Girija from India
Girija from India
Girija and former adoptions consultant Anne Mogensen.Girija and former adoptions consultant Anne Mogensen.02 februar 2012 | As an Indian I was brought up to regard the family as the most important element in a person's life. Growing up without a family makes it hard to get a full life.
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Skrevet af: Communication coordinator Susanne Dencker
In this part of our AC International series, we introduce you to Girija Sapre, AC International Child Support's local contact in India. For eight days just before Christmas of 2009, Girija came to Denmark to visit AC International Child Support, our adoptive families with children from India, Danish authorities, and several schools and day-care centres.
- What made the biggest impression on me? Girija Sapre frowns thoughtfully, almost closing her warm brown eyes as she considers the question. She takes her time. - That was to visit the families who had so hospitably invited me to come to their homes. It was wonderful to see the children together with their parents.
As an Indian I was brought up to regard the family as the most important element in a person's life. Growing up without a family makes it hard to get a full life. These orphan children have got full lives, because they have found good and loving families. And I must admit being somewhat surprised by the openness demonstrated by these families as regards the adoption of their children. That was a most positive and instructive experience for me.
Putting on the hard hat - even as a retiree
Working with particularly vulnerable children has always played an important part in Girija's life. She retired in September 2010 after having held different positions for many years in the Indian Humanitarian Aid organisation CASP. This is AC International Child Support's partner organisation with which we co-operate on several hundred sponsorships.
From 2006 to 2010, she has been working as the organisation's managing director. But since the inactive role traditionally associated with life as a retiree is completely unthinkable in Girija's case, she looks forward to continuing her commitment to the lives of marginalised children as AC International Child Support's adoption representative in India. And it is indeed a highly qualified, experienced contact who now puts on the hard hat to go to work for AC International Child Support.
Difficulties occur in everybody's lives
In 1979, Girija, originally a qualified teacher, specialised in teaching children with special needs at The Spastics Society of India in Bombay. A work which the young, dedicated teacher took it on herself to develop.
Without prior warning, Girija's husband died from heart failure in 1992. Just 40 years old, she was suddenly left alone with three minor children - two sons and a daughter - in a country where the social safety net consists largely of support from the family.
- That was when I learned that life is a constant challenge. Difficulties occur in everybody's lives - all the time. You simply have to accept and live with that. The many years of work for marginalised children and their families have helped me to appreciate life as it is - and not take anything for granted! Despite my husband's tragic death, I had to live on. Fortunately, I had my parents, who were able to step in and look after my children when I was working.
Honour and glory
Throughout her life, Girija has worked with and upgraded her skills in giving marginalised children and adults the best possible help and support. On several occasions she has taken supplementary training in the USA with Camphill, an American association which bases its work on the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner.
In 1995 she first became associated with CASP as the leader of a tree-year project about rehabilitation of disabled people in 30 villages in the Maharashtra state. In December 2000 she was again contacted by CASP and asked whether she would be interested in applying for the position of leader of CASP's training programs for marginalised children. She would. And CASP was equally interested in Girija. In 2006, the executive committee nominated her as its candidate for the post of managing director.
Girija's work has not gone unnoticed. She has received several honorary awards - local as well as national - over the years. She is of course proud of the awards, but her pride is nowhere near as great as her joy of hearing from the many thousands of impoverished, marginalised children who each year get the chance to go to school and get a better life thanks to funds from CASP's donors.
And Girija's own children? Well, they thrive and are doing very well. They grew up ages ago - and have travelled quite a long way from home. Thus, only the oldest son still lives in India. The two youngest children both live and work in the USA. Consequently Girija visits her family in the USA every Christmas, including this one.
- Thank you for a heart-warming and very instructive visit, Girija concludes - But your snow? Oh Dear!
Wrapped in padded jackets, warm trousers and scarves, the slight woman laughs out loud and raises her arms in resignation. - Quite frankly, I look forward to getting under warmer skies. Even wearing all of these clothes, I am cold to the bone. How on earth can you stand it?