6 August 2008 2,280 views 10 Comments Print This Post  Email This Post

Jennifer Gallagher, chairman of Justice and Peace committee based in United Kingdom, They support persecuted people around the world by raise funds for many projects like a school in Ramallah Palestine they are also helping in raising funds to build a health centre in Rwanda. In India they raise funds for 3 orphanages. Jennifer is popularly known as Mama Jennifer, she is also attached with an NGO in India “Sylom Blind Centre” on orkut she is active in many NGO based communities like United nations, India Pakistan friendship club.

I am proud to welcome this angel on earth who is working hard to bring smile on many faces.

Welcome Jennifer!

Thank you Zazo for your invitation to this community.. I was shocked to be asked but very honored…. sorry for late reply.. I know there is a difference in the time zone so let’s hope we meet on line sometime LOL LOL

Jennifer, I am so much thankful to you for giving me this great chance to have words with you, Here is my first question. Please tell us about your childhood, family and education. Your biography in your own words.

Well I was born 61 years ago in Hull Yorkshire into a Christian family. My father was Engineer my mother Matron of a hospital I have 1 brother.. I had a wonderful happy childhood… I was loved guided and nurtured into the person I am now…. was never smacked by either parents.. My mum came from Wales so my brother and I spent every holiday with our grandparents….. I hope I have brought my daughters up with the kind of childhood I had…I have never told a lie.. and I treat everyone as I would like them to treat me….
my education well I started university and decided it was not for me.. I went to the Hull School of Nursing and became a registered nurse same as my Mum….. Before I left work I was a nurse manager in charge of operating theaters in a large hospital…

MY family I was married to my darling Husband Hugh for 33 years he sadly died 6 years ago.. Learning to live without him in my life.. I have beautiful daughter Amanda who will soon be 38years is and engineer she has Being Hons, Suzanne is my younger daughter she is 34 years and she is Senior duty manager with the Police…. they are both married to IT managers.. I have one beautiful granddaughter Mere jaan Emma she is 4 years…
I have also been blessed with 3 unofficial adopted sons in India.. we adopted each other…. their families accept me and have adopted me also as I seem to be older to them their families all call me Didi ( Elder sister)… of course my sons call me mum and mummy.. and I spend 2 months in India every year

How was those days in hospital working as a nurse and serving so many patients? Any experience that touched your heart or a new way of life? If yes, please share.

hmmm Nursing has changed soo much since I first started it was 1965 March lol lol I can remember the first patient I sat with as he died it was 26th December 1965 His name was Mr. Nicholson.. I have since been with hundreds of patients who have died yet I cannot remember their names.. They say you never forget your first death….. I loved being on the children’s ward even in the face of death i.e. cancer they are fully prepared if only many adults could be the same….. Most difficult to nurse were patients with cancer… I left the hospital to nurse my husband when he died I did not have the heart to return to nursing…. so I put my heart into working with my Justice and Peace committee that is now my life… what I have seen and done has changed my life I wonder sometimes if for the best… I feel as if my work is like a tear drop in the Atlantic ocean and that one day I make 1 step forward and the nest day 20 backwards…. but I would not change my life with anyone…..

Can you please tell us about Justice and Peace committee? How it works and what are the objectives or goal of this organization?

we are Christian organization there are 12 members we fight injustice all over the world…. for people persecuted in any way… I have written to most of the world leaders complaining of their civil rights records.. or against war and conflict.. in 8 years I have had 2 answers to my letters one from Tony Blair ex PM of Great Britain and the other from Stephen Harper the Canadian PM.. I wrote regarding G8 promises.. even if I do not get an answer I know that I have done something…… we also support various organizations Like Christian Aid. Amnesty International. World Vision.. Water aid… and Locally homeless aid and providing holidays for poorer children.. the local hospice….also anti drug projects.. we also have a fair trade store on Sundays at my Church we sell fairly traded goods… we then became involved in India but that’s another story and a long one.

