#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.

Pancham 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.

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.

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?

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