There's change in the air. While the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and global warming and recession bring difficulties to millions worldwide, there are renewed efforts to make the world a better place to live. These efforts are not huge undertakings but ones that work with local communities and organizations to improve their quality of life. Friends of India (FOI) members have been doing this in India since the 1990s through charities we support. But there are others out there who are chipping away at helping the less fortunate of the world. Recently I heard Paul Wilkes speak about what we can do for others. Paul is founder of the Home of Hope (Prathyasha Bhavan) orphanage for girls in Kochi, Kerala State, India. While listening, I reflected on development and what we can do as individuals and groups. We sometimes feel helplessness in the face of wars and recession. But still we can do what we believe is the right thing, no matter how small, and after that continue on by doing the next right thing. In other words, little by little. This is really what we are doing with FOI charities and it is important to continue doing them. Often we make differences we could never imagine.

Please support FOI and its charities as well as other local organizations you believe are helping make a difference either here in the US or abroad. For example two local organizations in Wilmington NC are Paul Wilkes' Home of Hope (www.homeofhopeindia.org) whose mission is to transform the lives of orphan girls of India and educating the poorest of the poor. A video of the orphanage can be found on the Home of Hope website.

There is also the Full Belly Project (FBP) (www.thefullbellyproject.org) with which I work closely. FBP is best known for its hand-operated peanut sheller that has been distributed to more than 15 countries in Africa, Asia and South America. The sheller has even made its way to Hassan, Karnataka, India where peanut shellers are being manufactured. See photos in the Newsletter and on the website (www.foindia.org). FBP's mission is to design and distribute income-generating agricultural devices to improve life in developing countries.

Finally, there is Joe Emerson, Founder of the Ecological Development Foundation (EDF), a charity that FOI supports, has recently taken what I would call one of those "doing the next right thing" by establishing the GreenRevolution2009.org website "to take action to reduce global warming and create a green economy to make our world better for our children." Our efforts may seem small but many of us know and have experienced what a difference one person can make on an individual, a family, a community ..

Friends of India Reunion: Since the last newsletter, I have received only a couple of emails indicating an interest in a reunion. We still need to hear from you about location, timing and your ability to help.

Good Read on the Sub-Continent: Some of you may have read Three Cups of Tea by Greg Morteson and David Oliver Relin. The subtitle really says it all. "One Man's Mission to Promote Peace..One School at a Time. "

Enjoy the rest of your summer,

Namascaram,
Jack Slattery
Email: FOIndiaSlattery@aol.com

PS, See inside for new 4th FOI Charity initiated by India 42 -Kolar Water Filters
PPS, Visit www.FOIndia.org photo gallery. Thanks to you we are adding to it all the time.