Nawab Has Caught the Dream

A little good news for your Sunday

There is plenty happening in our world that can make the news feel a little heavy.

But quietly, often in places far from our own lives, good things are happening too. Someone reaches out. A child is encouraged. An opportunity opens a door. Hope begins to take hold.

That’s what our Sunday Good News Stories are about.

One small, true story each week to remind us that kindness matters, hope is powerful, and sometimes the smallest steps can have a much bigger purpose.

This week, I’d like you to meet Nawab.

I remember this boy

Earlier this year, in February, my wife and I (Doug) travelled to India and had the privilege of visiting each one of our 14 Project Help India centres across Northern India, spending time with the children, their families and our wonderful teachers and staff.

One of those visits took us to our Ferozepur Slum Education Centre.

Although the word centre might give you the wrong picture.

That afternoon, the classroom was a large groundsheet spread beside the road, on the edge of the slum. Children gathered with their schoolbags, shoes scattered neatly around the edge. There were lessons and laughter, friends chatting, children showing us their work - and, quite a bit of excitement when some chocolate appeared!

It was wonderfully ordinary childhood.

And among those children was a boy I remember particularly well.

Thirteen-year-old Nawab.

He was respectful, eager to learn and took his studies very seriously. He delighted in showing me his schoolwork. When I praised him and handed him a few stickers, the pride on his face was priceless.

But there was a cheeky streak too! Around his friends I saw another Nawab emerge, and I had the distinct impression some of the other children looked up to him.

So when a recent report from our team in India landed on my desk, his name immediately jumped out at me.

I knew this boy.

And I couldn’t wait to discover how he was getting on.

The news was very good.

Nawab nearly lost something precious

What I hadn’t fully appreciated when I met Nawab was how easily his life might have taken a different direction.

His father, Shankar, collects scrap to support his family. Nawab began accompanying him and saw that there was money to be earned.

For a 13-year-old growing up in poverty, that immediate reward was understandably attractive.

He started working more often. Gradually, school became less important. His attendance dropped and his studies suffered.

His parents wanted him to continue his education—but poverty has a way of narrowing a family’s choices.

Then Nawab’s mum stepped in.

Worried about her son, she approached Asha, our PHI teacher.

Asha asked her to bring Nawab to the centre.

Just once.

And when he came, something beautifully simple happened.

The other children welcomed him warmly.

He joined in. He participated in the activities. He made friends. He discovered that he liked being there.

Then Nawab came back.

And kept coming back.

Eventually he began attending the centre on his own and returned to formal school. He had fallen behind and had forgotten some of what he’d previously learned, but with encouragement and consistent support, his studies began improving.

And the latest report from Saleem?

Nawab continues to attend both school and our PHI Education Centre regularly, and he’s making good progress.

That’s good news worth sharing.

Because a child should have the chance to be a child

Looking again at my photographs from February, this is what strikes me.

I see children sitting together on a mat beside the road. Schoolbags. Friends. Laughter. Learning. A little mischief. Chocolate.

Childhood.

And that’s part of what we are trying to protect.

At PHI, we work strategically with local police and other agencies to support children involved in child labour, helping them access education and greater opportunities for their future.

This is just one part of PHI’s wider work advocating for vulnerable children and helping protect them from exploitation and human trafficking. If you’d like to understand more about this important work, you can read our recently published Child Advocacy & Anti-Human Trafficking report.

Click here to read the full report — “CHILD ADVOCACY & ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Protecting Children. Restoring Dignity. Strengthening Communities.”

We also work collaboratively to protect vulnerable children and families from organised criminal networks that seek to exploit poverty and desperation.

But we never stand in judgement of struggling parents.

We stand alongside them.

That became very real to me during our visit. I had the opportunity to sit and talk with many of the parents from this community, and something struck me.

Many of them were still so young themselves.

Young mums and dads carrying the responsibility of raising children while navigating poverty, insecure work and circumstances that often leave them with very few choices.

It reminded me that vulnerability doesn’t suddenly disappear when someone becomes a parent. These parents love their children and want something better for them, but many are trying to create that “something better” while facing enormous challenges of their own.

Nawab’s family is a good example. His father works hard collecting scrap to support his family, while his mother was concerned enough about her son’s education to seek help from Asha.

The problem isn’t a family doing what it can to survive.

The problem is when poverty begins deciding a child’s future.

