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Sophie and Jude arrived safely in Cochin and they immediately set up meetings with the Indian association family, sharing with people in need after the heavy floods.
We can’t give the details of all the people helped in this newsletter. We were able to make some pictures of Suresh, Gladys and Teresa that you will discover in this letter.
We took time to visit Usha and Vinu, whose house had flooded more than a meter. Before we arrived in India, Biju from our local office had helped to buy equipment and cleaning products for cleaning the house.
We had a moment with Valsa and Paul. Paul admitted to hospital last season for a fractured hip. We were happy to see him; his health was better and he was walking again.
On the other side, Valsa suffers a lot with her knees and can hardly walk. We have scheduled an appointment for a scan, a visit to the doctor in an Ayurvedic hospital. If the doctor decides to admit to hospital, the association will cover the costs of hospitalization.
At the request of Seena who works at our textile workshop, we went to visit her dad. This man, paralyzed on one side since a cardiovascular accident, was in a great despair. This presence gave him strength, he was able to express his sadness and brought some light to his past.
The association took over the full study expenses, lodging and food of Athulya, the daughter of Vidhya, who is doing graduate studies in psychology. It had been 3 months since Vidhya had problems paying her pension.
The association had already helped Athulya for her studies a year ago.
All this helping hand provided to the needy are to encourage every one to continue life and to uplift the humanity spiritually and materially, to bring a bit of hope in their lives.
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Help for the people affected by floods
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Suresh, his boat and his hut
Suresh lost his professional tool during the terrible floods in August. He works in tourism and has a boat which carries tourists to discover the backwaters and, a traditional hut where he serves the typical Kerala lunch that his wife prepares for the guests.
During the floods, his boat and his hut got submerged in the water, they need a lot of restoration work to put them back in service, his tables and chairs were damaged, thatched roof blown away by the wind and the rains.
The association has decided to help Suresh by providing a financial support of 1000$ which will help him to cover some of the expenses for restoring his damaged boat and the hut. The floor of the boat is to be redone, the cabin refurbished, the roof changed, new tables and chairs required.
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Gladys and her 2 daughters, in a collapsed room of their home
Gladys, a woman close to our neighborhood, raises her two young daughters, one of the daughters is in the last year at a local school and the second one has started her higher education in a college. Her husband died of sickness a few months ago.
A brave woman, Gladys works as dish washer at night in a restaurant to raise her family. A part of her house, about 10 m² collapsed during the rainy season. This family lives in a very small house, one small room for 3, an entrance and a very small kitchen. This extra room is for the girls.
We asked an estimation to a friend of our association, a building contractor who does help people, to know the price of Glady’s room restoration work.
The association would like to help Gladys.
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A family evacuated during the rising waters in the house
We went to visit a family who got evacuated during the floods, it was moving to hear this woman’s tale, how the water started to rise suddenly, about 1.50m of water in the house. This family rescued by their neighbors was under deep water up to the neck. Sometimes it was too dangerous to navigate with the high current. Everyone had to give their hands to move forward and to find a safe place to stay.
After a week’s time, when they came back to their house, it was hard to see the muddy water that got mixed with all kinds of human and animal wastes which smelled very bad. It was necessary for these families to find the strength to clean everything, the state gave each family an amount of 150$. This sum is not enough to compensate for everything, damaged electrical appliances, damaged furniture and to shop cleaning products etc. Here, people do not have insurance cover, they feel handicapped in front of these kinds of problems.
We listened to this woman who badly needed to talk and we gave her some monetary help to get her fix some of the materials she required urgently.
She has just lost her husband who died just before the floods and lives with her son.
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It was great to see all the women back in our workshop after our seven months of absence. The creations are always colorful and attractive. We have posted 2 parcels of Bloom products for the Christmas exhibitions in France.
Vidhya, who had an open-heart surgery, another one in one of her legs has resumed her job at the workshop, her leg is still painful and she alternates sewing and cutting the fabric. She works at her own pace and she is so happy here in the workshop.
Time to time we evolve her condition, we asked her to consult the surgeon who operated on her to set up physiotherapy sessions.
Seena recovered very well from her operation of the uterus, after the operation she had to stay for 3 months bed rest and one of her sisters took care of her. She is fit and reassured.
Bindu and Réma have no particular problem. Delly can’t come to work at the workshop because she has to take care of her grand child who is 3 years old.
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At the association office, the Bloom workshop and at the café, we are ready to welcome you
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Everything is beautiful and colorful to welcome visitors. The Biennale of Contemporary Art which opens its doors on December the 12th.
And in Cochin, everything is in to welcome people.
For us, in the association, we welcome people coming from different parts of the world to follow the teaching of the daily life with us. Jude, encourages people to come, relax, observe, feel, express, free the mind and meditate by slowing down in the daily life of Cochin.
Cécile from France who is a volunteer in our association arrived in Cochin on October 30 and is ready to welcome you.
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The Bloom Christmas exhibitions in France: November and December 2018
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You will be able to buy the Bloom products during 4 exhibitions in France or online demand: www.bloominthenaturalway.com
At Périgny, during a Christmas fair by Léa Nature cosmetic company, La Rochelle
Thursday the 29th November 2018 from 11h00 to 19h00
At Annie Buton’s home, 1 Venelle du Clos at Ste Marie de Ré, Ile de Ré Island.
Friday 23rd to Sunday the 25th November 2018 from 14h00 to 19h00
At Virginie’s home, Tries 56 rue Charles Oudille at Villers les Nancy, Nancy.
On Friday the 30th November 2018 at 18h00
At Yolande Baudon’s home, 15 bis Allée des Avocettes at Aytré
From Saturday the 1st to Sunday the 2nd December 2018 from 14h00 to 18h00.
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We thank you for your help and we wish you a very nice month of November in peace and serenity.
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