AYUDH PORTRAITS - MALINI RAMASSAMY

My name is Mâlini. I am 29 and was born in Reunion Island, a part of France. I studied law in university and I work in a small law firm in Versailles, particularly cases on family, children, foreigners, and criminal law. I have known AYUDH France since 2018 and have been taking part in their social activities since 2020.

I've been doing homeless runs for a year and a half. It's a social activity consisting of spending some time with people living in the streets.

My name is Mâlini. I am 29 and was born in Reunion Island, a part of France. I studied law in university and I work in a small law firm in Versailles, particularly cases on family, children, foreigners, and criminal law. I have known AYUDH France since 2018 and have been taking part in their social activities since 2020.

I've been doing homeless runs for a year and a half. It's a social activity consisting of spending some time with people living in the streets.

Q: Can you describe what a ‘homeless run’ is? What do you do during one of these ‘runs?

ETW France organizes homeless runs in Paris every Sunday for 2 hours 18:00 to 20:00. I usually lead one homeless run per month. With some other volunteers, we walk in the 1st and 4th distincts of Paris where we offer some hot drinks like coffee, tea, and soup to homeless people. Sometimes we distribute some hygiene products, and warm clothes especially during winter. We also discuss with homeless people about a diversity of topics if they want. 

The organization buys all our material, the only thing that we bring is our freetime.

Q: What do you see in these ‘runs’ and how do you feel about them?

Homeless run is an opportunity to share a moment, some discussions,  smile with some people and demonstrate to them that civil society doesn't forget them; whatever the reason that led them to live in the street. 

Whereas homeless people are often ignored by the rest of the society, I can affirm that they bring human values, and probably more than privileged people. They are smart and generous. For example, I've met a homeless person who was a veteran of the Iraq war. 

One of my beautiful memories is when a homeless person gave us some drink that he received during one of our runs. It was just a wonderful moment of humanity. They usually read a lot and they discuss several topics (with us).

Foreign homeless people have traveled a lot and they have learnt about different cultures. It's so rewarding for me to share with them.Thanks to these discussions, I learn new things.

These homeless runs are a way for me to contribute a little bit for the good of the society and particularly for people who are suffering from poverty.

Q: What are your reflections on maraude and how do you incorporate it into your work/studies in law?

When I've started these runs. I did not have any personal expectations. I've never thought that these people will bring me more, more, and more than I could give them. It's a lesson of life because those meetings and discussions with these people help me to understand and work on human values, like acceptance of life, strength and humility. 

It was a way for me to realize how lucky I am to have shelter,food, and basic necessities. I've realized that I have to have enough to do some hobbies, to travel. All the people that I met helped me to be a better person.

Thanks to this experience, I am more conscious that in our capitalist world,  people  buy a lot of useless items, waste food and I'm a part of these. After these experiences, I've changed my ways during my daily life. 

Homeless runs change me as much as I complain less in my daily life and I really appreciate and enjoy what I have. I also waste less food and I am more respectful of nature, environment. I don't buy things that I don't really need.

At the beginning, I felt that I'm not useful during homeless runs because I had no solution to offer them shelter and change their life. I was feeling helpless and blamed myself for having a better situation (than them). Over time, I've learned that sharing a smile, or a discussion are some ways for homeless people to distract themselves and to be recognized by the society as they choose to live. During winter, they are very happy to have hot water and drinks to warm up.

I have also discussed how I felt with these runs with Swamini Amrita Jyotiprana. She helps me accept what I could share  with them and I don't have to blame myself for their conditions. She told me that I just have to thank the life I have (which enables me) to give the opportunity to offer my service (and companionship) to these people. It's an interesting, and powerful  human experience. 

Q: What would you like to tell anyone who’s interested in doing this kind of social work but is unsure of what to do or where to start?

