APPENDIX

Across decades of shared life, André and Angel exchanged countless notes, messages, and reflections—small jewels of tenderness that marked anniversaries, separations, reunions, and moments of quiet gratitude.

Among these, Angel’s 2014 anniversary letter stands out as a luminous testimony of her devotion, written at a time of both profound love and growing vulnerability. It captures the essence of their union: faithful, courageous, and tender beyond words.

This letter is preserved as one of the most heartfelt documents of their lifelong journey.

André’s letters are contained in a book published in 2025 under the title of Letters from André to Angel Gingras (1969-2025) – A Chronicle of Love Across Years and Continents.

 

Angel’s Letter – January 1, 2014

January 1, 2014

My LOVE, my ALL, my ANDRÉ,

Today is our 45th Wedding Anniversary. I greet you with an unconditional LOVE and say, “Happy Anniversary.”

On this day, the only gift I ask—one that matters more than anything—is that we may celebrate many more anniversaries together, remembering what we promised each other on January 1, 1969: “Together Forever.”

From the very beginning, our love has risen to extraordinary heights, deepening with each passing year, growing with an exponential strength that has never ceased. On our 30th anniversary, you wrote to me:

“Today, I love you thirty times more than the first day. And the first day, I loved you infinitely.”

On our 40th anniversary, you wrote:

“Life is mysterious; who could have known that I love you more now than on the first day I met you in Manila? Who could have known that after so many years of profound happiness, of realizing our dreams, there is still room for more joy and more projects before us?”

At our 43rd anniversary, you wrote:

“Forty-three years of happiness; I love you more than ever.”

I cherish these words more than anything in the world. You know that I feel and say the same to you—perhaps differently, but with the same depth.

I LOVE YOU, and you alone. I love you to the n^th degree. I want nothing more than for you to be happy, healthy, and comfortable. To me, you come first—above all and everything. Our PremAA believes in: “We shall overcome.” And yes, “Que chaque minute nous rapproche!”

We are ONE—inseparable. We share life in every sense. Our oneness is built through so many layers, from so many angles. We are complete only when we are together. Our sharing—talking, listening, confiding, discussing, arguing, laughing, crying, sitting, watching, walking, looking, sleeping—has made us ONE: united in mind and body, in thoughts, aspirations, and ideals.

We stand side by side, complementing and supplementing each other. We depend on one another. To me, you are the only person in the entire universe on whom I can rely completely. You are my center of excellence, my inspiration, my conscience, my confidant, my protector, my guide, my health, and my happiness. You are my spiritual strength, my psychological strength, my intellectual strength, my emotional safety, and my physical safety. In one word, you are MY LIFE.

The proof of our LOVE is our wonderful, beautiful, loving children, whom we cherish. From the beginning, we invested in them with values, and today they possess admirable character. They are well-balanced, well-mannered, educated, and well-settled with their families. The love, joy, peace, and support they offer us and each other gives us immense happiness and peace of mind. We are blessed with lovable grandchildren. We wish our children nothing but the very best. We love them without limits and are deeply proud of them. We also enjoy warm, harmonious relationships with our extended families and friends.

We always organize family gatherings—birthdays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day—bringing together our children and grandchildren. You take the lead in planning, preparing, and serving, while I do the little things. These gatherings offer precious opportunities to share, love, laugh, and keep our family united, supporting one another in times of need.

I learn so much from you in so many ways. As you often say, “Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction." Our shared goal has always been LOVE and PEACE, and we pursue it by helping the poor. Walking this path hand in hand, we have known the love and peace that service brings. We endured patiently our many separations over the years. Our love and loyalty have remained strong, unshaken, never needing doubt.

Our love for the poor has taken form through SOPAR, Bala Vikasa, the Foundation, Jana Vikasa, the BV Trust, PDTC, and CSRB. Through these, we have witnessed lives transformed—spiritually, psychologically, intellectually, socially, economically. The sustainable results that overflow from your insight, planning, writing, counseling, and tireless work cannot be measured. You are my conscience and strength. We are a team—but you are the team leader.

You often say that you are the thinker and I am the doer. Perhaps that is true in some programs, though we exchange roles from time to time. We have walked hand in hand through every chapter of our life: EAPI in the Philippines, our first apartment and row house in Hull, Saigon, Delhi, 20 des Érables, and now Ragueneau and Lac Profond. You always took the lead—with patience and care—in every purchase, plan, construction, repair, car, and maintenance. You know well that I am “nil” in these matters. Your simplicity in eating, and your habit of taking charge of the cooking during family gatherings, has made me “nil” in cooking too.

