1 am 13 years old and hope that other people join me in my cause.

Background

According to the UN, it is estimated that there are currently 145 million orphans and/or abandoned children in the world. Unless they are adopted or absorbed by an orphanage, these children are left to wander the streets, beg or steal food, and find shelter wherever they can. This cycle results in a high rate of orphan suicide, and the need to turn to organized crime and prostitution for survival- ultimately producing more orphans.

As my grandparents live in India, I often visit the country. In keeping with family tradition, we volunteer at an orphanage each time we visit my grandparent’s hometown, located in northern India. When I was nine years old, I realized that the 200 children who live at the orphanage did not have adequate money to gain a proper education; I felt very sad when I heard this because I know the importance of education. Moreover, it was heartbreaking for me to think that these children had no mother or father to guide them, protect them, or love them.

Over the summer of 2009, I also visited a school for underprivileged children. According to the World Bank, 42% of India’s population lives below the international poverty line (earning less than $1.25 per day). The parents of the children who attend the Shree Geeta Public school earn less than $20 a month. They are street vendors, rickshaw drivers, maids or manual laborers. The children are frequently pulled out of school as the parents run out of money to pay for the tuition, which is only $100 a year (including books and uniforms)! As with the orphanage, it was upsetting for me to hear this.

Instead of internalizing these feelings and merely showing empathy for the orphans and underprivileged children, I decided to take action by raising money. The money would help the children gain a better education, be able to stand on their own feet and ultimately become positive contributors to society.

Information about Empower Orphans

To formalize my fundraising efforts, I created and registered a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Empower Orphans; www.empowerorphans.org). The mission of Empower Orphans is to address the problems associated with orphans/abandoned children and children born into homes living in poverty by motivating individuals to translate empathy into action.

The organization’s goal is to help create self sufficiency by supplying the children with the tools to gain a basic education and technical skills to enable a sustainable livelihood; helping them to become productive and positive contributors to society. In addition to education, Empower Orphans provides food, clothing, healthcare, and medical supplies to establish an effective learning environment.

Achievements

To date, approximately $27,500 ($16500 in funds and $11000 in goods/services) have been raised; this money has been used to make significant strides towards making a difference in the lives of orphaned and underprivileged children.

Bal Kunj Orphanage
 In 2006, a library was started at the Bal Kunj orphanage. Over the years, we have expanded upon the library and have continued to provide stationery to each of the 200 children who live there.
 In addition, we have provided technical books to 20 children aged between 14-16 years, enabling them to enter a trade and earn a living.
 Steps have been taken to improve the overall well being of the children. Each child is provided with nutritious food, warm clothes and blankets (to combat the severe winters experienced by northern India) and also footwear.

Shree Geeta Public School (for underprivileged children)
 During the summer of 2009, we expanded our efforts to provide education and improve wellness among 360 underprivileged children who attend the Shree Geeta Public School.
o The annual education of 10 underprivileged children was sponsored by Empower Orphans. Over 50 children and their parents were interviewed, with recipients selected based on need, grades and attendance.
o A four day eye and dental clinic was held at the school, during which medical doctors evaluated the vision and oral care needs of the 360 children.
 56 children received more advanced eye care, while 103 children received further dental treatment.
o Sewing machines were given to 10 older girls, who can now take on seamstress jobs and stand on their own feet.

What Next?

We are in the process of running a Campaign called ‘Break the Cycle’ to address some of the evils associated with orphaned and underprivileged children. The majority of the orphaned and underprivileged children has limited education and do not have the skills to make a living. Subsequently, the potential of their slipping into a life of crime or prostitution is high. This sequence results in more orphans, abandonment of children and a continuation of the cycle of poverty. To break this cycle, we have outlined a multi-phase campaign.

Phase 1 would be to open a series of libraries to provide school books to approximately 1000 children a year. In addition, we would like to at minimum double the number of children whose education we sponsor (currently only 10 out of 360).

Phase 2 would be to provide for the general wellness of the children by conducting health clinics (eye, dental and general hygeniene). We also intend to begin supporting a center for hearing and speech impaired children (35 children).

Phase 3 would be to open a Technical School, which will provide technical skills (electrician, mechanic, tailors and seamstresses) to about 500 children a year. We will leverage our extensive contacts in the local industries by assisting the children in finding jobs. This campaign will enable the children to stand on their own feet by immediately enter into gainful employment and become positive contributors to society.