When tragedy struck a family of five daughters in India, their solid educational foundation — provided by Holt sponsors and donors — helped them move forward with hope.
In Pune, India, lives a family with five daughters.
In generations past, this would have been viewed as a tremendous misfortune — having daughters instead of sons. In this culture, and at that time, daughters were often seen as an expense. A daughter was another mouth to feed until the day she could be married off. And getting a daughter married, and providing a good dowry, was extremely costly as well.
Due to poverty, parents would often marry their daughter off as early as possible — even as a young teenager. She would drop out after just a few years of school. She was lucky if she was literate, and even knew the basics of math.
Culture and poverty determined, there was little use in educating a girl.
The Importance of Educating Girls
But the problem and solution to this issue are one and the same: education. While ending a girl’s education can send her into child marriage, the single best way to prevent child marriage is to keep a girl in school as long as possible.
Thankfully, efforts to educate girls and prevent child marriage have grown in recent decades. And in several communities across India, these efforts are in large part because of the generosity and impact of Holt sponsors and donors.
Once such community is in Pune, a city in western India. This is where the Kumar family lives.
The Kumar Daughters
When the team at Holt’s partner organization in Pune, Bharatiya Samaj Seva Kendra (BSSK), first met the Kumar family in 2016, the mother and father were already dedicated to their girls’ education.
But living in an impoverished slum community, they struggled to afford it. Paying for school uniforms, fees and supplies — times five — was a small fortune. Each year, they prayed that each of their daughters would be able to continue her education.
Holt Donors Support Girls’ Education in India
That’s why they were so thankful when Holt donors stepped up to provide educational assistance to their daughters.
By providing educational support for each girl, Holt sponsors and donors made sure they had the uniforms and supplies they needed to succeed — as well as the ongoing support of a dedicated teacher and BSSK social worker who ensured the entire family had the resources they needed.
“Both Mr. and Mrs. Kumar balanced their jobs while ensuring their family’s needs were met, including dedicating time to their children’s education,” BSSK says. “Each sister is deeply committed to their studies, with their parents are actively participating in school and BSSK meetings, always encouraging their children’s educational pursuits.”
Each of the Kumar girls had a solid foundation in education, made possible by Holt sponsors and donors, BSSK and their loving parents.
And when tragedy struck, this solid foundation is what helped them get through…
Emergency Help
Earlier this year, the girls’ father passed away from esophageal cancer. The daughters and their mom were filled with grief. They were also afraid, and unsure about how they’d survive as their mom was suddenly the sole provider for the entire family.
“She is a pillar of strength, tirelessly motivating her daughters to pursue further education.”
Right away, Holt donors helped provide the family with two months of food deliveries, until they could get back up on their feet. BSSK provided support for the mother and the daughters as they navigated their grief and learned to move forward.
Mrs. Kumar got a job as a domestic helper to a wealthy family in the city, and began to earn an income to provide for her daughters.
“She is a pillar of strength,” BSSK says, “tirelessly motivating her daughters to pursue further education.”
While Mrs. Kumar made enough income to pay for rent and food, she would never have been able to support all of her girls’ educations on her own. And thanks to Holt donors she didn’t have to. With their continued support, all five of the girls have continued in school.
“Despite this loss,” BSSK says, “the family persevered.”
The eldest daughter, Pushpa, is currently in her second year post-graduation, while her four younger sisters — Hema, Aiza, Deepti and Darshana — are diligently pursuing their studies in their respective grades. They’re active in various BSSK activities, and have attended sessions ranging from study skills to karate classes.
“The Kumar family expresses deep gratitude to Holt donors for this invaluable assistance, which has played a pivotal role in shaping their educational journey.”
Prevent Child Marriage This Giving Tuesday
Child marriage rates have increased dramatically since the pandemic. But you can protect a girl by sending her to school.
