This letter is from Aravind's project! And the photos are from Compassion's India Rural Region page.
Dear Eric and Hannah,
Greetings from India. I am A. G. P., a partner with Compassion International in the [IN-732] CDC. We minister to your sponsored child Aravind. Thank you for your sponsorship of Aravind. We are associated with SF Church.
This center started its function in 2004 with 93 children. Our center is 10 years old. Now we have 289 children. Our center has a pivotal role in the development and is a blessing.
I am very glad to extend my gratitude to all the sponsors, because this program brings many significant changes. Through this center the sponsored children of our community can get help with their school tuition and other education supplies. Also, they are getting nutritious food, medicines, and hygiene supplies.
Children are getting good awareness classes for good habits, aptitude tests, career guidance classes, and first aid. Also they are getting chance to relate to higher officials of society such as, politicians, panchayat authorities (local government body), forest department, police department, resource persons, etc.
Children attend Sunday school, prayer group, seminars, retreat programs, youth camps, worship services and spiritual books--these help in their spiritual growth. When a child gets a sponsor's letter, the child is very happy. This is beyond the expression of words. Without the support of sponsor like you we will not be able to carry out these programs. Please write a short letter as it makes the children so happy to get mail.
There are many problems faced by the community such as unemployment, alcohol consumption, illiteracy, and poverty. There are many broken families in this community. Some people do not have food, shelter and clothing.
Since we are in hill station, the people of this area have to fight against bad climatic conditions due to frequent changes in the weather, especially in the rainy season. Rainy season in this area lasts for 4 months, from June to September. During this season there are frequent landslides and earth's crust gets disturbed. So most of the people are living with fear during these times.
Our children were malnourished at the beginning of the center. Now they are physically fit. Now the parents are learning how to communicate effectively to others. The social standard of this community has improved.
Cultural stand of the community is also developed now. 5 parents abandoned their habit of alcoholism and leading a happy life. 15 parents are now earning extra income due to the income generating program organized by the center. Educational standards of the community are slowly progressing. The center is guiding the siblings of center children for higher courses. Staff prays for the children and their family and counsels them if need be.
Our vision is to liberate the oppressed, suppressed, and marginalized children. The center arranges awareness classes for the physical development, social, spiritual development, and cognitive development for the sponsored children. The center provides income-generating classes for the parents.
The children are always waiting for letters from their sponsors. Through the letters, sponsors and children can communicate about family, culture, country, spirituality etc. These children can become a party of your family. Children pray for their sponsors regularly. If you get time please write a few lines of encouragement.
Pray for improvement in the infrastructure of the center and pray for the people who are addicted to alcoholism. We thank God for giving us this opportunity and we thank you for your kind help. May God bless you.
Yours faithfully,
A. G. P.
If you would like to sponsor a child from Asia, please consider 6-year-old Jordan of Bangladesh, who has been waiting over a year for a sponsor!
Jordan's birthday is January 20. In his home, Jordan helps by running errands and cleaning. He lives with his father and his mother. His father is sometimes employed as a laborer and his mother maintains the home. There are 3 children in the family.
For fun, Jordan enjoys soccer, singing and playing with marbles. He attends church activities regularly and is in kindergarten where his performance is average. To sponsor Jordan, click here.
