Dear friends,
During our first trip to India in 2007, we were particularly touched by the work in rural development by the Indian association overseeing the project which looks after our godchild Vishalakashi from Ugire, Karnataka State. We were in contact with the educators responsible for a geographical area covering about twenty villages. Their work started in 1998 and we were the first sponsors to visit the area. After this unique experience and encouraged by the leaders of the Indian association, we wanted to become involved in this very special adventure of sharing.
We stayed in contact with Capuchin Krishik Seva Kendra who is delighted with this project. Nowadays, one of his leaders, Fr Alwyn Dias, is studying in Paris for a theological doctorate; we met him twice in Paris and in Lyon. Fr Arun Lobo, who hosted us in 2005, is now responsible for the social development projects of Karnataka State. In creating the association "Let’s get going together ", we would like to pool our respective resources, as they did ten years ago in Ugire, to launch and to support a new project in a very poor area in the Northern region of the State.
Sponsoring children; providing water installations, house renovations, family and educational support, sessions on healthcare and medical check ups; creating clubs for children and teenagers, cultural programs and libraries… our ambition is to contribute as much as we can and with our skills, to realise micro- projects initiated by the local partners.
Financial support will be necessary. A lot of us will also be able to bring our skills to the area for varying periods of time. We plan to go back to India to meet the local team in Spring 2010. This commitment will last for five to ten years. To bring together as many people as possible and to communicate this initiative will be essential.
Thank you for supporting us.
Daniel and Bernadette
PS: To follow our progress, refer to this address:
daniel-karnataka.blogspot.com
