We believe sponsorship that empowers children with education is a powerful way to make a lasting, positive impact on the lives of children in poverty and their families. But education is not all that Asian Aid sponsorship provides. For many of our children, having a sponsor means a roof over their heads, nutritious food every day, medicine when they are sick – all while being surrounded by people who love and care for them.

Asian Aid’s sponsorship program is giving over 9150 disadvantaged children a sense of value and hope.

Hope that keeps on giving

Orphaned very young, Balu (Hindi word for ‘bear’) was taken in by his uncle and aunty, and helped maintain their house and babysit their daughter. Sponsored to attend Elim Orphanage and School as a boarding student at about the same time, Balu had little hope for a better life. But it was at Elim Home that Balu met his future wife, Kempu, a sponsor orphan herself, who was raised by grandparents. In 2007, ten years after they first met in Elim Home, Balu and Kempu were married. Theirs was a marriage based on love, not arrangement.

Today, Kempu is sponsored to complete her Masters in Science (Nursing) and Balu is in his eighth year of employment with Asian Aid partner Helping Hand Welfare Society. Balu and Kempu also have a son, and while they will have to wait to see what kind of work he does later in life, they sure hope he will also choose work that serves others in need.

The full-circle sponsorship story

Sundramma was one of the first students to enrol at the Kollegal Deaf School, India, in 1993. She was just six years old then, but she has now returned to teach tailoring to the students. Students love her creativity and sewing skills, and she loves their joy even in times of hardship.

Gratitude

Laltalnsanga, a teen, lost his mother when he was very young. Not long after, his father left to work overseas and he and his siblings had to fend for themselves. A relative sent them to an Asian Aid school so that the children could have food, shelter and an education. Laltalnsanga “is glad” for the opportunities he has received.

A safe place

The Bara family in India lost their mother when the youngest child, Sushmita, was only three years old. When their alcoholic father had an accident and broke his back, they had little hope left. After some time, a relative asked Asian Aid’s Bethel Home to take care of them, and they have been learning and growing there ever since.

Building confidence

Arjunkisku, a friendly Indian teenager, wants to be civil engineer. Like many of the children sponsored by Asian Aid, Arjunkisku faces many challenges. His mother – a widow – works in a tea garden and earns as little as 12,600 rupees a year (AUD$252). She must support Arjunkisku, his two siblings, and their grandfather. Although when he was first sponsored and started school Arjunkisku was shy, his confidence has grown over the past few years, and he is now in charge of the boys as his school. Thanks to his sponsor, he has become a “big brother” and a “role model” to the other boys – a leader in the making.

Hope

Bindu’s journey started at a remote village in the Tanahu district of Nepal. After losing both her parents as a toddler, Bindu was forced to shelter in a run-down shed on the outskirts of a nearby village and eat what little a generous Hindu priest could get for her. It was at this distressing time in her young life that the local government was alerted of Bindu’s situation, and brought her in contact with the houseparents of one of the twelve Children’s Homes run by the 3 Angels Nepal. Since being sponsored, Bindu now does what young girls her age enjoy doing: dancing, drawing rabbits – her favourite animal – cooking and reading. Bindu now has hope and she is making the most of her opportunity.