New Bridge of Hope Center Opens in Rajasthan Slum

A new Bridge of Hope center opened in Rajasthan slum on 13th December 2012. 100 children from the slum enrolled in the center.

Their slum is full of the problems that slums typically face. The people live without proper shelter or clothing. Most are either garbage pickers or sweepers. Sickness affects most children. Drugs and alcohol addict many.

When Bridge of Hope originally approached the local city ward member, Mr. Vijay Chawhan, about opening a project center, he immediately suggested this slum. “If you can bring goodness to this area, the children will have a future,” he said.

On the day of the center’s inauguration, Mr. Vijay Chawhan was there to cut the ribbon. Other political leaders and church leaders joined him as special guests. The new students also gathered for the occasion.

One of them was six-year-old Durgesh. His mother was a sweeper in a government hospital and his father waited on tables at a small hotel. Although they worked from morning to night, they were still very poor. Little Durgesh was in charge of caring for his two younger brothers and doing household work. In addition, he collected wine bottles from the roadside to sell.

Durgesh was grateful to enroll in Bridge of Hope. “Thank you so much for the special care toward me from Bridge of Hope,” he said. “This will be really a hope to my life.”

Anthima was another of the new students. Because of her parents’ poverty, they asked her to quit school. She was only in second standard and was eager to study further. The Bridge of Hope center opened just in time for her. “I thought I cannot study further,” she said, “but now Bridge of Hope lent a hope to my life. I will study well and prove myself worthy of being enrolled in this center.”

Durgesh and Anthima are just two examples of the many kids being transformed by this project center. There are 98 more children with their own stories and struggles.

Bridge of Hope will provide each one of them with the opportunity to grow holistically and achieve their potential.