Caritas India had the distinct honor of hosting Mr. Gregor Trumel, the Cultural and Cooperation Counsellor at the French Embassy in India and Director of the French Institute in India. The visit marked a significant step towards fostering meaningful collaborations in the areas of culture, science, technology, and humanitarian development.

The visit began with a warm welcome, followed by the traditional presentation of a shawl and memento to Mr. Trumel by Fr. Antony, Executive Director, and Fr. Anil Crasta, Assistant Executive Director of Caritas India. This gesture symbolized our appreciation for his time and interest in Caritas India’s work.

Our dedicated team members introduced themselves, highlighting their roles and the diverse work Caritas India engages in across the country. Mr. Trumel shared his vast diplomatic experience across five countries in four years and expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with organizations like Caritas India.

A presentation showcased Caritas India’s impactful work, emphasizing its reach of over 2.94 million individuals across 31 States and Union Territories. Operating through six thematic areas—Humanitarian Aid & Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Adaptive Agriculture & Food Sovereignty, Community Health & Nutrition, Livelihood & Skill Building, Migration, Anti-Human Trafficking & Child Rights, and Peace Building—Caritas India continues to create sustainable change in vulnerable communities.

Fr. Antony highlighted the pressing need for accessible educational facilities in marginalized and hard-to-reach areas, ensuring every child has equitable access to education and a brighter future. Fr. Anil Crasta further emphasized the importance of support from the French Embassy in connecting with stakeholders, donors, and CSR partners aligned with Caritas India’s mission.

Mr. Trumel assured support and discussed collaborative possibilities, including student exchange programs, partnerships with Alliance Française, engagement with the French Development Agency, GIZ, the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and CSR initiatives with organizations like Airbus.

Way Forward:

• Caritas India will share relevant literature and resources with Mr. Trumel for further dissemination.
• Mr. Trumel will facilitate a meeting between Caritas India’s leadership and the Ambassador of France to India.

We look forward to nurturing this partnership and exploring impactful collaborations that align with our shared vision for sustainable development.