I think Nawab has caught the dream

And that’s why I keep thinking about the boy who proudly showed me his schoolwork.

Knowing his story now, those moments mean even more.

Perhaps Nawab understands that education isn’t something to take for granted.

Perhaps he’s beginning to see that his future can be bigger than the circumstances surrounding him today.

I don’t know where Nawab’s education will eventually take him. None of us does.

But I think Nawab has caught the dream.

And judging by the latest report from our team, he’s holding onto it.

One concerned mum.
One teacher who reached out.
One warm welcome from some other children.
One boy who decided to come back.

Small steps. Big purpose.

You make stories like Nawab’s possible

To everyone who supports Project Help India - thank you.

Your generosity helps keep our education centres open and teachers like Asha present in vulnerable communities. It gives children like Nawab somewhere to learn, a nutritious meal, friendships, encouragement and, perhaps most importantly, the opportunity to imagine a different future.

Not every gift changes the whole world. But it can help change someone’s world.

You can make a one-off or monthly tax-deductible donation by clicking the DONATION tab at the top of this page.

And please share Nawab’s story. Send this little bit of good news to someone who might like some cheering up this Sunday.

As you head into the week ahead, perhaps his story can remind us all:

Never underestimate the impact you can have in someone else’s life.

Reach out with kindness. Encourage someone. Believe in their future.

Sometimes changing a community begins right there.

#SmallStepsBigPurpose

The Gang Who Discovered School

There is plenty in our world that can weigh heavily on us. But sometimes, in the most unexpected and far-away places, something quietly wonderful is happening.

A child is given an opportunity. Someone reaches out with kindness. A little hope takes hold ...and life begins to move in a different direction.

That’s why we’re beginning the Project Help India Sunday Good News Stories.

Each Sunday, we’ll share a short, true story from the communities where Project Help India works - a small but powerful reminder that kindness matters, lives can change, and there is always hope to be found.

We hope these stories bring a smile to your Sunday and a little encouragement to carry into the week ahead.

And for our very first story, we’d like you to meet a rather special little gang...

Meet the gang

Pankaj, Dhiraj, Rohan, Deepali, Vaishnavi, Madhuri, Bharti and Dolly.

They were quite a little gang ...growing up together in the remote tribal village of Bagnala in northern India, their days were spent playing marbles, getting into mischief and, at times, gambling. Their language was very “colourful”, personal hygiene wasn’t much of a priority—and school certainly wasn’t!

But behind all this mischief was a much bigger story.

Bagnala is a small, isolated village in Northern India where Project Help India has been working alongside the community for around 14 years. There is no school in the village. Poverty is a daily reality for many families and, for generations, education simply wasn’t an opportunity available to their children. These eight children had little reason to imagine school—let alone a lifetime of education—as part of their future.

Then, last year, the gang came to our Project Help India Education Centre.

For three hours each day, they found a place to learn, a placed where they were safe and 'belonged'. They received a nutritious meal. And perhaps most importantly, they found teachers who cared about them, encouraged them and believed they were capable of more.

Slowly, something began to change.

The gambling stopped. The constant swearing disappeared. They began taking pride in themselves, in their appearance, and in their achievements.

But something much more important was happening.

A little spark for learning had been lit.

Today, all eight children have been enrolled at our school.

And the really lovely news?

They happily go to school every day.

They still come to the PHI Education Centre too - learning, sharing a meal and being encouraged to keep going.

And just look at these smiles.​Their story is far from finished. We don’t know where education will eventually take Pankaj, Dhiraj, Rohan, Deepali, Vaishnavi, Madhuri, Bharti and Dolly.

But we can hope.

We can believe in them.

And we can keep giving them opportunities to discover just how much might be possible.

Small steps. Big purpose.

At Project Help India, we often use the words #SmallStepsBigPurpose.

This is exactly what we mean.

Eight children getting up and going happily to school might seem like a very ordinary thing.

In Bagnala, it is anything but ordinary. After 14 years of walking alongside this community, we are seeing something beautiful beginning to happen. A new generation of young parents has grown up seeing - and, in some cases, experiencing for themselves - the difference education can make.

Children who once had little or no access to education are learning.

Parents are beginning to see new possibilities for their children.

And eight mischievous little members of “the gang” are happily heading off to school.

Small steps? Perhaps.

But imagine where they might lead.

This is how we hope generational transformation begins: one child, one opportunity, one family at a time.

