SELECTED CHILDREN

Riya* lives in a red-light-area with her mother who is a sex-worker. The only choices she probably had in life was to get married early or get into sex trade like her mother. But her life changed for good after she started attending classes at World Vision India’s Child Friendly Learning and Recreation Centre (CFLRC) run for children of mothers who are commercial sex workers.
World Vision India also enrolled her in a government school and provided all her school supplies. "I thought it was my fate to accept my mother’s profession and that I too would be forced to become a sex-worker. Today my worries are very different. I worry about whether I wrote my exams well or not. I feel like I can do anything now because I’m finally going to school," says 14-year-old Riya*.

Vinita's parents were planning to get her married when she was 17. World Vision India helped convince her parents otherwise. World Vision India also paid for Vinita’s education, to help her pursue her dream of becoming a nurse.
"My happiest day at work was when a weak baby was brought to the hospital and we could help. He was bleeding from his nose and mouth. His parents had given up hope of saving him. We tried so much and were able to heal him. Now the baby is 5 years old. It gives me so much pleasure to realise that he survived because of our efforts," says Vinita

"I always had the urge to do something for the society. Sponsoring a child through World Vision India has given me the satisfaction of giving back to the society and doing something for the not-so-fortunate children out there. For any society, children are the future of it. If my little contribution can make their life a little easier, what can be better than that. This is the least we can do for their future."

"I became Harini's sponsor in February 2010 and it has been a life transforming experience for me. I took this initiative without much forethought and just wanted to give back to the society in a small way. Nevertheless, what I got in return is humungous. I would get handmade cards from her and World Vision India would keep me posted on her academics and interests. I feel so content that I am playing a small part in helping Harini realise her dreams. Thank you, Harini, for making my life meaningful."

"As a first time sponsor of World Vision India projects for children in need, I was quite keen on meeting some of the children in the projects. I had the opportunity to meet three of them and needless to say, the visit was well worth it. It's a very different experience to meet the children that you're helping - listening to their ambitions, passions and interests humanizes them and reminds us that we're all equal, just born under different circumstances. One of the kids said that the planes flying over his slum kept him interested in wanting to be a pilot, another said she wanted to join the Navy. Furthermore, getting to meet the team in charge of the projects was also nice, as you get to see the people who work around the clock to make things work. I highly recommend all sponsors to take every opportunity to meet the beneficiary of the project."

"I always wanted to do something, just my bit in helping with the education of the children. Thanks to World Vision India, my long lived dream got a platform and I have been happy to have Jannefer and Harsh as a part of my world. This has certainly turned me into a more responsible person and it gives me immense pleasure to see there are such amazing souls all around the world who are extending their hands for the greater cause. I want to see my sponsored kids excel in whatever they do in their lives and I hope to sponsor more children in days to come."

"My spouse and myself had a desire that, having a son in the house, we would like to nurture a girl child and see her bloom into a lovely flower. It was with this yearning that our journey with World Vision India started in 2014. Fatma, my sponsored child, lives in my city of domicile, Kolkata. That makes me doubly gifted since we can meet her too, share some of the joys and sorrows of her daily life and develop a personal bonding with her. My sincere appreciation to World Vision India for making our dreams come true and creating a journey filled with wonderful surprises."

"It was 2011 when I first came across World Vision India while working as Accounts Manager in a bank. I immediately searched the website and decided to contribute towards child sponsorship. The urge and the decision were spontaneous. Years have passed and the children have grown. It gives me immense satisfaction to communicate with them and to know them more. There have been several exchanges of letters. Sometimes I felt like an elder brother helping the younger ones to grow and at other times, I felt like helping them become better citizens so that we can proudly make this world a better place. On birthdays, I wished them and gave them pleasant gifts. Imagine the joy on receiving all the thanks from the dearest little fellows! It has all been possible because of that momentous association with World Vision India."