It's normal to be anxious about doing a homeless run because in our daily life, maybe we don't have the habit of interacting with homeless people. In the scheme of our society, homeless people are not integrated. Some of them are alcoholic, and could be unpleasant. Nevertheless, the majority of homeless people are very kind because they appreciate our presence. Whatever the reason some people live in the street, we don't have to judge them but we just have to offer them a little bit of our freetime, some foods or drinks. Amma teaches us that we have to show love and care about people.

For me, these homeless runs are an act of compassion and selfless actions and it could be incorporated into spiritual practice.

ETW France organizes homeless runs in Paris every Sunday for 2 hours 18:00 to 20:00. I usually lead one homeless run per month. With some other volunteers, we walk in the 1st and 4th distincts of Paris where we offer some hot drinks like coffee, tea, and soup to homeless people. Sometimes we distribute some hygiene products, and warm clothes especially during winter. We also discuss with homeless people about a diversity of topics if they want. 

The organization buys all our material, the only thing that we bring is our freetime.

Q: What do you see in these ‘runs’ and how do you feel about them?

Homeless run is an opportunity to share a moment, some discussions,  smile with some people and demonstrate to them that civil society doesn't forget them; whatever the reason that led them to live in the street. 

Whereas homeless people are often ignored by the rest of the society, I can affirm that they bring human values, and probably more than privileged people. They are smart and generous. For example, I've met a homeless person who was a veteran of the Iraq war. 

One of my beautiful memories is when a homeless person gave us some drink that he received during one of our runs. It was just a wonderful moment of humanity. They usually read a lot and they discuss several topics (with us).

Foreign homeless people have traveled a lot and they have learnt about different cultures. It's so rewarding for me to share with them.Thanks to these discussions, I learn new things.

These homeless runs are a way for me to contribute a little bit for the good of the society and particularly for people who are suffering from poverty.

Q: What are your reflections on maraude and how do you incorporate it into your work/studies in law?

When I've started these runs. I did not have any personal expectations. I've never thought that these people will bring me more, more, and more than I could give them. It's a lesson of life because those meetings and discussions with these people help me to understand and work on human values, like acceptance of life, strength and humility. 

It was a way for me to realize how lucky I am to have shelter,food, and basic necessities. I've realized that I have to have enough to do some hobbies, to travel. All the people that I met helped me to be a better person.

Thanks to this experience, I am more conscious that in our capitalist world,  people  buy a lot of useless items, waste food and I'm a part of these. After these experiences, I've changed my ways during my daily life. 

Homeless runs change me as much as I complain less in my daily life and I really appreciate and enjoy what I have. I also waste less food and I am more respectful of nature, environment. I don't buy things that I don't really need.

At the beginning, I felt that I'm not useful during homeless runs because I had no solution to offer them shelter and change their life. I was feeling helpless and blamed myself for having a better situation (than them). Over time, I've learned that sharing a smile, or a discussion are some ways for homeless people to distract themselves and to be recognized by the society as they choose to live. During winter, they are very happy to have hot water and drinks to warm up.

I have also discussed how I felt with these runs with Swamini Amrita Jyotiprana. She helps me accept what I could share  with them and I don't have to blame myself for their conditions. She told me that I just have to thank the life I have (which enables me) to give the opportunity to offer my service (and companionship) to these people. It's an interesting, and powerful  human experience. 

Q: What would you like to tell anyone who’s interested in doing this kind of social work but is unsure of what to do or where to start?

It's normal to be anxious about doing a homeless run because in our daily life, maybe we don't have the habit of interacting with homeless people. In the scheme of our society, homeless people are not integrated. Some of them are alcoholic, and could be unpleasant. Nevertheless, the majority of homeless people are very kind because they appreciate our presence. Whatever the reason some people live in the street, we don't have to judge them but we just have to offer them a little bit of our freetime, some foods or drinks. Amma teaches us that we have to show love and care about people.

For me, these homeless runs are an act of compassion and selfless actions and it could be incorporated into spiritual practice.