You helped make this possible

To everyone who supports Project Help India - thank you.

Stories like this are possible because people choose to care. Your generosity helps us keep our education centres open, teachers teaching, meals being served and children learning. 

Please don’t underestimate what even the smallest donation can make possible in someone’s life.

What may seem like a modest gift from our side of the world can become a meal, time with a teacher, learning materials, encouragement - or an opportunity for a child to take those first steps towards an education.

Not every gift changes the whole world. But it can help change someone’s world.

Sometimes changing a community begins just like this: reaching out with kindness, believing in a child’s future, and helping them discover their purpose.

 Support Our Work

To make a tax-deductible donation click the DONATE tab at the top of this page. - then scroll down and click the blue button that says Donate to J1096N

Share this story - send this good news story to someone who might like some cheering up.

Thank you for being part of these stories, for believing in these children, and for helping make their next small step possible.

SHOWING UP IN AUGUST: Friendship, Courage and Community in Action

Sometimes friendship is found in the simplest of moments. Two young friends in Zira, Punjab, remind us that kindness, connection and caring for one another are where stronger communities begin. There is a special happiness in sharing life together — learning, laughing, encouraging one another and knowing that we belong. These simple bonds of friendship can help shape children who grow to care for others and contribute to their communities.

Showing Up for One Another

Sometimes the most meaningful change begins simply by showing up for one another. Across August, we saw this expressed in many different ways: children learning about friendship and citizenship, teachers helping protect vulnerable young people, women developing skills and independence, and our teams continuing to serve through monsoon rains and seasonal illness. Together, these stories reflect our mission to bring love, hope, dignity and purpose — and remind us that lasting change is built through thousands of everyday moments.

Friendship that builds stronger communities

International Friendship Day brought plenty of colour and laughter to our Education Centres as children made friendship cards and bands and explored what it means to be a true friend.

At our Zira Centre, students took this further through role-play, exploring how friendships and the choices we make can influence our lives. It was a simple but important lesson in kindness, honesty, respect and supporting one another — values that reach well beyond the classroom.

Advocacy is prevention

Protecting children begins with knowledge.

Our Zira team recently trained teachers in child protection, children’s rights and human trafficking awareness, equipping them to take age-appropriate safety education back into our Education Centres.

Through posters, discussion and role-play, children learned about personal boundaries, recognising potentially unsafe situations and, importantly, speaking with a trusted adult when something feels wrong.

This is only the beginning. We plan to extend these workshops to parents, community members and local leaders, because informed adults, confident children and engaged communities together create stronger layers of protection.

Celebrating India — and good citizenship

August 15 is one of the most important days on India’s calendar, and Independence Day was enthusiastically celebrated across our centres with flag raising, the national anthem, cultural activities, games and, of course, sweets!

Beyond the celebrations is an important lesson. We encourage our children to understand that being a good citizen means respecting India’s extraordinary diversity, living peacefully with others and contributing to the greater good of their communities and nation.

Skills that create opportunity

There was also plenty to celebrate at our Tailoring Centres in Kotdwara and Zira. Young women proudly displayed garments they had designed and made themselves.

Our six-month tailoring program provides vulnerable women with practical skills that can become a pathway towards earning an income or establishing a small business — building confidence, dignity and greater independence along the way.

Through the monsoon

Heavy monsoon rains and flooded or damaged roads made getting to class difficult for some children during August, affecting attendance. We are especially grateful, however, that our communities experienced less serious damage and fewer associated health problems than in some previous monsoon seasons.

As one season ends, another challenge begins

As August ended, our teams began seeing significant influenza, viral fever and dengue illness affecting children and communities around us. Vulnerable and undernourished communities can face particular challenges when illness spreads, making our ongoing work in nutrition, hygiene education and practical support especially important.

And so we keep showing up.

Thank you

To our approximately 30 staff across three states of India, our volunteers, and our generous Australian and international supporters and friends: thank you. None of these stories happens in isolation. Together, you make this everyday work possible.

If you would like to help us continue bringing education, nutrition, health, protection and opportunity into vulnerable communities, we warmly invite you to continue standing with Project Help India. Your support helps us keep showing up — where and when it matters.

Knowledge helps protect: One of our students shares what she has learned about personal safety — recognising danger, being cautious with strangers and knowing when to seek help from a trusted adult.

Happy Father’s Day: Six Fathers. Six Families. And You Showed Up.

