Dear brothers and sisters,

I would like first to tell all of you how I feel pleased about the way you are carrying your work of service throughout the various Districts of West Bengal. The national Award that your founder and director has received in your name, is a proof of the efficiency of the testimony you give in carrying your duties. It happened often that people praise social workers when there is no real dedicated work.

But once the poor themselves are thankful for the service given, it is right that those services are recognized at the local or national levels. First because it is well deserved, and secondly because it remains a source of inspiration and example for other social workers and their Organizations.

I therefore feel the need to congratulate you, not for the award but for the assistance you have given with so much commitment and enthusiasm to so many thousands – even lakhs – of people.

It is also with great pleasure that I acknowledge the beautiful gift of the ICOD Training Center from SHIS. This “Fraternal Service” (“Bhratryo Seva Prasikshon Kendro” Center) has not yet really started, but I am delighted to know that during the current year, I shall have the privilege to meet weekly all your staff by batches of twenty. It means that I shall meet more than one thousand social workers practically one by one. It shall bridge the gap created during the last five years by my own neglect in not going to SHIS since I do not know any more many new workers.

Let us hope that your passage in ICOD be fruitful. If it is only to have the occasion to meet me, it will bear no fruits. The so-called training must be a teamwork, under the total responsibility of SHIS organizers and trainers, with the cooperation of other NGOs, the CIPODA’s own contribution, and ICOD as a whole. I can myself fit only within this wonderful picture.

I well know the difficulties you encounter throughout your various projects. But if you are responsible and keep on working with love, smile and commitment, there will be no real difficulties and the beneficiaries shall reward you with the only true reward that counts: their love.

Let me tell you again how much I rely on you all to spread the true spirit of service.

The Almighty Loving and Merciful God shall reward you Himself with His own peace.

Your elder brother
Gaston Dayanand