Your hospitality is extraordinary. You welcome so many groups from India, often for extended stays, and you sacrifice your privacy and comfort for their sake. You performed beautifully during our visits to India—meeting Bala Vikasa staff, families, communities—graciously receiving their generous, though sometimes overwhelming, hospitality.

You gave your fullest strength to your professional life in service to the poor during your years at CIDA, never taking a single day of sick leave even when you had earned it. After retirement, you have given even more of yourself—voluntarily—to SOPAR and Bala Vikasa, continuing your mission of helping the poor to help themselves.

We are happy and proud that our children are following in our footsteps, standing tall with us in our mission. You are their guiding light. This is our Gingras–Singareddy legacy, which they will cherish and continue.

My LOVE, you are simple yet strong, silent yet eloquent. You are straightforward and honest, standing firmly for what you believe in, speaking truth courageously. You have always said you reach God horizontally—through serving the poor. Your life is indeed one in union with God. You constantly empty yourself for those you love: for me, your ANGEL; for our children—ERIC, SUNITA, and MARC; and for GOD in the poor.

On this 45th Anniversary, my deepest, most profound wish is simply to be with you always. We are ONE. But the best part of us… is YOU—my ANDRÉ. Our LOVE is unique, intense, and infinite. As we always tell each other:

“We will manage.” “We shall overcome.” “Together—Forever.”

Words cannot express everything I want to say.
Now I am speechless… numb… empty… LOST…

Nive na PremAA, Nive na Jeevam, Nive na Sarvam.
(You are my Love, my Life, my Everything.)

Yours forever,

Angel

PUBLICATION OF THIS BOOK:

Bala T. (Angel)

Singareddy-Gingras

Gatineau, Québec

January 1, 2026

EPILOGUE

The quiet light that remains

There comes a moment, after all the chapters have been lived, when the heart rests and looks back—not with regret, not with longing, but with a deep, quiet gratitude. Life, which once unfolded in urgency and movement, now reveals its secret shape. What seemed scattered becomes whole. What seemed ordinary becomes luminous. What seemed fragile becomes eternal.

As I reflect upon our journey, I see not only the paths we walked, but also the light that accompanied us. I see a young woman and a young man meeting in Manila, unaware that their lives were about to be transformed forever. I see two hearts finding the courage to choose love in a world that did not fully understand their choice. I see letters written in trembling hope, vows formed in secrecy, and a faith stronger than any storm.

I see decades of shared life—children born, futures shaped, nations crossed, dreams woven. I see our steps through villages in India, holding the hands of women whose strength humbled us, drinking the water of wells that entire communities built with pride. I see the children and youth developed into shaping the future. I see the faces of those who walked beside us, those who believed in our mission, those whose dignity and resilience changed us more than we could ever change them.

I see our family—our children growing like trees reaching toward different skies yet rooted in the same soil of love. I see grandchildren whose laughter became the music of our later years. I see the gatherings that filled our home with warmth: candles glowing on Christmas evenings, deep conversations around the table, quiet moments when simple presence said everything words could not.

I see illness entering our life not as an intruder but as a shadow that made the light more visible. I see André facing each day with an elegance of spirit that cannot be taught. I see how suffering revealed the depth of our love, how fragility opened the door to tenderness, how the nearness of uncertainty made each moment precious. Illness did not diminish our life—it illuminated it.

And now, as the final pages of this book settle into silence, I understand something that took an entire lifetime to learn:

that love is the true measure of a life;
that service is its natural expression;
that gratitude is its lasting fragrance.

Our story is not only ours. It belongs to everyone who walked with us, to every village that trusted us, to every woman who rose with new courage, to every youth that reached his strength, to every individual who drank clean water, to every colleague and friend who shared in our mission. It belongs to our children and grandchildren, who carry forward the values we lived, sometimes without knowing it. It belongs to the quiet breath of hope that moved through thousands of lives and touched ours in return.

If there is one truth that remains after all the years, it is this:

Nothing given in love is ever lost.
Nothing lived with sincerity disappears.
Nothing offered with humility fades away.

What endures is not the work of our hands but the imprint of our hearts.
What endures is not the magnitude of our actions but the spirit in which they were done.

