"The poor will not come to us, we have to go to them"

Dear friends,

In these first days of 2024, I wish you all a Happy and Holy New Year. A New Year full of life and hope. It could seem challenging to receive these wishes genuinely as we can be so affected by the situation in the world. We see suffering everywhere; we struggle, and war is present all over Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, like a “third world war by pieces”, taking the lives not only of soldiers but of so many innocents, especially children.

The image of this wish card has been taken in the slums and is a homage to childhood and especially to the children whose lives are threatened by poverty, violence, and wars. We have much to learn from the poor and the children in this situation. In Gaza, a little boy whose leg was amputated, after getting a prosthesis was smiling, saying, “I hope to be able to play football again”. It makes me think of our children with orthopaedic problems who go through operations, never stop smiling and hope to be able to run or dance. The children can teach us how to keep hope alive. Going through so many hardships, they keep on smiling. Hope is a risk, life is a risk, love is a risk to take! Let us imitate the children from whom life overflows like a river. Let us rediscover the spirit of childhood, which our modern way of life threatens.

We must overcome the despair that can paralyze us. The best way to find hope is to stop thinking and work it out. We are workers and artisans of hope. “The demon in our heart is called ‘What’s the point!’”. When we encounter misery in the slums in the tea gardens, we must serve the poor, offer a simple smile, support our work with prayer, and provide a gift with love. The weight of hope of any tiny little action like this is enormous. Do we not want to increase and multiply hope in this world, including our own? From the depths of our hearts, there is something pure and inexhaustible that we can bring forth through action. It is the light of hope. We find it when we have gone beyond despair because “at the end of the night, we encounter another dawn”.

We heartfully thank you and bless you for faithfully supporting us, praying for us, and contributing to building up this great family of Howrah South Point.

Lots of love,

Father Laurent

News

Diwali

Spread over several days, the festival of lights, Diwali took place in all centers on November 12th. Homes and schools decorated the halls on the theme of HSP logo. Children enjoyed special foods and played with firecrackers. In the city, fireworks were a regular sight all throughout the month, creating a festive atmosphere.

HSP friends and family visits

The arrival of the cold season with comfortable temperatures brought several friends to come and visit HSP.

In October, Christine Bihler and Maria Hublitz came from Germany to spend several weeks in Jalpaiguri. They visited all centers and spent time with children and adults. They took the opportunity to bring everyone in a funpark for a day together with special foods and drinks and rides in the park. Everyone had a lot of fun and created great memories. Christine and Maria have been faithful friends of HSP for the past 20 years, they regularly fundraise for the children and they gave the testimony of their experience in an article at the end of this newsletter!

In November, Matthieu, a former volunteer, came to spend time in Jordighi. Aude, one of his friends also came with him and was very happy to discover HSP and the various centers of Jalpaiguri.

In October and November, family members of some volunteers also came to visit the centers. Jeanne received the visit of her parents and sister in Jordighi during Durga Puja and Marie received her parents and grandmother in Ashaneer where they also celebrated their joint birthday with the children.

Children, adults and staff were thrilled to receive visits in Howrah and Jalpaiguri and see again some of their friends, we are waiting for you!

Come soon!

Baksara students to Birla Museum

On November 8th, the students of Baksara school from class 8, along with the class 9 and class 10 home students, enjoyed a trip and visit to the Birla Industrial and Technological museum. They enjoyed the discovery of a coal mine and some scientific experiments. A second excursion is planned in the beginning of 2024. The visit was possible thanks to the support of our friend and donor Mélanie Doutaz. With the association Shishur Asha, she has been sponsoring HSP for many years and wanted to visit us and spend time with the students of Baksara. Even though she had to cancel her trip she insisted on giving the opportunity to the children. Thank you very much Mélanie!

