A Little Girl, A Family in Crisis and a Chance to Help
Not often do we ask for help for one individual family’s circumstances. But when we do, it is because the situation is critical.
Earlier this year, Rowena and I travelled through Punjab. We have visited India many times and, over the years, we have witnessed poverty that is hard to put into words. Poverty that is ugly, brutal, exhausting and deeply unfair.
And if we are honest, when you visit the slums year after year, there are moments where you can become a little desensitised. Not because you stop caring, but because the need feels endless.
Then something jolts you awake again.
A dirty child with matted hair kicking a half-flat soccer ball through dust.
A mother bathing her baby beside a sewer drain.
An elderly woman stirring a meal over a fire fuelled by burning rubbish and plastic.
A family of six sleeping in a single room with a dirt floor and plastic sheets for roofing.
Those moments stay with you.
And this family stayed with us.
Their names are Priya, her mother Kamaljeet, her siblings and grandmother. We met Priya in early March, and after hearing her story, we could not walk away without helping.
This Beautiful Family is Carrying So Much
Priya is just ten years old and currently in Class 5. She is bright, eager to learn and full of quiet determination. Her teachers describe her as hardworking, mature and responsible beyond her years.
But behind her gentle smile is a heartbreaking story.
Earlier this year, Priya’s father died suddenly after years of alcohol addiction. His passing left the family devastated emotionally and financially.
Now the entire burden of supporting the household falls on Priya’s mother, who works as a domestic helper cleaning other people’s homes. One of Priya’s older sisters works alongside her to help the family survive.
As if that were not enough, Priya’s grandmother recently fractured her arm and is unable to work or help around the home.
The family’s living conditions are extremely poor. Daily life is uncertain and difficult. Yet despite everything, they remain kind, gracious and deeply grateful.
They do not ask for anything.
That is what makes this so hard.
Why We Are Asking for Help
When we first met this family, we provided emergency rations and simple food supplies to help them get through those first difficult months.
But we have since learned that their situation has not improved.
And it likely will not improve until the grandmother is able to recover and return to work.
This is where we are hoping our beautiful community might step in.
For just 2500 rupees a month, which is approximately $36 AUD, this family can receive practical support that will help them survive this incredibly difficult season.
Ideally, we are hoping to find sponsors willing to commit to 12 months of support.
A full year sponsorship is approximately $450 AUD.
That amount helps provide food, essentials, stability and hope.
Sometimes numbers can feel small on paper. But in places like this, small acts of generosity change everything.
The Reality We Cannot Ignore
It is easy to scroll past suffering when it feels far away.
But this little girl is real.
This family is real.
Their grief is real.
Their hunger and uncertainty are real.
And yet so is their courage.
Priya continues showing up to school and attending her tuition centre despite carrying enormous emotional pain and stress. Her teachers say she still dreams of a better future.
There is something incredibly humbling about people who have so little and still smile warmly, still welcome strangers kindly, still hold onto hope, and yet never ask for help even when their need is so great.
We often talk about wanting to make a difference in the world. Sometimes that difference is not complicated.
Sometimes it simply looks like stopping.
Seeing.
Caring.
And choosing not to walk away.
Can You Help?
We know times are hard for many people right now, and we never take generosity lightly.
But if you are in a position to help, even in a small way, we would be incredibly grateful.
Whether you sponsor one month, contribute toward a full year, or simply share this story with others, every act of kindness matters.
Because behind every statistic is a child.
A mother.
A grandmother.
A family trying to survive.
And sometimes the greatest gift we can give another human being is the reminder that they have not been forgotten.
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for caring.
And thank you for helping us wrap around this beautiful family with dignity, compassion and hope. If you can make a donation please do so by clicking the DONATE box at the top of this page
With love,
The Project Team