Thank you for showing up for these 6 men with love, hope, dignity and purpose

Over the past week, we have shared the stories of fathers and a grandfather connected with Project Help India. Men living with poverty, illness and uncertainty. Men who work as labourers, collect scrap, sell utensils and drive auto-rickshaws. Their lives may look very different from ours here in Australia, but their hopes for their children are remarkably familiar:

Keep them safe. Put food on the table. Give them an education. Help them have a better future.

And today, on Father’s Day, we have some wonderful news.

We did it!

We asked our Project Help India community to help us raise A$900 to provide six families with a surprise Father’s Day hamper—approximately one month of non-perishable foodstuffs, together with some personal-care items especially for Dad.

Six generous sponsors responded. A$900 has been given. All six families will receive their hampers!

Thank you.

You showed up.

And today, as we bring all six men together, we want to say something very simple:

We see you. We see how hard you work. We see the sacrifices you make. And we see the hopes you carry for your children.

Happy Father’s Day.

There is one father you haven't met yet.

We deliberately saved Arun’s* story for today because his journey reminds us of something else fatherhood can do.

It can change a man.

Arun grew up in extreme poverty and left school after only a short time. Without education, opportunity or much sense of a different future, his younger years became increasingly troubled. He fell in with negative influences, became involved with substance abuse and stealing, and his choices caused considerable pain for his family.

Poverty did not make those choices for Arun. But we cannot separate his story from the desperate circumstances in which those choices were made.

Poverty can be traumatic.

When childhood is shaped by insecurity, lack of education, few opportunities and the daily pressures of simply getting by, those experiences can leave their mark long after circumstances begin to improve.

For Arun, that past still knocks on the door.

But it no longer gets to decide his future.

Becoming a father helped something begin to change. With a daughter and son looking to him, Arun realised that the life he had known did not have to become the life his children inherited. He chose a different direction. He left behind destructive influences, and together he and his wife began working extraordinarily hard.

Today they lease farmland, growing vegetables, wheat and other crops. Their circumstances have improved significantly. And perhaps most importantly to Arun, both of his children are receiving an education through a Project Help India Education Centre.

Arun cannot rewrite his own childhood. But he is helping write a different one for his children. That doesn't mean everything is suddenly easy. Every day still brings challenges. There are setbacks and times when Arun and his family need help. And when he asks for help, we stand with him. We keep a caring eye on his children and their education. We encourage the family through difficult times and celebrate with them when things go well.

Today, Arun carries a growing confidence, a humble sense of dignity and something poverty once made difficult to imagine:

hope for the future.

Six dads are about to get a surprise

Very soon, Arun and the other five fathers and grandfathers we've introduced will receive their hampers.

They don't know they're coming.

We can only imagine the smiles when our team arrives. Yes, the food matters. A month of foodstuffs provides very practical relief. But we hope these hampers communicate something else:

We see you.
We see how hard you are trying.
You haven't been forgotten.

For one unexpected moment, six fathers carrying some very heavy responsibilities get to experience the joy of being celebrated. And they deserve it.

Father’s Day ends. Their story doesn't.

Today we celebrate six fathers, six families, six generous sponsors and A$900 raised. But tomorrow, life continues. We reached our Father’s Day goal. But poverty doesn’t end when Father’s Day does.

So, if you were thinking of giving but discovered our target had already been reached, please don't let that stop you. More than 600 children attend Project Help India’s 14 Education Centres, and behind every child is a family with its own hopes, struggles and story.

For A$55 a month, you can support a child to attend one of our Education Centres. This allows us to do something much more powerful than simply appearing when there is a crisis or special occasion.

It allows us to stay.

To know the children. To walk alongside their families. To notice when something isn't right. To encourage their education and celebrate their progress.

We are now seeing children we've known for years grow into young adults, continue into higher education and begin imagining futures their parents could scarcely have dreamed possible.

That is the power of staying.

A hamper says:

We see you today.

Ongoing support says:

We’ll still be here tomorrow.

To our six generous sponsors—and everyone who read, shared and encouraged us - thank you for showing up. And to these six fathers and grandfathers:

Happy Father’s Day.

Today we honour your perseverance, your sacrifices and, above all, the love and hope you carry for your children and grandchildren. But our Father’s Day message reaches much further than these six men.