May I know if you are involved in any peace or protest campaign at present? What are your comments on world political and economical scenario?

I am still involved in apply pressure for a free Kurdistan. I also met the President of West Kurdistan in exile in London… we have organized petitions and written to the UN to try to bring some influence.. Kurds are the biggest stateless nation in the world forbidden from suing their Kurdish names… education in Kurdish,, it is as if they do not exist…. We are trying to apply pressure again on the G8 leaders for clean water for everyone.. and an education for every child in the world…. and the biggest one is to abolish Child labour and the sex trade…. again it is like an uphill struggle but as long as I have breath in my body I will fight,,

world political and economical scenario? Well too many dictators and not enough democracy take Zimbabwe Mugabe ;he lost election yet still took office through torture killings and coercion… yet the world stands back they apply sanctions that affects the people of Zimbabwe but not the leaders or those in power…. I am against wars and conflict I did not want the UN to go into Iraq and again showed our protest by letter…
Now it is insurgents who are doing most of the killing…. Terrorist have this world held to ransom.. Yet I firmly believe no country should ever give into them…. I know God does not want this done in his name….. I know they will have to Stand before God one day and answer for their actions as we all have.. and I would never like to walk in their shoes…. the economy of many countries is increasing and others like the west are heading towards a recession… take India the second fastest growing economy in the world.. yet the divide between the rich and poor is increasing… I also disagree with the billions that are spent on Military purposes.. when their are millions of children starving around the world no aces to clean water or education or even health care and we see bombs bullets and armed forces having all this money… It makes me cry….

Even then I realized how much money was wasted… I know there are millions around the world feel the same as I do.. what a wonderful world this would be if we all joined hands to work together… but we all seem to be going against each other !!!!!
I maybe sound like an agitator or someone with extreme views but this is how I feel this is me.. no lies and I make no apologies for my feelings….

Jennifer please tell us how you came to India first time and what was so special in India that makes you visit it again and again?

I fell in love with India as a child in History lessons… I have been adopted by 3 young men they are my sons!!! Well we adopted each other… so my reason for coming to India was to meet them…. I remember the first time I arrived I was soo scared on the road coming from the Airport in Delhi.. I thought everyone was crazy driving and spent most of my time with my eyes covered LOL LOL… The first time I saw an Auto I said what’s that????? and said you will never get me in one of those….. wrong … I love them travel in them all the time.. I love the people the culture the sights the sounds the smells.. the people are soo genuine…but I have one big problem people see this big White Woman and think wow money.. they always try to make me pay more than others I laugh and think ok.. but my sons get angry and say stop converting and just think in Rupees… sometimes I get angry.. Like visiting the Taj I had to pay 1.000 Rupees my sons 100 rupees… the Red fort my son pays 10 rupees me 100…but I guess that my beloved India…
Now I have become involved with the Sylom Blind Centre I have even more reason to return.. but the Mosquito’s seem to love my blood LOL LOL they eat me alive… we went out to celebrate my birthday at 3 C’s we sat outside there was about15 of us and I was the only one bitten !!!! I could live happily in India but the heat in the summer would kill me.. and there are a few thinks I find alien one is arranged marriages… but I guess that’s because here in the west we only have love marriages.. I cannot get over the poverty that I have seen children being sold into Prostitution as young as 8 years of age in Rural areas… lack of education.. health.. water sanitation and electricity.. the divide between those that have and those who have nothing is getting greater every day… yes when I leave India I leave part of me behind…. I just pray I can help change things in my beloved India…………..

As you are attached to Sylom Blind Centre in India how far you want to go with it? Are there any future plans to start similar work in other parts of India too or its already going on?

