Category Archives: India

A Second Parent Brings Hope

Everyone has parents, but if you’re lucky, you might meet someone who becomes like a second parent to you. For some, that’s a Godparent, and for others, a teacher. For young women like Pushpa, it’s her Chalice sponsor. 

Pushpa, the youngest of three girls, grew up in a small village near our Assam site in India with her sisters and parents. Her father eventually went to a bigger city to look for work, and her mother found daily wage work nearby. But it wasn’t enough to keep the girls in school. 

“My parents struggled a lot to take care of us,” Pushpa recalls. “Whatever my parents earned was used for feeding the family and for our education.” 

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Sasmita Makes a New House Home

At Chalice’s Orissa site in India, many have scant access to educational and medical resources. For women, girls and migrant workers, it’s even more challenging. Illiteracy is high in the area. Living nearby is Sasmita, a young woman from a hard-working family that’s been through some tough times. 

Sasmita grew up with two sisters, and shared a hut with them and her parents. It was small, and definitely not big enough for the growing family. Her parents worked daily wage jobs, which didn’t make for reliable income. 

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Hard work and the right support give Kurtis and her family a bright future

The youngest of three children, Kurtis is bright and determined to succeed. Kurtis and her family have endured many difficult times through the years, including losing her dear father to kidney failure when she was just a toddler. This placed a huge responsibility on her mother who now had to raise her three children alone on meagre wages as a daily labourer.

By the time Kurtis was in the eighth grade, her mother was no longer able to make ends meet on her own. Seeking help from neighbours, she borrowed money to keep her children in school, but as the bills piled up she worried she could lose everything she had worked so hard for.

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Another win for Garikapudi

A gifted athlete, Garikapudi lives with his parents and older brother near our Mangalagiri site in India. Born into a loving and supportive family, his parents tried their best but struggled to provide for their children.

His mother and father worked side-by-side as often as they could selling fruit on the roadside but are both affected by serious health concerns. They never let their circumstances define them, however – Garikapudi’s parents are positive in their outlook on life.

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Victoria flourishes as a web developer after years of sponsorship

 

Victoria is an ambitious young woman from a hard-working Catholic family. She and her two siblings grew up near our Mangalagiri site in India. When the children were little, Victoria’s parents struggled with food insecurity, lack of adequate housing, and even lacked enough clothing. The cost of the children’s education was overwhelming, and Victoria often had to ask her classmates to borrow their textbooks and learning materials. Although this was a source of great embarrassment for the young student, Victoria remained focused and studious, and her achievements shone in the classroom. 

By God’s grace, a Chalice sponsor chose Victoria when she was in grade two. “This was a turning point in her life,” recall the Sisters who run our Mangalagiri site. Now, her family had access to enough food and clothing for their three children and could afford education costs. 

As Victoria continued to thrive in the classroom, she and her sponsor connected closely from the start of her sponsorship. Victoria loved to write to her sponsor about her life and hobbies, even well into her college years. “Growing together is a joyful experience,” observes the Sisters. “A loving bond grew between the sponsor and the child through greeting cards, letters and financial support.” 

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Abdul’s amazing ability

In a tiny, poor village in the state of Assam, India, Abdul was born to caring parents. While his parents were shocked and confused to see his differently-formed hands, they loved him and were determined to help him reach his full potential.

Abdul’s father left for work early each morning, earning daily wages at the railway station while his mother stayed home to care for him. As he grew, she taught him how to be independent and embrace his abilities. Though his childhood had a lot of challenges, with the unwavering support of his mother, he was admitted to a neighboring school. Initially he found it difficult to write but gradually he learned by holding a pencil with his two fingers. He was not going to let a disability overtake his life.

In 2011, Abdul was overjoyed to learn he had been chosen by a Chalice sponsor, which brought great relief to his family who struggled to afford his schooling. The help, support, and guidance of his sponsor was invaluable, and provided a great source of inspiration for his studies.

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Strength, confidence and dreams for the future

Our STAR site in India works with many rural communities in the state of Tamil Nadu. A great deal of families in these communities are affected with stigmatized illnesses, which makes it difficult for them find work and housing. Our site also works with many children living with cognitive and physical disabilities. With the right support, these children are able to access essential resources that help them succeed in school, such as nutritious food, medical care, and tutoring! Venkateswari, a young lady currently in our sponsorship program, is a shining example of how the strength and potential of each child can be encouraged through love and support.

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A light in the darkness: Rupali’s new dream

Rupali, from our Assam site in India, lives with her parents, older sister, and younger brother. Her parents are incredibly hard working, and do everything they can for their children. Her father, Pobin, drives others around in a rickshaw for a living. Even though he’s in poor health, he works nearly every day to make ends meet. Rupali’s mother also works selling small items on the side of the road for extra income.

Despite their dedication and hard work, Rupali’s parents still don’t make enough to support their family. They never received a formal education, making it difficult to find higher paying jobs in the competitive local economy. The family doesn’t own their own land, and struggle to pay rent and afford basic needs.

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Determination and persistance: Sandya’s story

When Sandya was a small girl, she didn’t have an easy daily life. Sandya is from a tribal village in Mangalagiri, India, and grew up in a small thatched hut with her parents and five siblings. Her parents woke up early each day, working long hours as manual laborers to provide for their family.

Even with all of their hard work, Sandya’s parents still didn’t make nearly enough to provide their children with food, clothing and education. Sandya used to trek deep into the nearby forests with her siblings to collect firewood, leaves and herbal medicines that they would sell at at low price to try to support the family.

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