What endures is the quiet light that grows when two lives are given wholly to one another and to the service of others.

And so, as I close this book—not as an end, but as a pause—I carry with me the profound peace of a journey fulfilled. I carry the blessing of having loved and been loved, of having served and been transformed, of having walked beside a man whose goodness shaped my destiny.

Life continues beyond these pages.
Love continues beyond all seasons.
And the light we kindled together will go on shining—in our family, in our mission, and in every heart, we touched along the way.

This is our story.
This is our truth.
This is the gift we leave behind.

15. The Meaning of Our Journey — Love, Values, and the Legacy We Leave

1. Life Beyond Years: The Invisible Thread

A life can be narrated through dates, places, and milestones, but the true story—our story—unfolds along an invisible thread.
It weaves itself through choices whispered in the quiet of conscience, through promises made with trembling certainty, through sacrifices embraced without regret.

What remains after decades together is not the chronology of events but the inner music that held them together:

the intuition that guided us,
the courage that accompanied us,
the tenderness that sustained us,
and the grace that shaped our days.

The outer journey took us across continents.
The inner journey took us into the depths of the heart.

2. A Love That Grew in Silence and Strength

Our love began modestly—secret letters, stolen minutes, unspoken hopes. Yet it grew with a strength far greater than the world around us could measure.

It was a love:

·         tested by distance.,

·         forged in uncertainty,

·         anchored in faith,

·         strengthened by suffering,

·         and crowned by a lifetime of presence.

Love became our compass.
It illuminated the path even when circumstances obscured the way.

It never demanded grand gestures.
It lived in the quiet attentions of daily life.

3. The Values That Formed the Foundation

Behind every chapter of our life lay a constellation of values that guided us like northern stars.

Simplicity

We chose what was essential and allowed the unnecessary to fall away.
Simplicity gave us freedom—freedom to serve, to listen, to love deeply.

Justice

Justice was not a slogan for us; it was a moral necessity.
It breathed through our decisions, our work, our sensitivity to the marginalized.

Service

Service was the quiet pulse of our vocation.
To serve was to recognize dignity, to honour suffering, to stand where love is needed most.

Human Dignity

Every woman, child, farmer, widow, and worker we met held a sacred worth.
This belief shaped SOPAR, Bala Vikasa, and our philosophy of development.

Faith in humankind

Faith was the anchor, the shelter, the horizon.
It carried us when our own strength faltered.

These values formed the architecture of our life—simple, solid, and radiant.

4. The Legacy of Family: Our First and Most Beautiful Mission

Among all the works of our hands, nothing equals the quiet greatness of our family.

Our children—Éric, Sunita, Marc, and Shobha—carry within them the essence of our journey:

gentleness,
responsibility,
loyalty,
faith,
and a natural inclination toward service.

They embody the fruits of our love.

Our grandchildren, each a universe of promise, extend our legacy into the future. Their smiles, their openness, their unfolding lives remind us daily of the sacredness of continuity.

Family was our first mission, our daily vocation, our sanctuary.
It is in the warmth of shared meals, the laughter of children, the unity of celebrations, and the quiet of ordinary evenings that our love found its most joyful expression.

5. The Legacy of Mission: When Love Becomes a Movement

SOPAR and Bala Vikasa were not born from strategy.
They were born from compassion—from a desire to respond to the silent cry of humanity.

What began as a simple commitment evolved into a model of development admired across continents.
Villages transformed.
Women rose to leadership.
Youth discovered their voice.
Water flowed where there was scarcity.
Hope took root where despair had lived for generations.

This mission carries our fingerprints, but it does not belong to us.
It belongs to the people—
to their courage,
their wisdom,
their perseverance.

Our joy lies not in the recognition but in knowing that somewhere, in thousands of homes, lives are better because we listened, we believed, and we loved.

6. What Endures When the Noise Fades

Looking back, what remains are not the diplomas, positions, travels, or achievements.

What remains is:

the fidelity of two hearts,
the children who blossomed under our care,
the villages strengthened by solidarity,
the women who stood taller,
the friendships forged through service,
and the quiet certainty that we walked the path we were meant to walk.

A life is not measured by what we accumulate but by what we give.
Not by how far we go, but by how deeply we love.

