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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