To the fathers and grandfathers within our Project Help India community, here in Australia and in India - Happy Father’s Day to you too. To the stepfathers, foster fathers, uncles, brothers, teachers, mentors and other men who have chosen to be a steady, encouraging and caring presence in the life of a child or young person - we celebrate you as well.

Fatherhood is expressed in many different ways.

Sometimes it is providing.

Sometimes protecting.

Sometimes teaching, listening or encouraging.

Sometimes it is simply being the person who keeps turning up with love and belief - even when life is difficult. Because sometimes the greatest gift a man gives a child is helping them believe that their future can be different from their past.

To all the men in our PHI family who quietly do these things, often without recognition:

We see you. We appreciate you. And we wish you a very Happy Father’s Day.

And to everyone who donated, read or shared these stories this week, thank you for standing alongside us.

These fathers keep showing up.

You showed up.

Project Help India will keep showing up.

And together, we can keep helping children write a different story.

The Hope a Father Holds for His Children

Two more fathers. Two more families. And a reminder of why education matters.

Earlier this week, we introduced you to three fathers and grandfathers connected with Project Help India.

Men facing poverty, illness and circumstances few of us would choose—yet continuing to show up for their children.

Today, we want you to meet two more.

But first, some wonderful news.

Two generous supporters have already donated A$150 each. That means two of our six Father’s Day hampers are funded!

Thank you.

We are hoping to raise A$900 to provide a hamper for all six families, and with Father’s Day just days away, we would dearly love to get there.

Working through the pain

Ramesh* is 45 and a father of three.

He supports his family by collecting scrap and taking whatever daily-wage labour he can find. His wife also contributes by selling small items door-to-door.

Ramesh lives with diabetes and a painful condition affecting his legs. Despite his health, he continues to work because his family depends on the income.

But there is another part of Ramesh’s story we want to tell you.

His three children have all been connected with Project Help India’s education programs over the years.

Today, his eldest daughter is studying for a university degree.

That is a story worth pausing over…

A father who earns his living collecting scrap and taking daily-wage work has watched his daughter progress all the way to higher education.

And for Project Help India, there is something significant here too.

We have now been working in these communities long enough to see a new generation growing up.

Children we first met when they were young are becoming adults. Some are continuing their studies, some are beginning work, and families who have known Project Help India for years are now seeing what sustained access to education can make possible.

Our work is increasingly becoming a second-generation story.

We are not simply meeting a child for a year and moving on.

We are walking alongside families and communities over time—watching children grow, encouraging them through their education, and helping create opportunities their parents may never have had themselves.

Ramesh’s story captures that beautifully.

He may collect scrap to help put food on the table today.

But his daughter is studying at university.

That doesn’t erase the hardship her family still faces.

But it does remind us why we keep showing up.

Because when education is sustained over years, the possibilities for a family can begin to change.

A father’s hope for something different

Mohan* is another father who understands this hope.

He has lived with his family in a slum community for many years and is a father of five.

For years, Mohan has supported his family by selling utensils. But ongoing diabetes and liver problems have increasingly affected his health and his ability to work.

As his health has declined, some of his older sons have taken work as labourers to help support the family.

And his daughter?

She too is studying for her Bachelor of Arts.

Again, behind that achievement is a family that has lived with considerable hardship.

For families experiencing generational poverty, education isn't simply about passing an exam or getting better marks at school.

It can mean choices.

It can mean opportunity.

It can mean a young person beginning to imagine a future that looks different from the one their parents experienced.

That is the hope Mohan carries for his children.

And it is a hope we share.

Six fathers. Six families.

This week, we set ourselves a simple Father’s Day goal.

We want to honour six fathers and grandfathers whose children and grandchildren are connected with Project Help India by providing each family with an A$150 Father’s Day hamper.

Each hamper will contain approximately one month of non-perishable foodstuffs, together with some personal-care items for Dad.

Six families × A$150 = A$900.

So far, two generous supporters have given A$300—enough to provide hampers for two families.

Thank you. It is a wonderful start.

That leaves four families and A$600 to go.

Over these first two blogs, we've now shared the stories of five of these remarkable men.

There is one father you haven't met yet.

We're saving his story for Father’s Day.

His journey is quite different from the others—and it is a powerful reminder of what becoming a father can change.

For now, we're hoping our Project Help India community can help us make sure there is a hamper waiting for all six families.

If you can give A$150, you can provide one complete hamper.

