Dear friends of the Widows of India!
Since my last update, a large, broad, growing network of love has emerged with “highlights” that we could not foresee in our
boldest vision and imagination! Please, feel deeply the gratitude and love from all our women in Om Shanthi Old Age Home!
I hope that you will detect this from the voices of these women who share their stories in my book published just October this year: “She Looked Directly Into My Heart….” (published in German; English translation to be available in 2026). These formerly abandoned, outcast women are so grateful, now knowing a friendship and love that crosses all borders- friends in Germany, the USA, and all over the world – it is your caring that makes this happy time near the end of their lives possible. Please continue to donate, because only with your donations can we continue
this work! Every dollar counts, and especially your regular donations. For all of this, I would like to thank you so very much!
This work is truly a gift from and to the heart! Please know that 97% of your donations directly benefit the women in need, as we operate on a volunteer basis, was very low overhead costs.(The remaining 3% goes to office supplies such as postage, paper, printer ink, etc.)
So, now to the announced “highlights” of last year:
In January 2025, our new computer school was opened in my presence. Amu, a highly qualified teacher who lives in the next village and knows almost all the children, has since taught our widows and country children every day after school. The children are totally fascinated, and it is amazing to me that after just a few hours on the computer, what they are able to accomplish! We
have 5 computer stations, each shared by two students receiving instruction during each class.
Four subsequent one hour computer training sessions are held, beginning at 4 PM.
From 4 to 5 PM, classes are held for children in the fifth through sixth standard. 5 PM: seventh through eighth standard. 6 PM: ninth and 10th standard, and then at 7 PM to 8 PM – college students..
After 4 months of daily lessons, many students have already received their final certificate, which will enable them to pursue good career prospects after school. Added bonus is that at the same time they learn English!
Graduation from the course, as well as special holidays are celebrated together with our Om Shanthi Old Age Home residents.
You probably already guessed it: One of our most important objectives is to effect “a change in consciousness with regard to our outcast and abandoned widows”. We consider this the best way for overcoming traditional superstitions through a joyful life lived together.
The singing and yoga lessons continue to take place for our old women. (Photos and videos can be found in FB (Widows of India – Om Shanthi).
Thanks to your donations, at long last, we have been able to supply all our three widow homes with the installation of solar power. This has served to bring us considerable savings in electrical expense. Many thanks for that too!
Another construction project is happily completed: We finally gave up on the idea of a garden outside our kitchen after years of effort and trying to thwart the local monkeys. They foraged, eating most of the crops before the vegetables were even ripe! So, now, we expanded our small fully functional kitchen (which was actually just the size of a large storage room). It has been further enlarged, and is now more suitable for about 100 daily meals with extraction, cooking and storage facilities, complying with all state regulations (yes, inspections are also conducted in India!)
The Lions Club of Tiruvannamalai has again provided free ophthalmological examinations for all our dear women – and provided the necessary glasses. It is a pleasure to experience the happiness of the women who can now see properly for the first time in their lives!
Jyothi and Pattu, two of our sweet long-time residents, passed away peacefully and are missed by all of us. Fortunately, their stories are immortalized in my book. Upon their passing, we brought in newly abandoned women from their life on the street. You cannot believe their happiness when they were brought to live with us. Rani and Sumathi are the last two new additions, now just before Christmas – a gift to all of us! I am looking very much forward to meet all the new women when I fly to India on
January 10!
Someone told me that I thank you too often! Is that so? I just feel soooo much gratitude towards
life, always…..
Thank you very much for all your kind donations and your empathy!
With all the best wishes for 2026: love, peace, health and happiness for you and all your loved ones
Your Anna, on behalf of Paulette and all of us here in Om Shanthi!