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Dear Family,
I begin this H.O.P.E with a sharing of my colleague, Geena.
"It was when we were making a few phone calls to inform some of our beneficiaries that they would no longer be receiving our financial aid henceforth, that we came to know more about the financial instability they would face in its absence. While for some this extra Rs.500/- helped out with their ration shop bills, for others it was a huge support for education when the rest of the family’s income was being used for medical treatment. The common question posed to us during these calls was ‘Is there any way that we can get this support for some more time?’ It was the most difficult and painful task that we had at hand to explain our project policies and inform them that the support ceased when the beneficiary completed Class 12. When I began to convey this message, I thought that prayer was the only thing that I could offer them and so I prayed for a miracle in their lives. And it happened, not in their lives directly but within me when God blessed me with a thought. We have a wider platform, the Jeevana Samridhi trust, through which we can offer financial help to people. I decided to ask around if each person could set aside some amount of money which when pooled together could go towards helping the neediest family. When I shared this idea, everyone in the Office was happy to give their bit. We all decided to talk to our friends and families too."
When Geena shared her inspiration with us at work, Brijit was the first one to respond. She has taken up an apartment for rent and has along with her, a few other working women who pay her rent and food expense. At a young age, she is already running a mini-hostel and the balance amount she has at the end of each month after all expenses is an additional income that she uses to support her family as well as studies. Brijit volunteered to begin contributing the balance amount for this particular cause. Some of her other house mates, in spite of not earning much, were also willing to contribute towards this endeavour joyfully.
A few benefactors as well, after reading the different H.O.P.E mails, have come forward to support some of the deserving children for their higher studies as well as medical treatments.
Then there were two special couples who surprised us by their benevolent acts. On the occasion of their marriages, they requested that their friends and families instead of gifting them presents, use that money for a good purpose and they chose our project as a medium for that! The attached files will give you a more vivid picture of how they did it.
All of these people have been touched by the various incidents and situations mentioned in the many H.O.P.E mails. Who knows if it is your call today, to be touched by God and to extend that healing touch to someone deserving.
Thanks and Regards,
Subin Jacob | Director | Outreach Child Support
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