If A$150 isn't possible, please give what you can. Several smaller gifts can provide the next hamper too.

And if you would like to make your gift more personal, send us a short Father’s Day message. We would be delighted to include it on a card delivered with the family’s hamper.

Perhaps simply:

“From one family in Australia to yours—we see how hard you work for your children. Happy Father’s Day.”

Four hampers. A$600 to go. Can you help us get there by Father’s Day?

Please donate by clicking the pink DONATE button at the top of this page.

You can share this story with a friend.

You can help another person discover the work Project Help India is doing alongside these families.

Because these fathers keep showing up for their children.

This Father’s Day, we're showing up for them.

Beyond Father’s Day

There are more than 600 children connected with Project Help India’s 14 Education Centres.

And behind every child is a family story.

The fathers we have introduced this week are just a handful of them.

Their circumstances are different, but we hear the same hope again and again:

I want something better for my child.

For A$55 a month, you can support a child to attend a Project Help India Education Centre—helping us provide education, encouragement and ongoing care while walking alongside their family and community.

A Father’s Day hamper helps a family today.

Education helps a father hope for tomorrow.

And on Sunday, we’ll introduce you to one final dad whose story reminds us that sometimes education doesn't only change the next generation.

Sometimes becoming a father can change a man, too.

Names have been changed to protect the privacy of the families. The stories and circumstances shared are true and are published with their permission.

For the fathers who keep showing up, every day

We’re Showing Up This Father’s Day

Father’s Day is almost here.

Across Australia, families will gather around breakfast tables, phone Dad, give him a gift or simply find a way to say, “Thank you for everything you do.”

This year at Project Help India, we want to say thank you to some fathers too.

They are men most of us will never meet. They live thousands of kilometres away, in communities where poverty makes the ordinary responsibilities of fatherhood extraordinarily difficult.

Yet they keep showing up.

A father’s hope

Ravi is 34 and has four children.*

He lives with chronic health problems and pain, yet works whenever he can as a labourer alongside a mason. His family has no agricultural land, no permanent employment and just one room to call home.

There are times when even getting to work becomes impossible.

But when Ravi talks about his children, his attention turns not to what he lacks, but to what might still be possible for them.

His eldest daughter attends a Project Help India Education Centre.

Ravi told our team:

“We remained like this and became illiterate, but if our children study, their life can improve.”

There is something profoundly fatherly in those words.

I may not have had the opportunity. But perhaps my children can.

When your family needs you

Then there is Harjit.*

His health frequently lets him down. He experiences recurring illness, weakness and pain, yet whenever his body allows, he drives an auto-rickshaw to earn money for his family. He and his wife live with their two children in one small room beneath an ageing and unsafe roof. His children attend one of our Education Centres.

Harjit's dream for them is wonderfully ordinary: that they might be healthy, educated and able to build a more secure life than his own.

So he keeps showing up.

And sometimes, Dad is Dadaji (Grandpa)

Gurdeep is an elderly grandfather who has experienced tremendous loss.*

After the death of his son, and later his wife, much of the responsibility for supporting his family and grandchildren fell to him.

At an age when many people would expect to slow down, Gurdeep gets up and drives his auto-rickshaw from morning until evening. His eight-year-old granddaughter attends a Project Help India Education Centre. She is bright, cheerful and loves learning.

Behind that little girl is a grandfather determined to keep her safe, fed and learning.

Gurdeep keeps showing up too.

This Father’s Day, we’re showing up for them

We know these fathers because we know their children.

Their children walk through the doors of our Education Centres. We teach them. Encourage them. Watch them grow. And alongside their parents and grandparents, we keep a caring eye on their future.

So this Father’s Day, Project Help India wants to do something simple.

We want to show up.

For A$150, we can deliver a Father’s Day hamper to one of six families containing approximately one month of non-perishable foodstuffs, together with some simple personal-care items for Dad.

We’ll also include a personalised Father’s Day card from Project Help India.

And if you would like, your own message can be included in that card.

Perhaps Dad doesn't need another Father’s Day present this year.

Perhaps one of the most meaningful gifts you could give him is to honour him by standing alongside another father who is doing everything he can for his family.

Six fathers. Six families. A$150 each. Our Father’s Day goal is A$900.

Can you show up with us this Father’s Day?

To donate, please make a gift of A$150 through the Project Help India donation page, selecting or noting “Father’s Day hamper” if that option is available. If you would like to contribute a different amount, every gift will still help us support these families.

