Some years ago, Bermudian Diane Kirwin visited Bodhgaya in Bihar state, north India during a tour of the country. Visiting a polio clinic and a cowshed school she realised what a difference could be made by small efforts in sharing others' abundance. So she decided she too wanted to help make a difference to "the untouchables", as the poorest of the Asian continent's poor are known. These were people living without electricity, water sources, crops, education, or skills to earn a living. People too poor to afford an education for their children; and children who had never had a book, toy, proper bed, soap, or nutritious food. 'Home' was a mud-floored hut, and medical treatment was difficult to obtain.

These were people who knew of nothing beyond the hardscrabble confines of their village, who lived and died in abject poverty and ignorance. Worse, the village near Bodhgaya was but one of many, many villages in the area where the same dismal scene existed. Undaunted, Mrs. Kirwin happily rolled up her sleeves and initially joined other members of a charity trying to make some sort of inroad into giving these people hope.

Today, Bodhgaya is a modest, very modest, success story. Four hundred and fifty children are now receiving a basic education and medical treatment; there is the beginning of a 'microcredit programme' whereby women can borrow money to start a tiny business. Through a partnership between the Kirwin International Relief Foundation (KIRF) India and a local clinic, they also receive advice on nutrition, family planning, AIDS awareness/prevention and hygiene. In the overall quest to sow the seeds of hope, these are just some of the steps toward nourishing an improved future.

Despite being over 70, and still recovering from double knee-replacement surgery, the former social worker ploughs on ¿ for she has now been challenged to make a difference in three other villages, where educational centres have been set up. Sustained by her faith, and buoyed by the progress of the first project, Mrs. Kirwin will again leave her California home at the weekend and return to India for another three or four months to continue what must surely be a mission without end to help what she calls "the loving poor".

"Each time I set off for India I wonder what lies ahead for this trip. Each journey is different, and seems to excel in the unexpected, but a great deal is received and learned, for it is in giving that we receive, so there is receiving at each end of the exchange," she says.

Meanwhile, the intrepid grandmother uses her so-called 'rest and recuperation' trip to Bermuda each October to raise awareness and funds for her Foundation's mission. She speaks to schools and others, and always the local response generates more interest and a greater hand-up among her growing band of supporters. In fact, it is thanks to the collaborative efforts of so many generous donors and volunteers here that the Hamilton Rotary Club has just shipped a container, donated by Butterfield & Vallis and packed with donated clothing and uniforms, medical supplies, toys, board games, books, blankets and more, to Bodhgaya. One can only imagine the excitement its arrival will bring. Even the freshly-painted pale blue container is going to be recycled with the installation of the donated windows and doors now travelling inside it.

"All outreach is appreciated beyond imagining," Mrs. Kirwin says. "Excitement and smiles are not only for the surprises of gifts but also for the individual attention, love and understanding which is bestowed on these little ones." Local volunteers, however, are careful to dispense the goods slowly, because the goal is to make the villagers feel proud of the Centres and their role as part of their community by contributing labour and services, rather than having them become dependent on hand-outs. All outreach projects have the approval and support of the village elders.

Unfortunately, space does not permit full details of all the progress which has been made in the past year, but highlights include:

¦ The Kirwin International Relief Foundation (KIRF) is now a registered Indian Charitable Trust with a board of Indian trustees and director Mrs. Kirwin.

¦ Son Mark Kirwin and wife began KIRF India's water outreach project, installing and repairing several wells, so rural women in several villages now have water readily available.

¦ The Hamilton, Pembroke and Sandys Rotary clubs are joining the India Rotary Club in a water initiative in the villages.

¦ Formation of a partnership between KIRF India and the Root Institute community health project, whereby the former provides a driver and jeep and the latter the medical team and supplies. As a result, many people are now receiving regular medical aid. There are clinics for AIDS awareness and tuberculosis, and the jeep is also used for emergency medical aid.

¦ KIRF India's largest education centre in one year has transformed a former 'no hope' village into one offering a curriculum, with mobile health clinic visits, a sanitation committee, and villagers building the first-ever latrine. The Indian government may provide more.

