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Greetings from Pondicherry,

At long last, I come to you, as I usually do every quarter, to keep you informed of what`s happening here. When you`ve finished reading this page, you`ll see a photo report.

First, we`d like to express our deepest condolences to the families of Mr. Bernard Aube [a donor], Mrs. Claudine Fara and Mrs. Olga Anthouard [both from Lyon committee] who have recently left us for the eternal Kingdom.

Let`s start with the children. Look at their beautiful faces. Aren`t they the most beautiful children in the world? Your efforts are combined with our efforts, to give them a chance to fully develop their skills and ability so they`ll become responsible men and women. According to Father Ceyrac`s own words: `If I can save one child, my life is fulfilled`.

World is rapidly changing and the real difficulty today is to give them the best vocational guidance. Too often, we have to fight with the parents who wish that their children become computer scientists. But most of the students don`t have sufficient knowledge of the English language, and they get stuck. Above all, the idea that manual jobs are not good enough for their children, is common to all uneducated parents. It often happens that some children are unable to study, or to learn scientific books. But parents refuse to accept the problem. In India, more than in `any other countries`, many students commit suicide when they fail their exams. They cannot accept a failure and face their parents or friends. Therefore, we`ve decided to meet the young people before the results of their exams, in order to give them sufficient courage to accept an eventual failure. Parrainage [sponsorship program] staff should take sufficient time to avoid dramatic situations.

During the summer camps (April – May), we`ll endeavour to give some information to every child, according to his age group. The information will be given in a ludic way. Here are some examples: self knowledge, respect, elementary geography, climatic changes in the world, how to behave in case of minor accidents etc. It`s also important to open taboo talks regarding marriages, dowries, sexuality and the rights of women.

We `d appreciate that all Volontariat Members help to supervise our young people. Our two doctors, our dentist and all our staff will take turns so that in a very short lapse of time – and not a week as previously - essential information is easily understood by all children.

Our photos are trying to present our different activities. However, it`s difficult to make the right choice. For instance, Atelier Shanti – still confronted with many problems – make beautiful things that cannot be all displayed.

Souriya and Nila Illam`s children still need supervisory staff. At the moment, a couple of French people who we know well, have arrived at the farm and planned to stay for several months. Alain, a youth worker and also a former cook, has been in Souriya for some time. But he`s leaving on 5th April. The children are doing well despite a few problems. Some boys are following vocational training and are progressing. The young children at the farm are doing fair work at school. We found a school that is willing to accept them without any birth certificates. Foster mothers are marvelous: they`re caring with much love and respect.

Some European visitors are also doing wonders with our elderly people. They organize regularly games and manual activities. Our elderly were very happy to welcome the daughter of our donor and they felt very grateful. Old people, found on the pavement, can bring real support to new comers. Thus, one-eyed man was very grumpy at first, but he became very helpful with a poor old fellow who was so afraid to lose his clothes that he was wearing six filthy shirts stacked together.

A sunshine note: a young lady, ex-sponsor of Volontariat, who has just completed her agricultural studies, is now staying with us at the farm. She`s very grateful to Parrainage and she feels it`s now her turn to bring help. She started by planting flowers around the office and is now making a garden, on educational basis, with the children of Nila Illam.

With the world crisis, let`s, once again, remain harmoniously at the service of the poorest. Madeleine de Blic General Secretary Volontariat