Once you have donated, please reply directly to me to let me know. If you would like to write a message to the father and his family, please include your message in your reply. We will add it to the personalised Father’s Day card included with the hamper.

For example, you could write:

I’ve made a donation and would like to send a message to the father and his family. My message is: “[insert your message here].”

And if these stories stir you to do something beyond Father’s Day, A$55 a month supports a child to attend one of Project Help India’s 14 Education Centres.

More than 600 children are currently connected with our centres, and behind so many of those children are families facing the same daily realities of poverty, insecure work and limited opportunity.

Education gives us the opportunity to keep showing up—not just for one day, but month after month.

This Father’s Day, please help us to celebrate the dads who keep showing up by showing up for them. 

Click the pink the DONATE tab at the top of this page to make your tax-deductible donation

FROM THE FRONTLINE Pt 1: Stories of Child Advocacy & Anti-Human Trafficking

Honouring Those Who Protect the Vulnerable

"Protecting children is never the work of one person or one organisation. It is the result of trusted partnerships, shared commitment, and people willing to show up when it matters most."

Yesterday, to mark the United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, our team in Kotdwara gathered for a special celebration—not simply to recognise an international awareness day, but to honour the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to protect vulnerable children and families throughout our district.

At the Project Help India office, we had the privilege of recognising the outstanding work of the Kotdwara Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, presenting the team with certificates of appreciation and commemorative mementos in recognition of their dedicated service during 2025–26.

Our Indian Director, Daisy Samuel, had the honour of presenting the certificates to members of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, thanking them for their professionalism, compassion, and unwavering commitment to protecting some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

The celebration was made even more special by the presence of the Chief Medical Superintendent of the District Government Hospital, along with Project Help India staff and student volunteers. Together, we celebrated the occasion by cutting a cake—a simple but meaningful reminder that protecting children is a responsibility shared across many different sectors of our community.

More Than an Award Ceremony

To an outside observer, this may have looked like a simple presentation ceremony. For us, it represented something much deeper.

For more than a decade, Project Help India has worked alongside the Kotdwara Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, supporting rescue operations, assisting vulnerable children and families, raising community awareness, and helping strengthen child protection across our region.

These partnerships are not built overnight.

They are built through years of working together.

Through trust.

Through consistency.

Through countless conversations, shared challenges, and a common commitment to protecting children before they become victims of exploitation.

That trust is something we never take for granted.

It is earned every time organisations, police, health professionals, schools, lawyers, and community leaders choose to work together rather than in isolation.

A Partnership That Saves Lives

Human trafficking is often hidden from public view.

Many victims are exploited not because they are invisible, but because they are vulnerable.

Vulnerable children living in poverty.

Young people who have left school.

Families without legal identity.

Women experiencing domestic violence and abuse.

People living with disability or mental illness.

Protecting vulnerable people requires far more than police action alone.

It requires communities that are informed.

Schools that recognise warning signs.

Health professionals who know when something isn't right.

Government agencies willing to collaborate.

And organisations that are prepared to walk alongside both families and authorities whenever help is needed.

That is what genuine partnership looks like.

Looking Beyond the Headlines

One of the things that we have come to appreciate while preparing our recent publication is that child advocacy and anti-human trafficking are not separate issues.

They are deeply connected.

Every child who returns to school...

Every family helped to obtain legal identity...

Every awareness programme delivered...

Every trusted relationship built within a community...

helps reduce the vulnerabilities that traffickers seek to exploit.

In many ways, the most effective work against human trafficking begins long before a rescue operation ever takes place.

It begins by helping children flourish.

In Case You Missed It...

Earlier this week, to coincide with the United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we released our latest publication:

CHILD ADVOCACY & ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Protecting Children. Restoring Dignity. Strengthening Communities.

The publication shares the stories behind our Child Advocacy program, explores the realities of anti-human trafficking work in northern India, and highlights the importance of trusted partnerships with police, schools, health professionals, lawyers, government agencies, and local communities.

Inside you'll meet children like Suhail and Anshika, learn about the remarkable journey of Sanjay, discover how advocacy helps prevent exploitation before it begins, and gain an insight into why one of the greatest needs identified by police and child protection agencies is the establishment of a Safe House for rescued children and women.

👉 If you haven't yet had the opportunity to read the publication, we invite you to do so.