Staff rejuvenation workshop

HSP has 9 homes, 11 schools and several health programmes, in addition to the beneficiaries, it means 250 dedicated staffs. On December 15th and 16th, a workshop was organised in Howrah and staff members came from all centers, including Asansol. It was the occasion for the new staff members to meet their colleagues from other centers, and for all to better understand the activities and specificities of each HSP department and section. Father Kanauj Roy came as a guest speaker on the first day and on the second day, Father Laurent gave an inspiring presentation on the life, work and legacy of Father Laborde and the values HSP has to uphold.

Christmas gathering

To anticipate Christmas and the vacation, all Howrah children gathered in Ashaneer on December 19th. The day started with a mass celebrated by Father Laurent. It was followed by a Puppet show, and then dance, plays and songs programmes by the various centers. The morning was concluded by a good lunch in the garden and was followed by an afternoon of playing outside, dancing together and listening to music. In the next days, all children went back home apart from Lalkuthi girls who stayed in the home, and a few Ashaneer children who preferred to stay.

In Bakuabari, Santa Claus visited the home before Christmas and a drawing competition was organised thanks to St Xavier's college students. A special day of celebrations and games also took place in Baksara before the holiday.

Events of the quarter

• At the beginning of October, the official inauguration of Lalkuthi took place with a mass and a blessing from Father Laurent and two other priests. To keep up with the renovation works, a crowdfunding campagin took place in December for the boys' hostel of Baksara.

• The festival of Durga Puja took place at the end of October. Before the children left for the vacation, they had the opportunity to see some pandals (temporary temples) and street illuminations. When the parents came to fetch them, they were given an awareness session on the use of mobile phone for the children.

• In October, a dengue epidemic occurred in Howrah. Despite many children, didis and dadas catching it, everyone is now fine and completely cured.

• November started with a visit on the tomb of Father Laborde by a few children and didis on the occasion of All Soul's day.

• Children's day was celebrated in November in EPN with a dance programme and songs. Father Laurent played the guitar and sang a song for the occasion.

   

   

• In December, 3 boys and 1 girl from Mogradangi and Bakuabari came to Howrah to receive feet surgeries. The surgeries were successful and after a period of observation the children went back to Jalpaiguri where they continue the observation period. When the plasters are removed, they will need specific physiotherapy to learn how to walk properly. The children and their parents were very happy to get the surgeries. It was possible thanks to the support of Maria Hublitz and Christine Bihler from Germany. Thank you !

• Jordighi boys participated to the "Bengal Orchid Festival" where several dignitaries were present, including the Honorable Minister in charge of the department of food processing industries and horticulture. A drawing competition was organised and Indrajit got the 3rd prize in the first group and Bijay the 3rd prize in the second group.

   

   

• On 25th December, Christmas celebrations took place, as well as masses in memory of Father Laborde who passed away on 25th December 2020.

• Finally, at the end of the year, after one year spent in HSP and most particularly in Jordighi Home, Jeanne finished her volunteering and left India. Thank you Jeanne for all you gave to HSP! To lift up their mood, the boys went on a picnic after going all together to the airport.

   

The Annual Report for 2022-2023 has been finalised. You can download it here.

Video

HSP in October, November and December

Portrait

Gopal Luitel

Jordighi Home and physio

"I joined HSP in 1992 after my graduation. I did not know anything about Howrah South Point, but in 1991 I met Devi didi in Kalimpong. She told me about the organisation and I came for an interview in Jordighi. I liked the job and the organisation so I joined.

I have mostly stayed in Jordighi, first as a residential staff and then as an outdoor staff after I got married.

With HSP, I have received a training in physiotherapy, first by Kiné du Monde, and then a 2 years course leading to a diploma. I also received a 6 months training in "Community Based Rehabilitation".

I work mainly with the children. I work as a physiotherapist, I take care of the boys, I take them to school, I go to the local government office with other didis ands dadas when needed, and I help in the home. I am helping with any task according to the needs.

What I like about HSP is the children and the organisation. The boys remind me of my own childhood when I grew up in an orphanage. I did not know about disability, I have a different background and I was afraid at first to be among so many handicapped children, but I like it now, I want to take care of them."

Thank you Gopal dada for staying with us for so many years and taking care of the children!