03/06/2018
June 2018 Bhagya Update
Dear Friends of Bhagya,
We hope you are enjoying the end of summer vacation in India and getting ready for its start in the US!
We have a lot to share so settle in and get comfortable!
Our big news this time is Jyothi's & Stella's story.
Jyothi came to us when she was 6, at which age she had already experienced more hardship that any of us will see in a lifetime. Her earliest memory is that of her father dousing her mother, herself and her siblings in kerosine in an attempt to set them on fire. Then followed a life on the streets with no food or shelter. When Bhagya took her in, we hadn't yet started Bhagya Home and so she lived in a home for destitute girls, under our sponsorship. It was around this same time that we met little Stella, orphaned and beaten black and blue by "caregivers". Stella was sponsored by Bhagya as well and lived in the same home for girls with Jyothi. They were both attending school and we would visit them on weekends and take care of their needs. A couple of years after they had been there, we were able to start Bhagya Home, inspired by their need to belong and have a sense of home. Stella who had been significantly traumatized, was unable to continue to study and had significant behavioral troubles that required a different setting. She began to live in a center that was started by "Auto Raja", a wonderful man who is often referred to as the "savior of Bangalore's destitute". (Read about his amazing story: http://www.thehindu.com/society/meet-auto-raja-the-saviour-of-bengalurus-destitute/article17474857.ece). Stella is happy there, helps with the other children and looks forward to our visits. While we wish Stella had been able to study and forge a new life for herself, we know full well that the life she now leads is far better than her fate in the slums and we admire her effort and fortitude in bringing meaning to her life despite her early trauma.
Jyothi moved into Bhagya Home as soon as we opened doors and worked hard to study, make peace with her past and build her dreams. This March she completed her 10th grade (a national board exam in India). She scored a 73% grade and was awarded a merit scholarship to pursue a science program in the 11th grade. We are in such awe of Jyothi and her heart of a lioness in fighting for her life and overcoming such great odds. Amachi Sita was rooting her on every step of the way and we know she is looking down in pride and joy. See photos below of Jyothi & Stella, then and now.
We continue to sponsor the education and medical needs of our 62 girls from grades 2 - 12 and would love to help more of them. The annual cost of educating each child is anywhere between USD 250 - 650 (INR 15,000 – 40,000) depending on their grade. If you'd like to donate to our cause you can learn more at: https://www.bhagya.info/donate
In other updates:
- Due to a new law and ongoing crackdowns that forbid agencies not operated by the government from housing destitute girls, we have had to make the difficult decision to place the other girls - Nisha (12), Sneha (7), Pooja (8) and Poorna (6) - at a nearby boarding school. They return to us each weekend and on all holidays. We hope to be granted exemptions by the government so they can be back someday soon to their home setting.
- 26 girls from our sponsored group attended our April-May summer camp with Art, music, tailoring, spoken English and computer training sessions
- We have finally received the 80G tax exemption status in India (the US equivalent of a 501(c)(3)! This allows our donors in India to receive a tax write off for all donations.
- This summer, Caleb Hope Foundation (www.calebhopefoundation.org) will be taking a team of 10 people to volunteer with Bhagya at the end of July. The goal is to help create a sponsorship program to raise more consistent support for the girls.
- On July 14th, Caleb Hope Foundation will screen a long awaited film, COMING HOME at their Hope Gala in Beverly Hills, CA. "Coming Home" is the extraordinary story of our partner Jeremiah Caleb's journey to back to India, which triggered his desire to start Caleb Hope Foundation and work with children in India's slums.
Please look us up on www.bhagya.info and visit our page: https://www.facebook.com/Bhagya-237536789654792/
We are always so grateful for your support. You didn’t have to but you did, and you helped change a life.
Thank you!
Renuka and Sharon
