When the floods hit Aarav’s neighborhood in India last year, his family lost nearly everything. Their small home was damaged, and his father’s work as a day laborer was already unpredictable. The family struggled just to afford food.
Then Aarav, just 10 years old, started missing meals and classes because his family couldn’t afford the school fees. His mother wept at the thought of sending him to an institution, but believed it might be the only way to keep him fed and learning.
Sadly, Aarav’s story is not unique.In India, nearly one in three children drop out of elementary school, and poverty forces many parents into heartbreaking decisions. An estimated 35% of children in India’s institutions—more than one third—were placed there simply because their families could not afford to meet their basic needs.
But our long-time, trusted partner in India is changing that scenario! With financial assistance from AFFEO, he runs a child development center that offers safe, nurturing spaces where Aarav and other vulnerable children are now receiving the care and support they desperately need—all while the children remain with their families! The center’s care includes:
• Daily nutritious meals
• After-school tutoring and academic support
• Clothing, hygiene care, and school supplies
• Arts, sports, and emotional encouragement
• Health checkups
• Spiritual mentoring and community
This vital, life-changing program is crucial for India’s at-risk children. Won’t you pray that the Lord would graciously provide the funds necessary to continue and expand it? Right now, 30 children just like Aarav are waiting for a spot in that child development center. These children also come from highly vulnerable families, many of whom, like Aarav’s family, were severely affected by last September’s devastating floods.
Your prayers can make a huge difference! Only the Lord can help these children receive the holistic care they need while also protecting their God-given right to grow up in a family — both provide them with a lifetime of love, care, and belonging. Thank you for interceding for these dear ones!