7. A Message for the Future

To those who will come after us—our children, grandchildren, and all who will one day read these pages—we entrust these simple truths:

Choose love, even when it demands everything.
Serve with humility; it will reveal your true greatness.
Stand for justice; it will give you peace.
Walk with faith; it will give you courage.
Treasure each other; life is precious and brief.

If our story teaches anything, let it be this:

Love lived sincerely becomes a force.
Love lived together becomes a legacy.
Love lived for others becomes a light for the world.

And in the final accounting of life,

Love is all that remains,

and all that truly matters.

14. A Time of Reflection — Faith, Family, and the Enduring Light of Love (2020-2025)

1. A World Paused, A Heart Opened

The decade that began in 2020 unfolded differently than anyone expected.

With COVID, the world slowed. Borders closed. Lives were rearranged. Families stayed indoors, and silence fell over cities and villages across continents.

As the world slowed, our children—Eric, Sunita, and Marc and our niece Shobha — remained deeply connected, offering help, calling frequently, visiting when possible, and forming a protective circle of love around us.

Our grandchildren, growing quickly into young adults, brought joy, music, stories, and youthful optimism. Their presence was a blessing, a reminder of all that we had built and all that continued through them.

Family gatherings—whether in person or through screens—carried a new sweetness.
Every smile mattered.
Every conversation was a gift.
Every shared memory felt like a small miracle.

2. SOPAR and Bala Vikasa — A Legacy That Lives Beyond Us

Even as global challenges disrupted routines, SOPAR and Bala Vikasa stood strong.
Years of building resilient structures, strong teams, and values-based leadership bore fruit.

During this period:

•         Women’s groups adapted and continued meeting.
•         Water projects advanced.
•         Youth and leadership programs moved into hybrid formats.
•         PDTC resumed training with safety and innovation.
•         International partners reaffirmed their trust.
•         And the next generation of leaders stepped forward.

Women coordinators training session 

For André and me, it was profoundly moving to witness a mission we had nurtured for decades now continuing under the stewardship of capable, compassionate hands.

We saw clearly:

The mission was no longer ours alone.
It belonged to the people.
It belonged to the future.

3. Celebrating 50 Years of Marriage and Beyond

Amidst these years came milestones that filled our hearts with joy.

Our 50th wedding anniversary on January 1, 2019, became a celebration not only of years but of:

•      perseverance,
•      forgiveness,
•      courage,
•      partnership, and the power of a love that began in secrecy and sacrifice and blossomed into a lifelong mission.

The message engraved in our hearts since 1968—PremAA—felt more alive than ever.

4. Looking Toward the Future — A Legacy of Love and Service

By 2025, life had brought both challenges and grace.

We had walked through illness, through uncertainty, through global change.

Yet through it all, the light of our mission continued to shine, carried forward by the next generation in Bala Vikasa and SOPAR.

Our family grew stronger.
Our faith grew deeper.
Our love grew more tender, more profound, more eternal.

André’s journey through illness, his twelve years of resilience, his strength of mind and spirit, became a testament not only to medical perseverance.

There comes a moment in every long life when the years, once separate, begin to speak to one another. The memories that were scattered like stars across decades slowly arrange themselves into constellations. When I look back on our journey—from the first letter written in trembling hope to the quiet evenings of today—what rises before me is not a sequence of events, but a single, continuous thread of meaning.

Our story was never only about the places we lived, the work we accomplished, or the challenges we endured. These were the vessels that carried us, but the real voyage took place within: in the choices whispered by conscience, in the courage summoned in silence, in the tenderness that shaped our days like flowing water shaping stone. Time recorded the years; love recorded the truth.

Our love began almost shyly, like a flame sheltered between two hands. It grew not through grand declarations but through small acts of fidelity—letters written in secret, moments stolen from rigid schedules, prayers whispered across oceans. That love sustained itself through distance, sacrifice, and the uncertainties of life. And though it transformed with the seasons, its core remained untouched: a quiet vow to walk together, whatever the path might bring.

As life unfolded, love deepened. It shed hesitations, grew in strength, and learned to recognize itself not only in passion but in presence. There were times when words were unnecessary, when a glance across a room, a touch on the arm, or a silence shared spoke more truth than any sentence could contain. Time did not diminish our love; it strengthened and purified it—leaving only what was essential, tender, and enduring.

