When I decided to sponsor a child in India, In June 2004, Vishalakshi, my sponsoring child, was only 8. She is now a 14 year old teenage girl who warmly welcomed us, a rosebud in her hand, when we visited her in Ugire, her native village, in February 2010. According to the Indian tradition, she could be married with a hopeless future. With the help of our indefectible support and the local development Project in which her family adheres, she can now continue her studies. She would like to specialize in health work. According to her school results, she could become an nursing auxiliary, a nurse or a doctor.
When we met her for the first time, in 2007, we were deeply touched by the extreme poverty we found in her home. her father, Krishnapad, a coolie, her mother, Monamma, and her brothers, Diwakar and Prasad, welcomed us with simplicity and generosity in their very modest and dark house furnished with a bench, two chairs and a light bulb hanging by interwoven wires. Three years later, the house is repainted, the roof is repaired, there are openings in the walls for more comfort and light. The electricity works, the phone is hooked up and the food processor is useful to prepare frugal and various meals.
The two days in which we stayed in Ugire, we were taken in charge by the Capucin Krishik Seva Kendra who we met during our first trip. How marvellous it was to meet these men and women again who support the educational and health programs, built in 1999, with now 2 540 members coming from 30 villages (with 591 sponsoring children). Hilda, Martin and Babitah accompanied us on our visit to different schools. "Namaste, we are very happy to met you", the children stroke up in kannada. The teachers had rehearsed songs and local dances for this special occasion. In turn, we sang "A la claire fontaine" and "Frère Jacques". We met dexterous craftmen making pottery. we smelt the fragrance of jasmine in a wild garden. We met a very active group of women, familiar with microcredit. We shared gifts with Vishalakshi's family who consider our help as a blessing from the Hindu Gods.
We went back to Bangalore with a lot of emotion and deep joy in our hearts, sure to come back next year, to meet all the people who are now members of our large family.