Five Past Midnight in Bhopal - Dominique Lapierre [151]
In order to continue financing the homes, schools, clinics and development programs run by the admirable men and women who have devoted their lives to serving the poorest of the poor, we need to find fresh support.
We have, furthermore, an ongoing serious worry. What would happen if tomorrow we were to have an accident or if illness were to prevent us from meeting the budgets for the centers that depend on us?
There is only one way to address this danger, and that is to turn our association into a foundation.
The capital from this foundation would have to be able to provide the annual revenue necessary to finance the various humanitarian projects that we support. To generate the 500,000 dollars needed each year, we would need an initial capital sum of at least 10 million dollars.
How are we to raise that sort of capital if not through the contributions of a multitude of individuals?
Ten million is ten thousand times a thousand dollars. For some people it is relatively easy to give a thousand dollars to a good cause. Some people could probably give even more.
But for the vast majority of friends who have already spontaneously given us a donation after reading The City of Joy, Beyond Love or A Thousand Suns or after hearing one of my talks and who often faithfully keep up their generous support, it is much too large a sum.
One thousand dollars, however, is also twice five hundred dollars or four times two hundred and fifty, or five times two hundred dollars, or ten times a hundred dollars, or even a hundred times ten dollars.
Such a sum can be raised from several people at one person’s initiative. By photocopying this message, by spreading the word, by joining with other family members, friends or colleagues, by setting up a chain of compassion and sharing, anyone can help to keep this world alive and bring a little justice and love to the poorest of the poor. Alone we can do nothing, but together all things are possible.
The smallest gifts count for just as much as the largest. Isn’t the ocean made up of drops of water?
A big thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart, for everyone’s support, whatever their means.
P.S. We would like to remind readers that the association Action Aid for the Lepers’ Children in Calcutta has no administration costs. The totality of the money from the authors’ royalties and of the donations received from readers is sent to the centers for which it is donated.
Donations to support Dominique Lapierre’s humanitarian
action can be sent to: “ACTION POUR LES ENFANTS DES LÉPREUX DE CALCUTTA” (Action Aid for Lepers’ Children of Calcutta) Care of: Dominique & Dominique Lapierre «Les Bignoles», Val de Rian, F-83350 Ramatuelle, France website: www.cityofjoyaid.org
Banking transfers can be made directly to:
Banque Nationale de Paris (BNP), Agency Paris Kléber 51, Avenue Kléber, F-75116 Paris, France Bank Code: 30004 — Agency Code: 00892 Account Number: 00001393127 — Clé Rib: 21 IBAN: FR76 3000 4008 9200 0013 9312 721
For taxpayers in the USA, tax-deductible contributions can be sent to:
“CITY OF JOY AID, Inc.”
Taxpayer Identification Number: 54-1566941 Care of Marie B. Allizon 7419 Lisle Avenue, Falls Church, VA. 22043, USA Telefax: +1 (703) 734.69.56
Dominique Lapierre’s organization has NO overhead costs. Each donation received goes entirely to serve a priority action.
Photo credits
All photos are from the authors’ collection except: p. 4–5: coll. Eduardo Muñoz; p. 6 (top): coll. Zahir Ul Islam; p. 6 (bottom)–7: coll. Niloufar Khan; p. 8 (top): coll. John Luke Couvaras; p. 13–14 (up)–15–16 (top; left bottom): coll. Jamaini.
* A lentil purée that is the main source of vegetable protein in India.
† Wheat pancakes.
‡ A small, rudimentary oven.
* Literally “four legs,” a bed made out of rope strung across a wooden frame.