In October, my daughter Julia and I went to India. It was the first visit for Julia and her expectations were high.

We first visited Vinod, out contact in Delhi, and then a school we had been visiting a few times before, where we were greeted by the children singing for us. Last time, we donated school supplies to these children. It is a school for the poorest children in the area and the teachers explained that if the students do not show up – the teachers will do a housecall to find out why. Often, the parents prefer to have the children at hom, helping out earning money to the family instead. We will continue to support this school.

Suman, a woman living on the street outside of Vinod's was taken to the hospital with our help after a previous visit. The test results showed that she suffered from HIV. She has now been treated with blood transfusion and medicine – all paid for by contributions to H2H. Feeling well enough – she was transferred to Sahara – an organization and shelter focusing on HIV positive and/or drug abusing women. To help them out of the addiction and teach them how to treat themselves and their condition. There is also a daycare who look after their children for free, while they are at work. At Sahara, handicraft like jewellery, cards, candle holders etc, are made to support the organization.

Both Julia and I were amazed by the warmth of both staff and the women living at the shelter. We have decided to support Sahara in the future to help maintaining their work.

We also met a guy, Loon Gangte, who works to inform people about HIV, helps out with medicine and how to live a good life as an HIV positive. An amazing person who have lived with this disease for 15 years.

The warmth of all these people we have met during our visits - is something that we will never forget. And their work is so extremely important – so we are looking into how we can continue collaborating when we return in February.

We also managed to visit our family — Kalawati. A grandmother who cares for her three grandchildren Sagar, Sunny and Munny. She cannot walk and when we first met her, 3 years ago – the situation was terrible. Five people live don approximately 10 square metres. Grandmother Kalawati was lying in the dirt – with no possibility to move. The children did not attend school, but had to manage on their own. Their father was an alcoholic and their mother had disappeared.

We have arranged so they now have cooking possibilities and a lady comes to visit 2 times a day to care for the grandmother, cooks, cleans and makes sure the kids go to school.

When Julia and I arrived we were met by a grandmother beaming with joy, for the first time in her life – she has a bed, her home was clean and she even had a rug on the floor.

It is truly amazing to see how small means can og a long way! Their lives have been changed drastically and the joy in their eyes cannot be measured.

Later we headed to Mother Teresas orphanage in Delhi. This orphanage is a home for disabled chldren only and the one we have chosen to support and visit many times. We handed over the equivalent of 10.000 SEK to keep up the maintenance. On earlier occasions we have donated money to help build an outside playground. Most of these children never see the outside and although there is a park right nextdoor, which the orphanage wants to buy, – people have been opposing the idea. The nuns told us that bribes would probably solve it – but fortunately - they do not take part in such things. We hope and believe things will turn out in the favor of these wonderful children and the caring sisters of the orphanage.

We stayed and played with the children for a few hours, unfortunately there is not enough staff present – so time for hugs and play is all too short.

Julia played with a boy who would not let her og – because he knew if he did, she would be gone. It was so hard to leave.

After 10 days in India, Julia is convinced she will be back. And seeing the enormous need of help, and that we do make a diference – the choice is even easier.

My husband, Fidde, and i will be heading back in February to continue our work and start up new projects. All thanks to the support and donations we receive from people in Sweden. We will tell you more when we get back!

Thank you!

Åsa