Sponsor A Child And Change A Life - World Vision India

1. Sponsor A Child And Change A Life - World Vision India

2. SPONSOR A CHILD The words “back to school” elicit joy, nervousnes and excitement from us. It signifies a new beginning, a new school year and new experiences. For certain children in rural villages however, it signifies the opportunity to return to their childhood, free of worldly problems for atleast a little while. Here is the story of Sangeetha, one such child from Tamil Nadu. Sponsor a child with us today and donate for education.

3. With new clothes, a new pair of footwear, a brand new watch, a bag, and a broad smile, Sangeetha remembers her proud walk from her house to catch the bus for her first day of college. She had never dressed like this before. “I had mixed feelings of surprise, fear, and pride on the first day of my college,” says 19-year-old Sangeetha from a community World Vision India serves in Gingee, Tamil Nadu. Child marriage is rampant in Sangeetha’s community. Girls are married off between the ages of 12 and 18, and boys are married off between the ages of 14 and 24. No one in the village has pursued higher education. They aren’t allowed to return back to school, and are instead burdened with household tasks. Sangeetha is the one of the first ones to escape this cycle and go back to school. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. Her childhood was not a pleasant one. She spent her early years with her grandparents as her parents worked in a brick kiln in another city as bonded labourers. Sangeetha would only see her parents twice or thrice a year for a day or two. Help children with under privileged parents, donate for education and sponsor a child with us today.

4. But when Sangeetha was seven years old, her parents were rescued from bonded labour by the state government. The family was still in dire poverty, but Sangeetha was overjoyed to be with her parents. The experiences of her parents as bonded labours and the challenges that her family was going through made Sangeetha yearn for a better life and she quickly realised that education was the only way to do so. She also shared her decision with her friends. “I decided that I wasn’t going to let my parents go back to the brick kiln and the only way to do it was to educate myself,” she says. When Sangeetha was studying in a government school, she didn’t have to pay school fees. However, she did not know how to fund her college fees and whom to approach. But she knew in her heart that she shouldn’t trouble her parents with it. Going back to school often requires financial assistance which we strive to provide. This assistance is possible only when our donors donate for education or sponsor a child.

5. That’s when Sangeetha encountered a World Vision India volunteer. The volunteer encouraged Sangeetha to study further and even gave her the assurance of support from World Vision India for her education.“I was surprised when I spoke with the volunteer from World Vision India for the first time. She motivated me and gave me hope that World Vision India will be a support for me to pursue my education,” says Sangeetha. Sangeetha is now in the third year of her undergraduate degree, the news about her interest and passion for her education despite all her odds has reached many other educational institutions and organisations through her college staff and friends. She has been getting many awards and encouragements from various institutions, television channels, and organisations for her desire, hard work, and passion for education. Articles about Sangeetha have also featured in newspapers and television programmes. “Education liberates women,” says Sangeetha. She wants to see the girls in her community have an education and not getting married before 18. She believes she is on the verge of accomplishing this objective. She wants be a nurse to serve people. Sangeetha says that she will be grateful to all the people who have helped her, especially World Vision India, and the patrons who donate for education and sponsor a child.

6. Sangeetha remembers walking into her college on the first day with great joy, and still, that same thrill motivates her to continue her educational journey. “I strongly believe that education is the only way to make our parents proud,” says Sangeetha. Going back to school is immeasurably important, and the only way for certain sections of society to do this is to be aided financially. If you have even a little more than what you need, try to donate for education or sponsor a child with us to help dreams become reality. Join us. Together for children. For change. For life.