BIS Mumbai
BOSCO INFORMATION SERVICE # 3305
LAUNCH OF THE HONESTY FOUNDATION
Fr. Isaac F. Arackaparambil, SDB
DAKOR-AHMEDABAD, JANUARY 05, 2013 : There are a lot of Foundations set up by individuals in order to address various needs in society. The HONESTY FOUNDATION is a unique one and the only one of its kind in India today. It is the brain child of Mr Bernardo De Souza, his family, and his team who are natives of Goa. Mr Bernardo explained his vision behind establishing the Honesty Foundation as an incentive to encourage individuals to cultivate the virtue of Honesty which is the mother of all virtues. “Giving back to the society is not an option, it is a responsibility.” This spirit of Bernardo De Souza is the motive force behind the establishment of Honesty Foundation.
The Foundation was launched on December 30, 2012, during the forty-fifth Knit India being organized by the Universal Solidarity Movement (USM) of Value Education for Peace in the campus of NIPCCD Indore, in the presence of Mrs Anuradha Shankar IPs, IG, Indore who was the Chief Guest, and Rt. Rev. Dr Chacko Thottumarickal, Bishop of Indore, who was the Guest of Honour at the occasion. Three of us Salesians Cls Justus Mendis, Anthony Patole and Fr. Isaac Arackaparambil were privileged to be witness to this great moment.
Mr Bernardo chose the Universal Solidarity Movement as the medium through which he wanted his Foundation launched because he believes in giving towards organizations that stand for Truth and spread the Truth, and he has experienced the USM under the leadership of Fr. Varghese Alengaden, to be such a movement that embodies just these principles.
On the occasion of this launch, Ms Anshika Jain a std. Sixth student from Agra and Ms. Juhi Shrivastav a Std Eleventh student from Delhi were chosen the first two recipients of the Honesty Foundation Award, and they received a cash award of Rs. 5001/- along with a certificate at the hands of Mrs Anuradha Shankar IPs, IG, Indore and Rt. Rev. Dr Chacko Thottumarickal, Bishop of Indore respectively. Anishka was singled out because she had the courage and courtesy to leave a note of apology on the wind-screen under the wiper of a car which was scratched because her cycle fell on it. Juhi surrendered the first place in a quiz competition on knowing that the tabulation of scores was incorrect and another student actually scored higher than her. In collaboration with USM, Honesty Foundation will award 20 students and teachers from schools across the country with cash awards and certificates every year.
The Universal Solidarity Movement strives to create enlightened leadership among the young students of India with the hope of creating a civilization of love for a better India. The launching of the Honesty Foundation during USM’s forty-fifth Knit India served as a profound moment of Inspiration to all the participants. Kudos to Mr Bernardo and his team for establishing and handing on to coming generations the legacy of an incentive, acknowledgment and affirmation of Honesty.
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