Sylom is my life’s work it is a big project we have 2 orphanages and I am looking to raise 4o Lakh to purchase a new building which will become residential school for 300 children providing free education.. we have a school now we have 157 children at present but that’s all we can take… we have blind HIV and disabled children as well as able bodied children.. we also care for old soldiers and widows the Sylom ministries cover an area of 450 km we have feeding programs in villages and in Kakinada.. we are also trying to raise funds for water bores…and solar panel.. there are many villages that have no access to Sanitation water or electricity. I cried so much after visiting these villages I could not believe that people could live the way they do….I even purchased 2 girls from village their parents sold them to me… I at least stopped these girls being sold for the sex trade…. Girls as young as 8 years are sold and trained to work as prostitutes… we have started a cutting and tailoring program to teach girls rescued from Prostitution a trade… at present we have over 60 students and Pray God we rescue more…. as this has become a lifetime cause I cannot see me moving on to other parts of India as much as I would love to… One person can only do soo much… all the money so far has come from either me or the Justice and peace Committee.. we have had a few small donations from India itself… I need to find a way to raise funds in India… I found people that have everything are never happy they always want more… yet these people I met in villages the orphanages all have smiles on their faces never asked for anything but prayers. I would ask anyone who having read this interview if you have ways of helping raise funds I would be happy.. I have tried approaching NGO’s and found most of them only want what you can do for them and they are not willing to do for my projects..

How is Kakinada? Working in rural areas of India are quite risky for a foreigner, any obstacles or threat of life you ever faced? Did you got support from local authority of Kakinada?
Zazo I never approached the local authorities. I had no reason to need them.. I was safe with all the pastors and people from the Sylom centre… I was scared in one village we could not be there after dark they are soo superstitious and not open to strangers… The Pastors had only just gained their trust with the feeding programs yet still they would not go there after dark…… these villages have never seen a white person before especially a big one like me LOL LOL LOL.. some of the children were soo scared of me .. Others wanted to hold my hand at one point I had a child holding each finger as we walked along… some asked why I bleached my skin Lol lol.. but I was welcomed where ever we went with flowers smiles and love.. many of the ladies in these villages looked so old yet I was elder to them.. it is the life style they have to endure… I was treated like a Queen… I thought we live like Millionaires and they have nothing but a hut to live in… I can see so many thinks I would love to do but money is what stops me.. Education for parents family planning clinics free health care.. and many more… I pray daily that God shows me a way…

Jennifer can tell us about your online activities? Since when you are on orkut and what are your thoughts on social networking sites?

I usually have my PC or Lappy switched on.. I use Yahoo messenger Gtalk and of course Orkut… I think sites like these can be used for good and for bad… Many people think this virtual world is the real world…I have met so many that have no life outside of the virtual world…. I use Orkut a lot I have over 780 friends and the majority have found me through my sons or the Sylom blind centre of ( IPFC) INDIA PAKISTAN FRIENDSHIP CLUB… I was voted by the members to become a mod there and I was really honored to be accepted.. this takes up a lot of my time on line.. we have well over 1 Lakh members… As I remarked before these sites can also be used to abuse people and make fun of them.. I noticed in the UN community the Indian’s and Pakistani’s that fought with real hatred with each other… I started a thread and said where did they learn such hatred for each other was it at School??? at home or in the street??? boy was I abused by both Indian’s and Pakistani’s I was never angry I just thanked them for their scraps asked if their Mum was sent something like they had written to me how would they feel said I would pray for them and blocked them… I was happy when Orkut made it possible to lock your profile…This I have to admit was a minor occurrence as all others have become dear friends many I have met in real life and the more we connect the more we come to love each other…I Know there have been other times Orkut was abused but on the whole I think that is great.. where else can you get to really understand other faiths.. other nations.. and other cultures?????

At this age where most of the people love to be with their family and declare themselves retire, you are going steady and smooth and I wish you go like this forever, What is your philosophy for life? How you keep your mind, body and soul fit and active? Any secrets?

