S PLACE FUNDRAISER OF THE SEASON
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12-Dec
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We were delighted to get the first Nick's Place fundraiser underway last night. We had a lovely evening of challenges, bingo and guess the bottle tops along with golden oldies courtesy of John who very kindly offered to host the evening and made sure our fundraiser was fun for everyone. The evening was extra special as every rupee raised was matched by another donor as part of our Annual Christmas Challenge. Amazingly the equivalent of 47,390 rupees was raised including donations in advance. We say a huge thank you to everyone who supported the event in any way, to John for his kindness in being the compere and as always to Nick for supporting us through his restaurant.
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As the new tourist season gets under way in Goa just a quick reminder that we are always very pleased to welcome visitors interested in Mango Tree. If you are staying in Candolim, Calangute, Arpora or Baga we can usually give you a lift. We pick up around 10 and head back at 11.30 sharp so that our driver is back to drop pre-primary children off. If you would like to visit and need a lift please email us in plenty of time at mangotreegoa@hotmail.co.uk We'd love to hear from you!
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A MUCH APPRECIATED CHILDREN'S DAY GIFT
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17-Nov
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Recently both pre-primary and afternoon children at Mango House had a lovely time celebrating Children's Day. They took part in games, enjoyed a special meal and had a chocolate treat. One gift we are always anxious to provide on Children's Day is a set of 4 photos of each child attending in the afternoon. We are very conscious that parents give their consent for us to take and use photos and it seems only fair that children and families get to enjoy some too. Children are always excited to receive them and the sharing of them is a joy for both us and them.
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HAPPY CHILDREN'S DAY
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13-Nov
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Tomorrow Children's Day is celebrated throughout India. Not wishing to miss the day as it fell on a Saturday we celebrated in advance. At Mango House pre-primary children enjoyed taking part in games and one of their favourite activities - blowing bubbles. It was simple yet fabulous fun and as a special treat our teachers not only sponsored but, as a labour of love prepared, a special Chicken Manchurian lunch for all the children too.
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WIGMORE YOUTH U12 FOOTBALL TEAM RAISES £526.01
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13-Nov
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We were delighted to learn last month that Wigmore Youth U12 football team was again undertaking a sponsored run in aid of Mango Tree. As promised the run took place on 19th October. The run took place at King's Frith Playing fields with team members and supporters doing the run. The boys put in an incredible effort and in fact 3 players managed to out run the adults who had joined in. The boys raised £526.01 and we say a huge thank you to Alfie, Deniz, Riley, William, Sawyer, Mikey, George, Tom, Dylan, Hayden, Ronnie, Josh, Joe and Harry for running and to Steven Bennet for once again organising the run and choosing to support Mango Tree. All of the funds are going towards are Leaves For Learning Appeal and we were delighted to add leaves in the names of all the boys to our trees.
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GILL & RICHARD'S ROCK CHOIR FUNDRAISER
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06-Nov
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We are thrilled to report that our France based friends Gill and Richard organised yet another amazingly successful fundraiser which took place tonight. This generous couple had organised a bonfire and singalong featuring the Oui Rock Choir and with a lovely bangers and mash supper and warming mulled wine. On the day the weather was terrible and might have put people off but a marquee was put up and everyone encouraged to come. Luckily, by evening time the weather was much better and incredibly around 90 people turned up. The night raised a whopping 840 Euros and brought this year's fundraising total to an amazing 1,995 Euros. It's a huge amount and will achieve so much on the ground in Goa. We say a huge thank you to Gill and Richard, to the Oui Rock Choir, to those who helped on the night and all those generous people who attended the fundraiser.
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THIS YEAR'S CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE CONFIRMED
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01-Nov
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We are delighted to confirm that we are once again running our Christmas Challenge throughout December. Thanks to a very generous couple all December donations and fundraising will be matched pound for pound up to a total of £5,000. The income raised from the Christmas Challenge is a crucial part of our funding and we don't want to let a single pound get away. You can read more about our Christmas Challenge here. Please give if you can. No amount could be too small.