Looking back, I see that our journey rested on an inner foundation carved slowly and gently by the values that guided us. Simplicity shaped our days, allowing us to focus on what truly mattered. Justice gave direction to André’s work and lent clarity to our decisions. Service was the quiet current beneath our lives, pulling us always toward those who needed a voice. Respect for dignity—especially the dignity of the poor—became the soul of our mission. And beneath everything, faith flowed like a subterranean river, nourishing our steps even when the path was uncertain.

These values were never doctrines; they were lived realities, discovered in the ordinary rhythms of our lives — in conversations late at night, in the discipline of daily work, in the courage to choose the harder road.

And then there is the legacy of family, the most beautiful of all. Our children grew under our gaze as trees grow toward the sun—each with their own shape, their own light, yet carrying in their hearts the seeds of our journey. They became the quiet continuation of our love, the living bridge between our past and the years that will follow us. With them, life renewed itself. Through our grandchildren, it blossomed.

SOPAR and Bala Vikasa also emerged from this deep soil. They were not projects planned at desks or drafted in reports. They were born from compassion, from listening, from the knowledge that true transformation begins not with resources but with human dignity. Villages changed not because we arrived with answers but because we arrived with humility. We offered presence; people offered their strength. The mission flourished because it echoed the natural wisdom of the poor—women and men who needed only an opportunity to reveal the leadership they already carried within.

And then came illness, entering our lives like a visitor we had not invited. Yet even this carried a strange blessing, uncovering dimensions of love we had not yet fully known. Illness slowed our steps, but it illuminated our hearts. It taught us that time is not measured by length but by depth, that fragility and courage often walk hand in hand, and that the smallest gestures—a shared meal, a whispered prayer, a steadying hand—can become moments of eternity.

André walked through his illness with a grace that defied explanation. There were difficult days and days of fatigue, yet beneath everything lay a serenity that touched everyone who came near him. His strength no longer depended on physical energy but on clarity, discipline, and a humility so profound that it became luminous. Even in vulnerability, he remained a source of calm.

When I reflect on all the decades that passed—from our youth in Manila to our later years surrounded by family—I see that what endures is not the outer story but the inner radiance that accompanied it. What remains are the invisible traces: the love that held us, the hope that sustained us, the compassion that guided our hands, the faith that circled our days like a protective light.

If our life teaches anything, it is that a journey shared in love becomes larger than the two who walk it. It becomes a field in which many others may grow. Our children, our grandchildren, the women and men of thousands of villages, the friends who walked with us—all are part of the same unfolding legacy.

And to those who will come after us, I would say only this: Do not fear love. Let it shape you, demand of you, purify you. For love, lived faithfully, becomes not only a feeling but a way of seeing the world. It opens the heart to service, to justice, to tenderness. It enlarges the soul. It teaches that nothing is ever lost when it is given generously.

In the end, when the noise of life fades and the years settle gently behind us, what remains is simple:

two hands held through time,
a family born of that union,
a mission rooted in compassion,
and the quiet certainty that we lived as we were meant to live—
guided by love, sustained by faith, and grateful for every step of the journey.

13. Trials and Triumphs — Legacy, Family, and the Courage of Love (2010-2020)

1. A New Era of Accomplishment and Reflection

The decade that unfolded from 2010 to 2020 was one of profound contrasts—years filled with recognition, growth, and joy, yet also marked by a life-changing challenge that tested our faith and resilience.

By 2010, SOPAR and Bala Vikasa had matured into highly respected development institutions. Our work had reached thousands of villages, trained tens of thousands of people, and inspired leaders across India and around the world. The roots we had planted decades earlier were now deep, strong, and flourishing.

2. Bala Vikasa’s Golden Years

These were years when Bala Vikasa stood tall- recognized for both its impact and its integrity.

Inauguration of a drinking water system

• Water projects reached unprecedented scale.
• Women’s groups grew stronger, forming networks of solidarity across regions.
• Food Security projects reached farmers in many villages
• PDTC hosted national and international participants, becoming a center of excellence.
• Innovative programs emerged, including social entrepreneurship, youth leadership, and sustainable community development. 

Model village committee members and women committees

Another concept of André-That is involving for-profit organizations in social development.

This concept led to the establishment of the Center for Social and Responsible Business (CSRB) on the outskirts of Hyderabad. With its state-of-the-art amenities, CSRB is becoming a beacon for social entrepreneurship in India.

