Ever since she began working with the poorest of the poor in the Bodgaya region of India eight years ago, Bermudian Diane Kirwin has returned to the Island each year, in part to relax, but also to update the community which has contributed so generously to the progress her organisation, KIRF (Kirwin International Relief Foundation) INDIA, has made.

Over the years, the generosity of Bermuda churches, schools, and Rotary in providing funds, uniforms, educational and medical supplies have been gratefully received by the children of the poor villages on which she has focused.

Known as "the untouchables" (although the caste system is officially outlawed in India it still exists in rural areas), these people generally live in the most primitive conditions, without sanitation, heating, electricity or running water. The children grow up uneducated, and even within that desperate framework, women are treated as second class citizens.

Poverty in India is a massive problem, but little by little Mrs. Kirwin, her son, and others have been improving things within some of the poorest villages. Not everything has gone like clockwork, of course, and this year has presented its challenges, but progress is still being made, and, as always, there is good news to report.

In terms of the students' health, they have all undergone physical examinations and received three-month supplies of worm medicine, calcium and minerals. With money donated with the proviso that it be used to treat a specific medical situation, a surgeon successfully operated on three students with polio deformities which had left them so crippled that they could only crawl along the ground. Now they can walk with braces and are doing very well.

"Of course, maintenance of their special shoes and braces is constant because the people have so little understanding," Mrs. Kirwin says.

In terms of education, what started as one little school set up in a poor village were the people were illiterate and the children uneducated has now blossomed into five schools several villages. The first is now run by the Swiss. Then came three education centres which were opened in community buldings, also in impoverished rural areas, which now have bi-monthly health clinics, and functioning hand pumps enabling them to draw water for the first time.

"Before there was nothing there but because of our education programme we have drawn the needs in these villages to the attention of other leaders, and the Commissioner of Schools in Bihar was so impressed with our work, and the boys' surgeries, that he decided he wanted the government to take the centre over. It was well timed because we have just opened our fifth school, the KIRF INDIA Colin James School, which is on our land, and will be a permanent structure," Mrs. Kirwin says.

"The Commissioner also invited our trustees to establish a women's micro-credit programme in another village, and somebody will open this for us. First, the people are educated about the use of money and the banks, then they are given a loan which enables them to buy a goat or bangles and open a little shop. In a year they repay the loan plus a small interest to help others. A lot of education is needed around the use of money before a bank account is opened."

The fact that the Indian Government has been attracted to the schools in these impoverished villages means that they will get further aid.

"It is really an amazing thing," Mrs. Kirwin smiles. "We are delighted that we have gained Government attention and aid for these villages because it fulfils our mission to help the people to help themselves. They are getting health clinics twice a month, and that is huge, but it wouldn't have happened if I hadn't begged and begged and worked with the clinic director."

Greeted with great affection wherever she turns up on her little moped, 'Bermuda Girl', Mrs. Kirwin regularly follows up on the students who have undergone major surgery, and delights in seeing their progress.

"The little girl who had our first sponsored surgery for clubbed feet now enjoys Indian classical dance, and a little boy who had foot surgery has grown tall and has a deep voice. He speaks a little English now, and when I was last there and looking for an interpreter, he said, 'Madame, I will interpret.

"Another little girl who fell down a well and broke her femur and was sent home with a brick tied to her leg, is now a delightful, chubby child. I always give her a ride on my bike, and when I take her off she always cries," Mrs. Kirwin relates. "Despite all the difficulties, there have been many positive happenings."

Other innovations of which the indefatiguable Bermudian is proud are the inception of a mobile library for the students, a penpal exchange with a school in Connecticut, and the distribution of woollen caps.

"The children take story books from the mobile library as a starving child would take bread. They start grabbing and reading immediately. It is wonderful to see. I also have a successful penpal exchange with a school in Connecticut. There is an Indian woman in Connecticut who translates the Indian children's letter from Hindi. Because they can write in Hindi means their letters are more interesting."

The winters are so cold that the students come to school with blue lips and chattering teeth, due to lack of warm clothing and even shoes, so many Bermuda volunteers generously knitted 250 woollen caps for them. The students love them so much, and are so proud of them that they even keep them on in the intense summer heat.

The new KIRF INDIA Colin James School will be the first in the Mathini district of Bodgaya. With monies raised over the years, thanks to the generosity of many in the Bermuda community and elsewhere, three and one half acres of prime land were purchased to site the school. Flowers and 103 three fruit and shade trees have been planted on a denuded area, and are receiving good quality water from the runoff of a newly-installed hand pump. Each student will be given a tree take care of.

"Two hundred children and many villagers attended the dedication of the land, and they are very enthusiastic and co-operative about our efforts. The elected head of the village officiated at the opening ceremony, and we began with an inter-faith prayer. In attendance were representatives of the Christian, Muslim and Hindu communities, but unfortunately the Buddhist leader was detained at the last moment," Mrs. Kirwin says.

"A large portion of the students will be girls, because they have never had an opportunity to be educated. We are beginning with 30-40 students in one room, which was hastily erected, and we have rehired a very fine teacher who is gentle and loving with the children. The building of the main school will begin later this year. Our vision for this property is to meet the health and education needs of the village, and doctors have already made plans for medical aid."

In terms of the students' educational progress, they recently won second place for group singing in a music and speech competition with children from well-established schools, and a boy won special mention for his speech.

"They are bright children who just need opportunities," Mrs. Kirwin says.

Because of the world's current financial crisis, she acknowledges that there are "grave difficulties" with regard to funding, "nevertheless, KIRF INDIA must persevere with its vision and its mission to establish health and education facilities for the poorest people in the Bodgaya, Bihar region".

Therefore, donations will be much appreciated and gratefully received. Cheques should be made payable to Walter Cook and annotated 'KIRF INDIA', which he will deposit into the KIRF INDIA bank account at the Bank of Bermuda. The mailing address is "Hillgrove," 58 Ord Road, Paget PG 03.

"One hundred percent of the funds go directly to India," Mrs. Kirwin assures.

Mrs. Kirwin, a graduate of the Bermuda High School for Girls, has a Masters degree in Social Work, and also holds Licensed Clinical Social Worker II and Chemical Addictions Counsellor III qualifications. Now a resident of California, she spends four months of the year in India.

• For further information in KIRF INDIA see website www.kirfindia.org and click on 'Diane's News'.