New Delhi: Children's NGOs get French support

New Delhi, Mar 18: Social commitment and diplomacy, it seems, now go hand in hand.

And as this reality dawns on them, foreign missions in India are taking up social causes close to their heart.

Leading the bandwagon is the French Embassy, which recently organised a fund-raising function for two NGOs-- Salaam Balaak Trust (of Salaam Bombay fame) and CanSupport-- working for children's welfare.

Helping out the Embassy in this endevour were several Indian and French corporates, besides members of the fashion fraternity.

More than Rs 10 lakh, raised from the gala evening, went to the two NGOs which also received another Rs 10 lakh from the French Embassy Salaam Balaak Trust, involved in rehabilitating the street child, also got Rs 1.3 lakh as auction money for the painting of Bulbul Sharma.

French dancer Gilles Chuyen, who participated in the fundraiser, said: ''I have seen how Salaam Balak has been providing housing, food, education to childen, but more importantly, hope, tools and platforms for their creative energies. It was but natural to be part of this very precious initiative from the French Ambassador to raise funds for them.''

UNI