Bhavesh’s education depends on daily meals

Bhavesh is an eight year-old student who has just started secnd standard at an English-medium school in Pune, India. He is the second-youngest of his parents’ four children.

Bhavesh’s father earns about 6,000 rupees ($100) per month as a part-time caddy at the golf course across the street from Bhavesh’s slum. It is not considered acceptable for women in Bhavesh’s family’s community to work outside of the house so his mother tends to the household and ensures that Bhavesh and his siblings attend school and afterschool classes at the AIC Education Centre every day. Through the support offered by AIC, Bhavesh receives daily meals and snacks. These meals include chapati (flat bread), cooked vegetables or curries, an egg, fresh fruit and extras like yogurt and pickle. As an after-school snack, Bhavesh typically has milk and biscuits, but always looks forward to special occasions when there might be a special snack food like sweets!

With the rising food prices and stagnant wages, Bhavesh’s family is thankful for this support. Most importantly, Bhavesh is able to focus on his education instead of where he will find his next meal!

Thank you, Michael and Karen, for supporting the Ashraya Initiative for Children and Bhavesh!