Fathers’ Day provides us with the opportunity to show our love and appreciation by honouring the dads and father-figures in our lives and communities. It’s especially not easy when you don’t have a dad to care for you and the family.
This Fathers’ Day it is our privilege to share a few of the stories of some of the beautiful students who attend our education centres. We love these kids supporting not only their learning, but caring and providing for their health and wellbeing with a daily meal, counselling and emotional support as they face some very difficult circumstances - which are compounded by the poverty that impacts them daily.
These little kids have been dealt some really heavy blows. We are so proud of their efforts and hard work every day at school.
Himanshu, Lakshmi and Viman’s Story
Himanshu is 8 years old and is in 4th Class, Lakshmi is 6 years old and in 2nd Class. Both attend our Bijnor Education centre. Viman the youngest is 5 years old has not started school yet. These three kids have faced much tragedy and yet persevered despite their young ages and the hardship and poverty of their circumstances.
Their father Mr Monu passed away in 2017, he was a labourer and his body was found hanging from a tree close to their home. His friends discovered the body when they came to get him for work.
Mr Monu was the backbone of their family and they were reliant upon him for financial support. The children have spent time with a Project Help Counsellor, sharing about the love they had for their father and grief that came with his death. His death was a shock and they continue to be impacted to this very day. Although they were young at the time, they miss their father and have seen the grief and heartbreak their mother has had to endure since his death. Their mother Mrs. Anti is illiterate and has been labouring in order to afford food and the most basic of needs for their survival.
Himanshu and Lakshmi both want to be police officers when they grow up. Since beginning their studies they have developed new interests and have enjoyed playing with other children. Our staff have seen a great improvement in their studies, they are intelligent and we look forward to seeing their bright futures ahead. We know that their father would extremely proud of his children.