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Omar cooking food at the transit home before he was placed in the
Kristos house.
Omar and Pawan wearing their new clothes and backpacks.
Excited, a girl shows friends her gifts!
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Street & Slum Children
Receive An Education, (India)
A sea of
tattered structures serves as home to thousands of poor families living
in India. Struggling to survive day to day, many children and their parents
are rag pickers. They search through fresh garbage heaps collecting pieces
of cloth that can be bundled and resold to textile businesses. It’s
hard to believe, but these children have it easier than those living on
the dangerous, filthy streets. Hope for both groups was restored when over
fifty school-age boys and girls participated in July’s Operation Blessing’s
Back-To-School program. Meet Omar, a child who received an education with
the help of our partners.
Omar remembers a time when he
lived happily with his parents and two sisters. The boy’s mom took
care of the children and his father was a truck driver. The Muslim family’s
world shattered when Omar’s father left to have an affair. This behavior
was illegal and instead of spending time in jail, he unhappily went back
to his family.
Living A Nightmare
Things turned from bad to worse as Omar’s father began coming home
drunk every night and beating his young son. He also forced Omar to work
at a hotel from 6 am to 11 pm to gain a mere 20 rupees a day. Omar recalls
what happened when he didn’t bring money home, “My father
used to beat me until the stick broke. Then he put red chilly powder into
my eyes, lifted me up, and threw me to the ground. I could not stand the
torture any longer, so I ran away."
Free To Dream
Once in the city, Omar swept the floors of the trains with his t-shirt
and begged for money. Thankfully, team members from Operation Blessing’s
India center found him on the streets and brought him to the Kristos Children’s
Home. Now safe, clean and fed, Omar began dreaming of opening his own
motor garage. But he needed an education first. In July, our Back- To-School
program provided him and more than 50 other children living in the slums,
or formerly from the streets, with books, a new uniform, and school fee
scholarships.
Today Omar and his friend Pawan are attending St, Anthony's High School.
Mr. Pradeep Nair, of Kristos Children’s Home, said "Thank you
Operation Blessing. With your help Omar and Pawan are going to school
today." Operation Blessing’s India center will continue to
support and encourage Omar and the other students as they strive to achieve
their dreams.
There are many more children like Omar who dream of learning, having
enough to eat, and a safe roof over their heads. Your gift of $25 or more
will help their dreams become reality.
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