Ive been reading all the posts here and your concern for the 'gypsies' in your part of the world is very heart warming. I share your concern, and like you I too feel that one must do what ever possible to those around you. My heart does go out to all the less privileged children all over the world especially in Africa and so many war torn countries, but there is only so much we can to for them, well as in our immediate surroundings even if we do something to change the life of one person think of the generations you have changed in the future !!!

I really like the idea you have come up with to help them. I too do similar things to raise funds for what ever the need of the hour is. Even this whole marriage of Shanti's was all sponsored, all our friends family and other supporters of what we do came together for this child. Hindu's Muslims Christians all joined hands with us and we were able to do what we did.

Now about finding a husband for Shanti !!! I know this must sound very foreign to you, but here it is the usual practice. In very conventional families the elders look out for suitable brides n grooms for their children. In Shanti's case it went like this..... We were introduced to this boy at our friends salon, we got chatting with him and came to know he was Christian and not married. Later we asked him if he would be interested in meeting a nice girl ? He said yes, and so we took them out for lunch, it was love at first sight for them  :-)  2 months later they came back to us saying they wanted to get married and for us it was a prayer answered cos' we knew the boy was from a good family and that our Shanti would be loved and cherished by them all. No we would not insist that Shanti marry someone just because we say she should. In big cities it is a bit different now but in smaller towns , girls still dont have a say in the choice of a husband, and visa verca too. But thats INDIA all over again !!!  :-)