May Kidd, World President (centre) with Sister Viji DMI (left)

Thank you for the many cards and warm greetings received during the festive season. I have enjoyed spending some quiet time amongst family and friends, and hope that you were able to do the same. Now here we are at the start of another year, where does the time go?

I recently returned from Tamil Nadu, India. My trip started in Chennai, where the 2013 Triennial Conference will take place. I am grateful to Area President Sister Viji, Father Arul Raj and all the sisters in DMI (the 2013 host society) for their hospitality, care and kindness throughout my time in India. They were there for me constantly and knew what I needed, even before I knew myself!

The Central & South Asia Area Conference was held in quiet, leafy surroundings close to Madurai, a one-hour flight south of Chennai. First, a successful ACWW-funded two-day pre-conference workshop took place.

The Area Conference itself, ably hosted by Sri Sakthi Trust, was attended by delegates from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and all parts of India. Nepal was not forgotten, with a written presentation from Gorkha Women’s Association in the souvenir program. The theme: ‘Women- Redefining the Course of Action towards Transformation’ focussed on looking at how best to achieve positive change.

The societies gave excellent and at times moving accounts of their service. All are involved in empowering women, working in many ways to uplift the marginalised and most disadvantaged. Thousands of self-help groups have been painstakingly set up, in remote villages and the most deprived parts of the cities.

We visited two of the many societies, which have benefitted greatly from ACWW project funding. At Pache Trust, the entire village turned out to greet us. There must have been a thousand men, women and children jostling all around, singing, cheering and waving in joyous welcome.

At the Society for Serving Humanity (SSH), it was good to join in their celebrations for Children’s Day and to hear from the children themselves of their lives and ambitions. I shall never forget the magic of India and cannot wait to return.

Best wishes, everyone, for 2012.

May Kidd MA JP ACWW World President | Achieve World President Messages