¦ Introduction of a clean-up around Savalbigha village, in which all children participated, collecting garbage into piles which were burned. Villagers were so pleased with result that this is now a weekly event. Plans are afoot to plant vegetables and trees in the run-off area from the wells.

¦ Distribution of soap with health talk to children, as well as school supplies, text books, book bags, school uniforms, sweaters, and underwear (for some their first), all of which are greeted with great excitement. Also, distribution of fresh carrots to students, who are malnourished.

¦ Gift of world maps to use in teaching.

¦ Increasing recognition of KIRF India project by local, well-established outreach projects.

Understandably pleased with the slow but sure progress which is being made, Mrs. Kirwin puts the scale of the mission into context by explaining that Bihar state is "one of the most corrupt, most violent and poorest states in India, where more than 60 percent live below poverty level. Nonetheless, she has learned to take pleasure from every positive step, no matter how small, and to measure progress not in miles but inches.

Mrs. Kirwin is also happy to report that KIRF India is getting more and more acceptance from bona fide Indian organisations, and she is particularly proud of this year's landmark invitation for students of its education centres to attend the Gaya YMCA sports day, where they mixed freely and competed with city children, signalling total acceptance of the so-called 'lowest caste' ¿ a significant step forward. "It was the first time any of them had been to a city, and they were given wonderful food they had never seen before. Sixty-six of them piled into two jeeps, and they were so excited. They competed with affluent, higher-caste children who attend very special private schools, wear special uniforms, and play big musical instruments. If it wasn't for our children being entered, they would not have been allowed to mix with a lower caste."

Happily, the Bodhgaya children acquitted themselves well in the various competitions, placing third in group singing, with one boy winning a special award for his speech.

"That was quite amazing, and the children will be participating more and more in places where previously they would not have been allowed," Mrs. Kirwin says.

The children attend school wearing uniforms donated by Saltus, BHS and Victor Scott schools, carrying their little slates and chalk or exercise books, to be taught by Indian teachers. This year they received their first text books ¿ for many their first-ever book. They study continuously, except during the no-lunch 'lunch break' when they play board games.

"They don't fool around because they are so eager to learn, and they also well behaved," Mrs. Kirwin assures.

The winters are bitterly cold and there is no heating, so having once seen the children standing with teeth chattering and shaking with the cold, Mrs. Kirwin made a personal pledge to knit 400 wool caps, using scraps purloined from here and the US. While working toward her goal, she says any knitters wishing to help can contact her at dikirwin[AT]yahoo.com for the pattern.

"I can never have too many because it is India," she notes.

Many of the health issues, including skin diseases, coughs and colds, stem from malnutrition, which is a major problem, but the mobile health unit partnered by KIRF India and Root is a welcome help, and all of the education centres now have twice-monthly visits. While regular medical clinics are also beneficial, Mrs. Kirwin acknowledges that the Foundation's Dr. Mishra is often moved to tears by the sight of so many dirty, very ill people so desperately in need of attention ¿ many of whom have been suffering for ten years without hope of treatment.

The bright side is that, through networking and the talks she gives, members of the local Indian community are now beginning to offer assistance, which is a big "plus" because they understand best how to problem-solve.

Money is always a concern of course, but KIRF India is thrilled that, after interminable negotiations and thanks to an anonymous Bermuda donor, it will soon conclude the purchase of land on which to build a school for higher education, and many more facilities.In addition, whereas Mrs. Kirwin used to commute either on foot or by pedal cycle, she now travels by motor scooter, which she has named 'Bermuda Girl'. Although funds are spent very carefully and judiciously, more are always needed for school supplies, teachers' salaries, medical supplies and nutrition.

"Our group is very small ¿ just a group of dedicated people really ¿ so we are very thankful that we have so many people and organisations in Bermuda who support us in so many ways," Mrs. Kirwin says. "I have never seen so many people work so hard for the good of others as they do in Bermuda ¿ with the exception of the people of Bodhgaya who work unceasingly for the benefit of the most poor."

n Anyone wishing to donate funds to KIRF India should contact Mingo and Walter Cook at 236-5997 for details of the Bermuda bank account. Further information is also available at www.kirfaid.org/india/kirf_bodhgaya.shtml.