Sunil Kaushal –
According to the India Socio-Economic & Caste Census 2011, 73% of Indians lived in rural areas and 75% earned less than Rs 5000 a month and 35% of them were illiterate.
Mother Teresa once said, “It is not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” Out of thousands of NGOs making a difference in their own way across India, ‘Living Hope’ is an organisation that has a special connection to New Zealand for nearly 20 years.
‘Living Hope’ Ministers have been running slum schools with over 150 children and an orphanage with 30 children for the last 28 years in North India.
Other facets of ‘Living Hope’ Ministers include Adult Literacy, Social enterprise amongst those living under the poverty line and Biblical teaching and practices.
Christ’s Disciple
Pastor Jim Shaw from Manukau New Life Church (MNLC), says, “We have been partnering with Rev Dr Duli Chand Kaushal and Living Hope Ministries for the last 20 years. I often visit them and I am humbled to see their passion and sacrifice to give others the opportunities which they would not get anywhere else. This is a true meaning of being a disciple of Christ.”
Dr Kaushal said that New Zealand has had a very special place in his life.
“One of my teachers at the seminary, in 1970, was from New Zealand. I will always remember Ian Kemp, who taught us the ways of the Lord. We had an instant connection not only through the Lord but also through the love of cricket and the Commonwealth.”
Passionate Kiwis
Over the last 28 years, ‘Living Hope’ Ministers has been diligently sowing into the lives of many children, families, societies through the generous and sacrificial giving of many people around the world including New Zealanders.
According to Pastor Shaw, many Kiwis are passionate about the work of’ Living Hope’ and have been generously participating in various projects in India through MNLC.
“Giving is in various forms. It can be through the much-needed financial assistance; but it can also be through praying, visiting to encourage them and giving your time. Over the years, more than 550 children have gone through the orphanage and over 1100 under-privileged children have studied in the slum school,” he said.
The Bible says, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
If you are interested to find out how you can assist the work of ‘Living Hope,’ please call Pastor Jim Shaw on (09) 2672786. Email: jim.shaw@mnl.org.nz
Sunil Kaushal is Director of Kaushal & Associates Limited based in Auckland.
His parents, Dr Duli Chand Kaushal and Sona Kaushal established ‘Living Hope’ following the ‘Call of God’ in their lives. Mrs Kaushal has been running the Slum School for the past 20 years. According to Sunil, the family had to move from one location to another, since the owners of properties would not renew the lease and pose a number of other problems.
However, the commitment and passion to serve the less fortunate and educate impoverished children has encouraged Mrs Kaushal to continue her task relentlessly.
“My parents hail from villages. My mother was a daughter of a poor farmer. I am grateful to God for His continued blessings, enabling them to continue their mission in life, which is to serve the poor. ‘Living Hope’ is present in Gurgaon, Delhi, Sangapura (Punjab), Assam, Chattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh,” he said.
Photo : Some of the children from the Living Hope Slum school with Sona Kaushal
