I am reminded of the oft-quoted words of Paulo Coelho: When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it. How else can I explain the outpouring of charity, love and support that I received from people from different walks of life ever since A BRIDGE Over Troubled Waters started its journey a little over a year ago! This was just a confirmation of my strong faith in the goodness of every human being. If BRIDGE has been able to touch lives of several families in this short period, it owes it to its benefactors who readily opened their wallets.

I wish to share a few experiences of mine during this past one year which strengthened my belief in miracles and my faith in the way forward for BRIDGE.

A few months ago, I was sitting with a BRIDGE volunteer discussing the distress of one of the families that was brought to my notice. This family, which lost its breadwinner, was struggling to eke out a living with the lady of the house selling goodies made by her to some bakery shops nearby. She has two daughters studying in Second PU and Grade 9. Even as I knew the family was in dire straits, I had to disappoint our volunteer saying that BRIDGE was not in a position to take up fresh cases. (It was a month when BRIDGE had to pay the fees of many students in several schools). I could read the sadness on the face of our volunteer when I said this. Just then I received a message on my phone, but I did not open it then as I was busy in conversation. In a few moments, I received a call. That was from my close friend and the first Associate of BRIDGE, Rakesh Bedi from New Delhi. He asked me to read the message that I had just received. I did and the message was really heartening. He had just transferred Rs 25,000 into the BRIDGE account.

It could have been just a coincidence. But that message just when I was almost denying help to somebody was indeed a reassurance that when you are really doing God’s work, He will always be with you. I do not have any doubt that we will ever be short of funds to help the needy. I sanctioned the request immediately and that’s another happy family BRIDGE has created.

Miracles do happen. I wish to tell you that most of our contributors are very low salary earners. And BRIDGE is built on the foundation of these generous givers. I wish to acknowledge some of these benefactors here:

There is this lady who herself is a kidney patient needing dialysis and works in a national bank but donated Rs 5,000 and bought 5 copies of our book (Dare to Dream by Akshita) by paying Rs 500 to be distributed among her son’s friends…

There is this lady who lost her husband some years ago and is taking care of her mom and daughter with her sole salary but makes sure she sends to BRIDGE a regular amount every month…

There is this journalist-friend who himself finances the education of several slum children, but keeps aside Rs 3,000 every month for BRIDGE…

There is this entrepreneur-Associate who donated the entire money received as gifts during his daughter’s first birthday celebrations to BRIDGE…

There is this retired uncle who sends me Rs 1,000 every month from his pension…

There is this friend and associate who has opened the doors of his computer design teaching institute for free education of children of BRIDGE families…

There are many who go around tirelessly speaking about the genuine work BRIDGE does and arranges funds for it…

I have been asked by many how BRIDGE was able to help so many families in such a short time. To all of them my answer is, miracles do happen and the people mentioned here are the real miracle workers. How can I thank these generous givers other than assuring them the fact that God sees their every gesture?

The support BRIDGE received for this coffee table book from corporates and friends is again a testimony to the fact that when you want to do good, you will never be short of support.

I am never in doubt about funds availability for BRIDGE as I have learnt from my experiences that money will come from some place when we need it. Look no further for proof for this beyond BRIDGE’s own experience. Paulo Coelho cannot get better example than BRIDGE to confirm his ‘universal conspiracy’ theory.