Zazo hmm some days I feel 100 then other days I feel like a kid LOL.. my friend said Bryan Adams song 18 till I die was written for me…and Life is what YOU make of it…. I am 61 years of age not 161 years …. I still have lots to do in life… I am a committed Christian and believe God has more for me to accomplish before I die… I live my life as God wants… I do not believe in Hatred never used the word hate their is too much in this world…. I think smiles and laughter are what keeps me young if you smile the world smiles with you cry and you cry alone… Laugh love cry but most of all enjoy life we do not have time to be downcast and sad… Live each day as if it were to be your last.. and never forget to tell your family and friends how much you love them… I have lived my life like this since I was a child and it has showed many others that life can be fun even in sad times…. I have many young friends whose ay they would live their lives as I do since they have come to know me…. If I can stop one person hating another then my life would have been lived happily… I know when my darling husband Hugh died I did not want to carry on with life…. but God gave me a swift smack and told me that the life he had given me was not over yet there was more work to do…. I have many health problems that limit some of the things I do… I have arthritis in my spine and other joints so that limits my walking lol lol..and pain is a nuisance at times but that can be overcome… I am also diabetic so my love of Chocolates has to be curtailed……. but I guess my real answer is that I have lived my life being constructive and not destructive….

Jennifer who is your idol? Please tell us if there is any such man or an individual who you really follow?

Well Zazo you may be surprised who my Idol is.. he is not a famous person he is unknown to millions…. I am honored that he calls me Mamma his name is Rev. Sodadasi Praveen Chakravarthy he is the most sweet honorable man I have ever met… he lives his life for the children, widows, old soldiers and ex prostitutes of the Sylom projects.. I have never had a idol in my life until I met Praveen as I call him….every Rupee he earns he uses for the children.. He worked to raise 1 .5 lakh to provide a water bore for a village.. When I met him he said people made fun of him because he only had 2 pairs of trousers and 4 shirts… but then as I said its not clothes that make you who you are its your actions…. how many people in this world can do as he is??? gives all to others… he lives his Life truly as God asked.. if I could be half as honorable a person as he is I will die happy… Now I have become involved in these projects I have come to know more and more of him and his family… He was offered some money for himself by a friend of mine he refuse and said you may give to the children but whatever I have I receive from God through mamma…. I was lost for words at his answer…
If there was an award for be unselfish it should be given to my Hero Praveen…

The one I follow with the whole of my life is God !!!!!!!!!

Superb thoughts!
How you are fighting with the time? Traveling, meeting people, writing and family. How you are managing time for everything? How much time you give to your own self

As you get older you need less sleep lol…I have a full life sometimes 24 hours are not enough.. but I always make sure I talk with my family every day especial Mere Jaan Emma, children grow soo quickly so I try not to miss any of her growing or changes in her life… I of course give a lot of time to my Justice and peace committee also other organizations I am involved with in the UK as well as India… I give time to IPFC as a mod there you have to be ready for the arguments and abuse that can crop up occasionally.. also ban spammers and of course join in the discussions.. time for me LOL LOL hmmm we all I love to make cards for all occasions… that’s me time it is very relaxing and calming.. And every morning and night I have special me time with my Bible and my Lord God. That’s the best time of the day.. when I bring everything before him.. the problems in the world.. the problems with my friends and family.. and just spending time telling him how wonderful how awesome he is….my life would not be what it is today without my God …….

It was a wonderful experience talking to you Jennifer; I wish all the success and good health for you, Thank you for giving your so precious time and making this interview successful.

Zazo I have to thank you for asking such interesting questions… strange thing is this is really first time I have talked about me LOL LOL.. I pray in the future you find more and more interesting people to talk to and Pray they enjoy as much as I did.. God bless you.

Smile shows friendship
Smile make new friends

Smile makes other people’s day brighter
Smile improves your day

Smile looks better than a frown
Smile Puts others at ease

Smile always enjoyable to give and receive
Smile leaves favorable impressions

Smile makes you look happy, confident, and self-assured
Smile could be the start of a lifetime relationship!

So, always….KEEP SMILING!!!

MY SMILE is me. the world is a battery and every time I SMILE it recharges the battery