With fewer mouths to feed, Aman’s parents let him go to school

Looking at Aman, a second grade student at a prestigious English-medium private school in India, you would never realize he has such a difficult background and family situation. Aman is the third of his parents’ five children. Although his mother works selling used saris door-to-door, his father’s alcohol habit uses up most of the family’s resources.

For years, his parents sent Aman and his older siblings out onto the streets to beg. Thanks to the efforts of the Ashraya Initiative for Children, Aman and his siblings can finally go to school. Although the household’s income is still only between 2,000 and 3,000 rupees per month ($35 – $50), nowhere near enough to support their family of seven, Aman’s parents have stopped sending him out to beg because he now receives daily meals at the AIC Education Outreach Centre instead. With fewer mouths to feed, Aman’s parents are willing to allow Aman to go to school, and not just any school! Aman was very lucky to earn admission into such a prestigious school, and he also benefits from the packed lunches that he is able to take with him every day through AIC.

Upon returning back to the Education Outreach Centre after school, Aman eats again before attending two hours of intensive tutoring time. The meals he eat are fresh, nutritious and delicious, which keeps a former street child like Aman coming back for more. Aman’s future is brighter than ever — due to the free daily meals, his parents remain committed to his education as well.

Thank you Karen, Ken, Julian, Jami, and James for supporting the Ashraya Initiative for Children and Aman.