📖 Read the full publication here: here

Looking Ahead

Over the coming weeks, we will be sharing more stories from the frontline—stories that don't often make the headlines, but which reveal the quiet, faithful work of protecting vulnerable children and strengthening communities.

In our next article, we'll explore a question that many people have never considered:

What happens after a child is rescued?

Where do they go?

Who cares for them?

And why has the need for a dedicated Safe House become one of the most significant child protection challenges identified by police and community leaders in our district?

"Lasting change rarely begins with grand gestures. More often, it begins with ordinary people who simply choose to keep showing up."

A Humble Hero: Leading Through Kindness

Not all heroes stand in the spotlight. Some quietly transform lives by seeing the needs around them, leading with compassion, and serving their communities with humility and kindness. Sanjay is one of those heroes.

“One act of kindness can change a life. One transformed life can change an entire community."

At Project Help India, advocacy is about far more than paperwork or legal processes.

It begins by listening to a family struggling to enrol their child in school. It means helping parents navigate unfamiliar government systems. It means standing alongside vulnerable communities, ensuring they can access the services and opportunities available to them.

But advocacy doesn't stop there.

It also means helping isolated villagers access medical care, guiding families through legal processes, connecting vulnerable people with government services, and standing alongside communities as they overcome barriers that would otherwise seem impossible to navigate.

Sometimes, advocacy simply means helping someone find their voice.

One person who embodies this every day is Sanjay.

A Heart to Serve

When we first met Sanjay, he was a quiet, humble young man with a kind and gentle nature and a deep desire to serve his community.

Long before he studied law, he demonstrated remarkable leadership and compassion. Using his own limited resources, he established a small village pharmacy to provide basic medicines to people who otherwise had little access to healthcare.

He didn't wait for someone else to solve the problems around him.

He simply chose to help.

Recognising his character and potential, Project Help India's supporters came alongside him, making it possible for him to pursue a university education in law—an opportunity that would have been far beyond his family's financial means.

A Teacher, An Advocate, A Community Leader

Today, Sanjay continues to serve as the teacher at Project Help India's Kadarganj Jungle Centre, where he works closely with children, their parents, and village elders every day.

His humility, kindness, and gentle nature have earned the trust and respect of the community. Those trusted relationships enable him to identify families in need and walk alongside them as they overcome challenges that often seem overwhelming.

Alongside his teaching, Sanjay now practises as an advocate in the District Court. His legal knowledge allows him to help families obtain important identity documents such as Aadhaar cards, resolve legal matters, and guide vulnerable people through government processes that many would otherwise struggle to navigate.

He also assists isolated villagers in accessing medical care and other essential services, recognising that advocacy is not simply about legal matters—it is about ensuring people have the opportunity to live with dignity, hope, and security.

Advocacy in Action

Across the villages and informal communities where Project Help India serves, many families face significant barriers to accessing education, healthcare, and government support.

Without an Aadhaar card, a child may be unable to enrol in school. Parents with limited literacy often find government processes confusing and intimidating. Many families simply do not know where to begin.

Through community awareness programs and advocacy camps, Project Help India helps families complete documentation, understand official processes, and connect with the services available to them.

Working alongside local police, municipal authorities, and government officials, our team regularly assists vulnerable families in obtaining the identification and documentation they need to access education, healthcare, and other essential services.

Every completed application...

Every identity card issued...

Every child who is finally able to return to school...

These are victories worth celebrating.

A Ripple Effect That Continues

Sanjay's story is about much more than becoming a lawyer.

It is the story of what happens when someone is given an opportunity and chooses to use it in service of others.

Years ago, generous supporters invested in one young man.

Today, that same young man is investing in hundreds of children and families throughout northern India.

His story reminds us that lasting transformation is rarely about changing just one life.

It is about empowering people who, in turn, strengthen their families, support their neighbours, and become leaders within their own communities.

That is the true power of advocacy.

Looking Ahead

Over the coming week, we'll continue exploring the role of advocacy as we prepare to release our new Child Advocacy & Anti-Human Trafficking booklet for World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on 30 July.

We'll share how Project Help India works alongside police, government departments, and community organisations to help protect vulnerable children, strengthen families, and create safer communities across northern India.

Thank you for standing with us. If this story has inspired you, please consider sharing it with your family, friends, and community. Together, we can help raise awareness that advocacy restores dignity, removes barriers, and creates opportunities for children and families to build brighter futures.