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On the occasion of Diwali we wish everyone celebrating happiness and prosperity.
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THE MANGO HOUSE DIWALI RANGOLI
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26-Oct
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Many of our Mango Tree friends will know that part of our Diwali celebrations always entails the older children at Mango House creating a rangoli from flower petals before we break up for the Diwali Holidays. They are always stunning but we think you will agree this year's creation is extra special.
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THE DEFEAT OF NARKASUR
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25-Oct
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Whilst Diwali is regarded as the Festival of Lights and Hindus illuminate their homes, public buildings and work places it is also celebrated in different ways in different parts of India. Throughout Goa effigies of a demon king Narkasur are burnt to represent Lord Krishna's victory over him and the freeing of his captives. In keeping with tradition our older boys made an effigy of Narkasur who was indeed burnt (or maybe exploded!) before breaking up for the Diwali holidays. A party followed and all children enjoyed a traditional puffed rice sweet.
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CYCLONE KYARR INTERRUPTS END OF TERM OUTING
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25-Oct
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For several weeks we had planned an outing for all children. We waited as long as possible and hoped that by the last day of term the monsoon would be well and truly behind us. On the morning it was very wet but we headed off to Fort Aguada regardless in the hope things would improve. Unfortunately, they didn't as cyclone Kyarr hit Goa. Unperturbed we packed up and headed back and to the credit of our teachers we had a fabulous indoor sports and games party instead.
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MANGO TREE RECEIVES £1,000 FROM THE APPLE BALL
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18-Oct
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Every other year the Glasgow based Apple Foundation hosts a Charity Ball which principally raises funds for a local children's charity. This year's event took place on May 6th at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow and we were very fortunate that Jiggy and Sanjay Madhu once again chose Mango Tree as one of the beneficiaries of the event. As always those attending gave very generously supporting a huge raffle and auction. After the meal guests were treated to music by Sanjay's very own Banghra Beatles. It was a fabulous evening and we think Jiggy and Sanjay for choosing to support Mango Tree once again.
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CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD
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11-Oct
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This year, as always on the International Day of the Girl Child, we joined the challenge of raising awareness about the prejudice and inequalities girls face. In addition at Mango House the teachers worked with children to put on a programme that challenged many traditional ideas about girls and their role in India and made clear that they have the same rights, opportunities and dreams as boys. The programme challenged difficult topics including domestic abuse, Child infanticide, lack of education etc. It was really thought provoking and an absolute credit to the Mango House team.
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OUR DUSSEHRA CELEBRATIONS
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07-Oct
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The Hindu festival of Dussehra celebrates the victory of good over evil. Traditionally people maintain, clean and worship their vehicles, instruments and tools of their livelihood and worship the goddess Saraswati. In keeping with this tradition our driver Jitu decorated all our vehicles with garlands and members of the team joined in a puja.
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OLDER CHILDREN TAKE A DAY OUT TO RELAX
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06-Oct
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The oldest children that Mango House supports are either at College or will be going soon. They pop in to Mango House whenever they need anything, to catch up or to join us sometimes when we are celebrating. They have to work hard and have a busy schedule of classes, homework and extra curriculum activities. Recently the Mango House team proposed that an outing was arranged so that they could get together, relax and have fun. Last week a group duly headed off to Froggyland Water park. They had lots of fun enjoying the various features including the lazy river, pools and slides and were treated to lunch too. It was a great day out and a pleasure to treat them. You can see some of them here.
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A GHANDI DAY CLEAN UP
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02-Oct
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The 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Ghandi is a national holiday throughout India. Amongst many of Ghandi's legacies is his contribution towards the environment. To make our small contribution to the same and in Ghandi's honour all children headed outdoors to sweep, weed and generally tidy the huge Mango House gardens today.
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