Extending a Helping Hand in the South of France

By Montpellier, France Center (Originally in French)

To take care of those in need, Supreme Master Ching Hai contributed EUR 90,000 and asked our Association members from Montpellier Center to provide assistance to those less fortunate in the south of France. On behalf of Master, our Association members went to five different organizations from September to October 2015.

We visited the largest social welfare institution of the French Riviera, le Rayon de Soleil de Cannes (Ray of Sunlight in Cannes), which takes care of children, five- to 18-years-old, facing social difficulties. Master’s EUR 26,000 contribution will help the institution build a lovely garden where children and parents will be able to play and talk in a pleasant and suitable environment. The director of the organization told our Association members that he recently changed to a more plant-based way of eating, and felt very touched by Master’s words about a vegan diet and its numerous advantages.

Then, we contacted a humanitarian association of retired firefighters in the cities of Menton and Grasse. The former firefighters of this association regularly organize humanitarian actions in France and abroad, in countries such as Croatia, Morocco, Haiti and Romania. The president of the association, Mr. Georges Ricci, was very grateful for Master’s financial help of EUR 22,000, which will help to improve the material comfort of people who were previously homeless and are now newly settled in apartments. Another EUR 22,000 was contributed to a second association of retired firefighters, whose president explained that it will be used to assist underprivileged people in remote villages in France.

We also contributed EUR 10,000 to the Tanka Association, which takes care of 26 horses, ponies and donkeys who have endured abuse or abandonment. Since its creation, the Tanka Association has healed nearly 200 four-legged friends and has helped them find loving families. Ms. Sabine Durand, the devoted and compassionate president of the Tanka Association, shared with our Association members the story of each animal living in its center. She was overjoyed by Master’s contribution, which will be used to buy hay and medicine, as well as to repair the barns. She wrote: “Thanks to your donation, our animal friends will be nourished and healthy during this winter. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The remaining EUR 10,000 was contributed to the SOS Foyers Chiens Agés (SOS Home for Elderly Dogs). This caring organization welcomes old and abandoned dogs and cats, and heals them before they join host families where they find love, and can again enjoy a happy life. The president of SOS, Ms. Francine Lenfant, explained to our Association members that upgrading all the doghouses was in progress and Master’s contribution appeared to her as a timely gift from Heaven, as all the work needed to be paid for and finished before winter.

Our deep gratitude to Master for Her generous contributions to assist loving organizations in the south of France. Heaven’s blessings and our heartfelt appreciation to le Rayon de Soleil de Cannes, the retired firefighters associations, the Tanka Association, and the SOS Foyers Chiens Agés, for your noble work.

Expenditures by Supreme Master Ching Hai for Helping Organizations in the South of France