DIL'S HOME FOUNDATION
	Home About DHF Programs Photos Bandipur News Journal Volunteer Donate Shop Contact DHF

Orphaned Santosh

December 3, 2008

I have found out some worrisome news this week. It is in regards to Santosh and his family. Around September I discovered he had run away from home to work in a hotel in Damauli. I also found out that his abusive father had attempted to move back in with Fulmaya (mother) and she accepted. Santosh had quite school and has been living on his own ever since. He does every so often come back to Dumre to talk with Dil and Bijay and to receive goods and food from DHF. This week, however, the situation has turned for the worst. Fulmaya and her husband have taken the family to live in another village very far from Bandipur...and far from Santosh. He is now working as a fare collector on the jeeps that run up and down the 8km road between Dumre and Bandipur. Bijay and I have decided to approach this situation with extreme care and patience. I have yet to hear from Bijay whether Santosh is healthy and whether he has a place to stay or not. Once we find out more information on his wellbeing I would like to find out more about his interests, his skills and what he would like to be when he grows up, and whether he would like to return to school at least part time if possible. Even if he chooses not to go back to school, I would like to provide him with textbooks in all of the major school subjects and find out about tutoring him on his off days.

These are the issues we must compromise with until we get our facility built. We need to raise $2,500 for the orphanage. Santosh would have a place to live and study without worrying about working for a living.

He is only 14 years old.

 

Journal Home