My dear friends,
Let me take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy and fulfilling new year. I pray to God to take good care of all our BRIDGE family members, both beneficiaries as well as benefactors in the months ahead.
I want to share a good news with you. Early this month, let me admit, I was a little concerned as our funds pool had been almost exhausted. Of course, it did not take me much time to recoup as I had been witness to many an intervention from God at the right time ever since we had begun this initiative. Just a day after this, I received a call from the office of Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd followed by a mail from its top executive Mr SV Rao sir informing me that the company had sanctioned a fresh Rs 3 lakh for BRIDGE mentioning that the company is quite proud to associate with BRIDGE initiatives. This was sheer miracle and another confirmation from God that He is with us. I really want to acknowledge this gesture from Rao sir and appreciate his concern for the needy. A big salute to you and your team sir!
Let me also say that I have managed to pay a visit to most of our BRIDGE families during the year-end vacation and am happy to report to you that they are all quite happy thanks to our continued support. Some of the students who we are supporting are preparing for their 10th and 12th exams. Let’s all keep them in our daily prayers.
Last month I also visited Mumbai where I was able to touch base with a few possible corporate benefactors who have agreed to sponsor a few of our students in the next academic year.
I do not want to make it a very long mail. Therefore, I shall introduce to you briefly some of the latest entrants to our BRIDGE family.
Saly Vinod from Bajagoli (Udupi Dist) lost her husband last September after a prolonged illness (lung cancer). She has two children (twins) studying in BCom (1st year) and BCA (1st year) who are brilliant academically. She had spent almost all their savings to treat her husband and was struggling to make both ends meet. Their situation was brought to the attention of one of our volunteers. After reviewing their situation, BRIDGE decided to sponsor the education of her children and buy her a cow so that she can earn a living rearing it. Later, she was able to get a job at a super market. BRIDGE is also making some monthly contribution to supplement the family income. The family is very grateful to us for our timely intervention.
We were introduced to this former loader from Yeshwantapur Mandi last month at Kidwai Hospital where his wife was being treated for breast cancer. Father of two school-going children, he is unable to go for work as he has to be in the hospital taking care of his wife. She underwent surgery and BRIDGE has part-funded the cost. We are closely monitoring the situation.
This lady from Alapuzha district is the wife of fisherman who is unable to go fishing now due to disc complaints. With the husband almost bedridden, the family was unable to have proper meals on a daily basis. The couple have two children studying in Plus 2 and Plus 1. They do not have a proper place to stay as they lost their shanty of a house during the Kerala floods. People of the area have come together to build a house for them and BRIDGE too has chipped in with our funds.
This lady from Kozhikodu lost her husband in an accident leaving her and her two girl children who are studying for BSW and BCom. They were finding it difficult to pay the fees and that’s when their case was brought to our attention by one of our volunteers. BRIDGE has paid the fees of the BSW student and some other well wisher has paid the fees of the other daughter. They are grateful to us and the lady has promised that as soon as one of her children secures a job, they will help pay the fees of any person whom BRIDGE recommends in future.
We met Basavraj, a boy of just about 10 years of age, with his mother at Kidwai cancer hospital. A very vibrant and active boy he was there to look after his mother who was suffering from throat cancer. Our volunteers met him after Dr Hoda from the hospital called me and spoke about this boy and how he was taking care of his mother. The boy has two siblings who are in his native place Yadgir. They lost their father four years ago after a heart attack. A month ago, the lady passed away and the orphaned boy has returned to his siblings. We are in touch with the children and we are coordinating with a local person to monitor the children’s progress until they complete their academic year. Next academic year, we plan to bring them to Bangalore and we are making arrangements in a children’s home run by some Sisters for their stay.
Thank you friends for your continued support and prayers. As we are approaching the season of school fee payments, I would urge you to make small contributions to BRIDGE so that it would be a smooth road ahead. I hope to approach some of you individually in the weeks to come. You are aware that we have obtained Sec 80G certificate and your contributions would be exempted from tax.
Thank you once again for being part of the BRIDGE family.