Sudha, AYUDH France

Dear brothers and sisters! I’m glad to present you with a small selfless action that was carried out by a few AYUDH members in France - in Paris to be more precise. I’m sure all of you know the Red Cross…a humanitarian organisation involved in many fields, both nationally and internationally… Personally, I already knew the Red Cross as I did my first year of studies in one of their numerous nursing schools.

One of their countless activities in Paris consists of meeting people living in the streets to help them keep a social link, to go with them to the hospital for example.

In December, along with a few friends, I joined one of the delegations which operates in the 13th “arrondissement” (Paris territory is divided into 20 arrondissements of various sizes and populations) which is very popular and of mostly low-middle class status. It’s not a mere food and clothes distribution, it’s really more than that: we spend lots of time listening to them so that they feel less lonely and in order for them to maintain a social identity.

We also have an orientation role: we help them take the necessary steps to get a place in a shelter to sleep safely at night for example. This benevolent activity made me discover a world I didn’t know at all: I spent my childhood in the South of France, I always lived in small villages where one never faces such critical situations.

The beginning: The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement started 145 years ago, inspired by a Swiss businessman, Henry Dunant. He had been appalled at the suffering of thousands of men, on both sides, who were left to die due to lack of care after the Battle of Solferino in 1859. He proposed the creation of national relief societies, made up of volunteers, trained in peacetime to provide neutral and impartial help to relieve suffering in times of war. In response to these ideas a committee, which later became the International Committee of the Red Cross, was established in Geneva. The founding charter of the Red Cross was drawn up in 1863. Henry Dunant also proposed that countries should adopt an international agreement, which would recognise the status of medical services and of the wounded on the battlefield. This agreement - the original Geneva Convention - was adopted in 1864.

In fact, I was originally expecting to land in a world of daily drunkness and violence, but I was surprised to meet people who touched my heart even in the midst of suffering both psychologically and physically…

This kind of “seva” (selfless service) has really helped me open up as a person and has allowed me to experience compassion towards all those people in need, who live in challenging conditions. The delegation owns a van, which we drive in the streets, stopping as soon as we see someone who may need help or even just someone to talk to.

I’m now working as a nurse and I must admit that sometimes I need to make an effort to go to Paris after a day of work (during which I spend my time taking care of cancer patients) but one thing is for sure: I don’t ever regret it!!! I consider the moments spent with these people in need so precious…one of them writes poems…another one, called William, tells us stories about his family and his life and calls the girls from our team his “princesses”…

Thomas was very closed when we first met him and he slowly allowed us to approach him and discover his “secrets”… It may have no great importance when seen with the exterior eye, but it is precisely this simplicity I like the most: isn’t it what Amma is showing us at each and every second of her unconditionally selfless life?