Women convention - Bala Vikasa Center for Social and Responsible Business

Visitors from Canada and abroad saw firsthand the dignity and transformation of communities energized by their own leadership. Many said that Bala Vikasa was “a university of life.”

Bala Vikasa became a reference point for responsible, value-based development.

I, too, felt my role deepen—not only in planning and leadership in community development programs, but also in emotional connection with the women, youth and families whose courage inspired me daily. Their struggles were my own; their victories felt like personal blessings.

3. Family Milestones and Growing Joys

During this decade, our family expanded in love and delight.

Our grandchildren—Emmanuel, Pascal, Marie-Louise, Samuel, Sara, Jonathan, and Jessica—became the jewels of our life. Their innocence, joy, and bright eyes filled our home with renewed purpose and tenderness.

Our children—Éric, Sunita, and Marc—were now adults navigating their own journeys, each shaped by the values learned throughout their upbringing:

• empathy,
• responsibility,
• generosity,
• respect,
• and a deep connection to family.

We watched them grow into remarkable individuals—professionally capable, emotionally mature, and profoundly caring.

Our home, whether in Canada or India, remained a sanctuary of love.
Every visit, every celebration, every conversation became a cherished thread in the tapestry of our shared life.

4. Recognition of a Lifelong Mission

During these years, the world began to recognize the depth of what SOPAR and Bala Vikasa had built.

•      Awards were received.
  
•      Partnerships strengthened.
  
•      Publications highlighted the model.
  
•      Governments and universities sought to understand the principles that guided our success.

For André and me, recognition was never the goal.

For us, these tributes were affirmations—not of pride, but of gratitude.
Gratitude for the path which has been drawn for us.
Gratitude for the countless people whose hands and hearts had shaped the mission.

Yet even as the mission expanded, life reminded us of its fragility, its beauty, and its unpredictability.

5.       The Turning Point — André’s Diagnosis (2013)

In June 2013, our family was struck by a devastating blow: André’s pancreatic cancer with liver metastases. It was a shock that plunged my heart into depths of fear and sadness I had never known.

Yet André met this trial with courage, simplicity and grace. His moral strength, the new oral treatments, and modern medicine slowed the progression. It is a miracle that he continues with us, strong in spirit, 12 years later.

Every day since then, I pray with all my heart. I ask God to preserve him, to keep us together, to let us continue our journey hand in hand. I cannot imagine life without him. My letter from January 2014 (See: Appendix) remains a testimony of my deepest fears and my deepest love.

Despite his illness, André has never stopped working for SOPAR and Bala Vikasa—guiding, advising, supporting from afar, writing, thinking, and giving.

6.       Continuing the Mission Despite Hardship

Even as André faced illness, our dedication to the mission never wavered. People often forgot he was ill so unwavering his spirit was.

I, too, continued to serve—traveling between Canada and India, sometimes alone and sometimes together, upholding our shared vision, and carrying forward the values we had built side by side.

7.       Love as the Final Teacher

If the earlier decades taught us determination, courage, and vision,
the years after André’s diagnosis taught us an even deeper lesson:

Love is stronger than fear.

Hope is stronger than illness.

Presence is stronger than suffering.

We learned to live not in years, but in moments:

•      the warmth of holding hands,
•      the comfort of silence understood,
•      the joy of a grandchild’s laughter,
•      the beauty of simply being together.

These are sacred years—years in which life’s fragility illuminated its deepest meaning.

8.       Entering 2020 — A Decade of Gratitude

As 2020 approached, we reflected with humility and gratitude.

Despite challenges, despite illness, despite the uncertainty of life—
God had given us:

•      decades of love,
  
•      a family united in affection,
  
•      a mission that uplifted thousands,
  
•      and the unshakeable bond of two hearts walking together through every season.

This decade, though difficult, was one of the richest of our lives.

12. A Decade of Expansion — Impact, Recognition, and Family Milestones (2000-2010)

1. Entering a New Century

With the dawn of the year 2000 came a new momentum—an acceleration of purpose and possibility. The seeds planted decades earlier, nurtured carefully were now flourishing into a movement far greater than we could have foreseen. What had begun as a heartfelt desire to support the poor in India had grown into a recognized model of community-led development.

SOPAR in Canada and Bala Vikasa in India moved with confidence, guided by values rather than trends, by human dignity rather than external pressures. Our work was anchored in the belief that development is not done for people, but with them.

