Zdena’s itinerary in India was packed with unforgettable moments. The glittering Golden Temple at night, saluting the sun (sort of) in an ashram, and peeking into St. Mother Teresa’s tiny room in Kolkata.
But the Vancouverite wasn’t quite prepared to be welcomed by scores of her biggest fans in a small community outside of Bangalore. News had gotten around that 15-year-old Sangeetha’s Chalice sponsor was coming to visit, and the whole neighbourhood simply had to meet their VIP guest.
“It was like almost half the village had turned out,” Zdena says. “And everybody was excited because I was the first ever sponsor who had ever come and they were all excited to meet me.”
Zdena started sponsoring Sangeetha in 2023 after learning about Chalice’s work in India from a friend. After a forty-year career in the airline industry, Zdena had traveled in the India before and knew first-hand the challenges young people face, especially girls.
“This year when I knew I was going back, I just knew I had to take a little detour at the end of my trip and go down to Bangalore to see my sponsor child,” she says, adding, “well, she’s not a child anymore.”
She contacted Chalice, who helped her arrange things with the Bangalore site director, Sister Elsy. It was Sr. Elsy who picked Zdena up at 6:00 am and drove her the four-and-a-half-hour ride to Sangeetha’s village.
Having passed through her welcome party, Zdena took in Sangeetha’s “humble” home, which she shares with her mother, Saraswathi, and siblings. Sangeetha’s father died last year.
“I truly saw Sangeetha’s poverty level. It was a very tiny two-room house, the only furniture being a bed, a small wardrobe, and an old end table with a TV from the 1950s.” She still wonders about how they sleep, how Saraswathi cooks meals, and provides for her family.
“She works in the fields and when I was there, it was about 38°C and I couldn’t be outside for any length of time,” Zdena says. “I could just imagine her working in the fields to try to support her children. That’s why I’m doubly happy that I can support her.”
Once inside, Zdena was in for yet another heart-rending surprise.
“I went into the house, there’s only two picture frames on the wall and one is of Sangeetha’s dad, and the other frame contained pictures that I had sent her of my family.”
Sangeetha was shy, but her English is strong, and she opened up to her sponsor about her life at school, friends, hobbies, and her dreams. For a while she wanted to be a doctor, but at fifteen, she’s also open to other ideas.
In turn, Zdena emphasized to Sangeetha the importance of education and assured her continued support through sponsorship. “I guess every parent is the same, right?” she asks with a laugh. “Saying to their kids, ‘education is the key to your future. You have a better future.’”
Returning to Canada, Zdena has a new perspective on the impact of individual sponsors.
“They always say that you can make a difference. ‘One person can make a difference’. And I thought, what could I do in this whole wide world? I never thought I could make a difference. But going there and seeing her and how happy she was, I could see that I made a difference in one person’s life.”
“I really saw what my monthly dollars go towards. And I’m very impressed. I met the field workers there; I met the Sisters and they just do a marvelous job there.”
She’s looking forward to sending Sangeetha her next letter and include the photos from their visit she printed. And of course, plotting her next Indian adventure.
“I’m just not writing to somebody who lives halfway across the world. I’m writing to somebody I’ve met and hugged and kissed and held hands with. It’s much more of a deeper relationship now that I’ve been able to visit with her. I’m truly blessed that I was able to do that and hopefully get back someday.”