vendredi 15 février 2019

Discours du Président à l'occasion du 10ème anniversaire à Pothnal

Namaskara, Chenaguidira, Dear Guests, My french and indian Friends,
Remember you the little story (which resumes the philosophy of ensemble, agissons) I told you a few years ago: "A small child is walking on an immense beach. One by one, he picks up the starfishes washed up by million on the sand and delicaticatly put them back into the water. An old man, watching him, approaches and talks him : « What are you doing son ? Can’t you see that your gesture is useless. You can’t never save all of them ». The boy lifts his eyes, reaching up with a starfish toward the incredulous man and replies: « For this one it changes everything »".


My first personal experience of sharing started in 2004 when i decided to sponsor a child in India. Vishalakshi, a little girl, was eight and she was living in Ujire, a small village in the southwest of Karnataka. She was very shy, very poor and without help, she had no future in Indian society. When I decided, in April 2007, to visiting her and her family, I couldn’t imagine that i would enter into such a nourishing and fruitful world and that my life would be changed. On this occasion, i was particularly touched by the good work of the Capucin Krishik Seva Kendra overseing the Project in Ujire with Father Arun as Director.

« You have seen with your own eyes and you can share what you have seen », my friend Alwyn said, when I met him in Paris, a few month later. In creating the association « ensemble, agissons » in 2009, a non-profit and a non religious association, we wanted to support an educational and health programme for the sake of the children and families of 16 villages in and around Pothnal. It was the beginning of a new adventure of sharing in collaboration with Father Arun, at first for one year, then with Father Satish, as Director, all the members of the staff of Vimukti Pothnal and the representatives of the Capucin Community, who welcome us with a large avaibility and open arms everytime we come to India.

Ten years later, It is a great honor and a great joy to be among you today on the dais (with many french friends also) to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the partnership and frienship between ensemble, agissons and Vimukti Pothnal. With courage, tenacity, generosity, Vimukti Project has continuously growing and Father Satish, awarded as Best social worker of Manvi District, and the members of the staff have developped so many programmes to help the disadvantaged, underprivileged  and the marginalized people of this area. I would like to congratulate them for their efficiency and the very good results they have got during this ten last years. I invite you to clap in your hands to thank them noisily...

In France, we collect funds through a diverse program of activities: handcraft sellings, screenings of films, conferences, etc. I remind you that all the members of the association are volunteers and the totality of the funds are given to Vimukti Pothnal.



As I told you at the beginning of my speech, Vishalakshi was eight when I started to accompany her on the way of education. With the hep of Vimukti Project, her family and sponsoring, she has decided to study well and to make sacrifices. She has even made a loan to pay her high studies in Mangalore. And today she is 23 and she is a nurse. She is an example for every sponsored child. She has shown that if you are courageous and determined, you can change your life and your destiny. So now I am very happy and very proud to introduce you Vishalakshi...

To conclude my speech, in the names of all the members of « ensemble, agissons », we are representing here, and from the bottom of my heart, I would like to express ma gratitude and assure you that we will continue to accompany you as long as we will be able to do it, litlle by litlle, step by step and heart to heart. It is our wish, our aim and our commitment  In joining our skills and our talents, material, financial and human resources, we are demonstrating that solidarity and fraternity is the best way to change the world.  We are a big family, one family. I love Pothnal and I love you. Danyawadagulu !