2.  Bala Vikasa Comes of Age

During this decade, Bala Vikasa expanded dramatically. Entire regions have felt the influence of its work. Programs matured, methodologies were refined, and communities became strong partners in their own progress.

Key pillars of Bala Vikasa blossomed:

• Women’s Self-Help Groups grew into powerful solidarity networks.
• Micro credit program helping women own small businesses
• Water projects multiplied, bringing clean water to hundreds of villages.
• Education projects extended.
• Youth getting jobs.
• Tank “desiltation” and watershed projects revitalized lands and livelihoods.
• Initiatives to restore dignity to marginalized families.
• Capacity-building programs empowered villagers to lead their own transformation.
• Youth and community leadership training created a new generation of responsible citizens.

Every program was rooted in respect, in dialogue, and in partnership. Villagers understood that the goal was not charity—it was empowerment. The dignity of people remained sacred.

3. Bala Vikasa FORWARD (Forum of Religious Women’s Association for Rural Development)

Bala Vikasa FORWARD training session

Bala Vikasa started the Women Integrated Development programs in 1994. 

In this program, along with lay Women staff, numerous religious sister from 47 Religious Congregations joined and worked for number of years. The program grew to reach more than 2000 villages lifting the lives of several hundred thousand rural women, irrespective of caste or religion. 

Time came to decentralize. Therefore, part of program was handed over to the religious associations to manage by themselves. The Forum is established to have the linkage with them to help more women by sharing and supporting. 

Women program is now continuing with Bala Vikasa as well as with the Religious Associations reaching more women. 

Many religious sisters, priests, bishops visited us in Canada visited us in Canada and stayed with us.  These visits are in connection to our mission, helped us and them to serve others with love and dedication.

4. International Recognition and Collaboration

As the impact grew, so is recognition.

Development organizations, universities, donors, and governments are studying Bala Vikasa’s approach. Delegations visit our NGO from Canada, Europe, Asia, and Africa. 

Guided by a clear vision and a profound understanding of community development dynamics we came to be widely recognized as pioneers of Community-Driven-Development. Our ability to express complex ideas in simple language inspired many along the way.

5. Returning to India—Renewed Purpose

Our travel between Canada and India continued, becoming even more frequent as Bala Vikasa expanded. Each trip brought spiritual renewal, emotional grounding, and a reaffirmation of why our work mattered.

In India:

• We dialogued with Bala Vikasa managers
• We met with community leaders,
• We visited water structures,
• We dialogued with Farmers’ Cooperatives,
• We celebrated the success of women’s groups,
• We saw the youth advancing in colleges and universities
• We listened to people’s hopes and struggles.

6. The Rise of the People Development Training Center (PDTC)

One of the greatest milestones of this decade was the creation of the People Development Training Center (PDTC)—it is the product of André’s thinking and planning. A space dedicated to training community leaders, NGO professionals, and youth from across India and internationally.

Bala Vikasa People Development Training Center

PDTC became a living classroom:

• where theory and practice met,
• where experiences shaped strategies,
• where values, ethics, and compassion were as important as technical skills.

Thousands passed through PDTC’s programs, carrying forward the ripple of development into their own villages and organizations.

I felt deeply at home with community development programs, by the warmth of Bala Vikasa teams, the villagers and the leaders, surrounded by the landscapes of my childhood, by the warmth of village life, and by the enduring love of my family in Reddipalem.

7.       Challenges Met with Strength

The decade was also marked by challenges—organizational pressures, financial uncertainties, administrative complexities, and the constant need to adapt to changing realities.

Through every difficulty, André remained a pillar of steadfast clarity.

I provided the emotional grounding, intuition, and sensitivity that complemented his strategic vision.

Together, we faced obstacles as we always had: Hand in hand, with trust, resilience, and unwavering hope.

8.       A Legacy Taking Shape

By the end of the decade, the legacy of SOPAR and Bala Vikasa was undeniable.

• Thousands of families had access to water.
• Women stood in leadership with confidence.
• Villages that once struggled found stability.
• Youth emerged with purpose.
• Communities gained strength and unity.
• Partnerships grew across continents.

Women coordinators and youth convention at Bala Vikasa CSRB amphitheater

We realized, with humility, that what began in love had now grown into a movement of transformation.

This was no longer just our mission.

It belonged to the people—to the women, men, and youth who carried it forward with pride.