Wishes for a bright future - #putchildrenfirst

Kusa, from Rourkela, India, was eight years old and his sister Sravani was four when they lost their mother. Their father took responsibility of the family at first, but eventually he became ill and passed away, leaving the children without any care. It had always been challenging for the family to make ends meet, as they had no permanent source of income or agricultural land. Their elder sister, Chidi, who was already married, tried to help them out, but she could not do much.

“It has been very difficult to manage things,” says Kusa. “My sister and my uncle are poor yet they try to support us as much as they can… Finding a regular source of income for my family is the toughest task for me.”

Supporting the family is a large burden on Kusa’s young shoulders, but he is hardly the only child in India with such responsibilities. 12% of Indian children under 15 are working, which impacts their education: only 49% of secondary school-aged children attend school, and an estimated 88% of boys and 74% of girls from 15 to 24 are literate.

Kusa hopes that he will be able to earn more soon, once he completes his training to become a driver. The SOS Family Strengthening Program is providing Kusa and Sravani with support for education, nutrition, and health, including career counselling and rights awareness. Sravani is now enrolled in sixth grade and attends extra classes as well, hoping to become a nurse or a police officer some day, which she believes would make their lives much easier.

Still, her brother worries about her future.  “I am very concerned about my younger sister - about her education and marriage,” he says, adding, “A regular income source would greatly change the course of our lives.”

For more of our Put Children First campaign, please follow our Twitter and Facebook. Keep others in the loop by using the hashtag #putchildrenfirst!

Canadian's wishing to support SOS Children's Villages are encouraged to sponsor a child, sponsor a village or to make a direct donation. Your support ensures that SOS Children's Villages can continue to provide a safe and loving home to orphan and abandoned children worldwide.