Last year, HoPE Learning Center children shared stories about Hundial savings (money saved for the future in small clay banks, much like western piggy banks).
Eighth grader Iswarya set the bar high when she shared her story. She saved Rs.1500 in one year. This is a respectable sum, more than what many adult day laborers earn in an entire month. So, her parents opened a proper bank account in her name. This transformed her life because she then had power to make decisions about her future.
She still saves most of her money, but she also buys stationery, books, and her school uniforms.
She also loaned her mother Rs.700 when she was unable to pay for a self-employment group loan program from the Village Panchayat. This inspired many of our HoPE students at Marani to start their own savings accounts.
It doesn’t take much to increase the odds of future success for a special child, like Iswarya. Right now, only $9 a month covers the costs of HoPE Center sponsorship, tutoring, lessons, materials and daily mini meals. For only $300 a month, you can sponsor an entire HoPE Learning Center filled with 40 children.
