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#atozchallenge: Operation Pancham needs your support!

For the A to Z Blogging Challenge, I’m blogging 26 days in April based on the alphabet and bringing you stories from the nonprofit Project Why.

Here’s the story of a boy who deserves help: I certainly plan to, the minute I have a secure internet connection.

Damyanti Biswas talks about the Nonprofit ProjectWhy In the slums of New DelhiPancham is 10 years old. He is a student of the Project Why Okhla Center. His could be the story of many boys who live in Indian slums, but that is not the case. Pancham’s tale is one of courage and dignity.

Pancham lost his father when he was very young. He has three siblings, one with special needs. Things could have worked out if it were not for the fact that his mother spends her entire day in a drunken stupor. In her rare moments of lucidity she collects and sorts garbage, and with the little money earned basic costs are met. But most times, it is left to Pancham to collect garbage and he does that every morning. Sometimes his mother accompanies him but the money earned often gets used at the watering hole. Pancham prefers setting out alone so that he can ensure that for that day they eat a meal.

Damyanti Biswas talks about the Nonprofit ProjectWhy In the slums of New Delhi

Pancham and his mother

Pancham comes to Project Why regularly and goes to school in the afternoon. He is a good student and knows that education would help him have a better future. A child at heart, he loves dancing.

Helping Pancham has to be done in a way that it reaches him. He is the man of the family and his presence is crucial to its survival. But any money you give him will be used to buy hooch. Project Why helps purchase his books and school supplies and we could contribute towards that. As well, we could get clothes for him and his family, and a solid lunch for him every day. All of this for as little as 45 USD a month. If a few of us get together, that’s not such a large amount: 5 bloggers who donate 10 dollars a month each could change this little guy’s life forever.

Damyanti Biswas talks about the Nonprofit ProjectWhy In the slums of New Delhi

Pancham at his home

To change Pancham’s reality by making a one-time donation, Click here or if you’d like to find a good way to donate monthly via Paypal,  contact Project Why: Click here.

Do you have kids like Pancham in your neighborhoods, or your kids’ schools? What would you say to Pancham? To his parents? To Project Why?

Please join Daily (w)rite on its Facebook Page if you’d like to be heard by this community. If you liked this post, you can have biweekly posts delivered to your inbox: click the SUBSCRIBE button in the sidebar. The daily posts are only for April: I’m doing 26 posts on the fab nonprofit Project Why for my A to Z Challenge.

Damyanti Biswas

Damyanti Biswas is the author of You Beneath Your Skin and numerous short stories that have been published in magazines and anthologies in the US, the UK, and Asia. She has been shortlisted for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel Awards and is co-editor of the Forge Literary Magazine. Her literary crime thriller series, the Blue Mumbai, is represented by Lucienne Diver from The Knight Agency. Both The Blue Bar and The Blue Monsoon were published in 2023.

I appreciate comments, and I always visit back. If you're having trouble commenting, let me know via the contact form, or tweet me up @damyantig !

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19 Comments

  • Kashmira Patel says:

    How are things going with this fund raiser?

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Someone is funding him now. I’ve been unwell and busy, so haven’t checked with Anoudi on the results yet.

      • Kashmira Patel says:

        Oh ok, in that case I will earmark my jewelry proceeds for some other kid. Will talk to Anou Di.

  • hilarymb says:

    Hi Damyanti – the answer is yes … to helping Pancham and in particular Project Why …

    I will be helping … and will return for that in a few days …

    There are some good suggestions here … the fundraising Thunderclap and the booklet – perhaps with the lady who runs Project Why – her stories ..

    Cheers for now – but count on me .. Hilary

    • Thank you for offering your support! We appreciate all of our volunteers, donors, and supporters. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.

  • Bikramjit says:

    Sad Sad I hope people who can afford can get together and help everyone who need help …

  • durbadhyani says:

    Hope Pancham’s story will be published and reach more people. Do consider putting all of these stories together in a book/booklet.

    • Anou has published a book called Dear Popples which discusses several of these stories- although not all! You can find Dear Popples on Amazon.

  • Childhood poverty is child abuse. Thank you for bringing this to us. 🙂

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Thanks, Robert. Please do consider helping this boy with a one-time or recurring donation.

  • Liz Brownlee says:

    What a lovely idea! Poor little thing. When my husband’s mother died, we found she supported several children, so we took them over. ~Liz http://www.lizbrownleepoet.com

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      That was wonderful of her, and brilliant that you’re carrying on her legacy!

  • Joy says:

    Thanks for sharing these amazing stories! My family and I support a child in India. One of the best ways to give back.


    O for Olive Oatman

  • I hope these blog posts have accomplished some of the goals you’ve set. Please consider doing a Thurnderclap announcement for donations, if you haven’t already!

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      I haven’t, Yolanda, maybe I’ll have to do it when I have a secure connection. I wish I could focus on fundraising this month, but other stuff has taken my life over. Do you think bloggers would wish to help this boy?

  • Shame his mother can’t get her act together. She’s killing herself and her children’s futures.

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      I’m in position to judge her, Alex, but I do wish the kids could be helped out so they break the vicious cycle of poverty and addiction.