Sponsorship makes the difference

Growing up hasn’t been easy for Fanindra and his elder brother, Bhaskar. Fanindra is a 17-year-old boy from Kolkata. He lives with his elder brother and mother, Sunita, in a rented house. Their father has been missing since 2014. 

Fanindra’s father didn’t have a stable job; he would do whatever he could find to support the family. He mostly worked on the film set as a spot boy, assisting film crew in carrying camera equipment, serving snack to the technicians, and doing odd jobs around that place. But this too wasn’t regular.

The lack of a suitable job and his inability to provide for his children and the household often kept Fanindra’s father depressed and worried. Gradually, he started going into depression. Fanindra’s mother, Sunita managed home and the children. 

One morning just like every other day, Fanindra’s father had left home for work, but he didn’t return home. The family considered every option to locate him, but all their efforts proved futile. It has been four years since Fanindra’s father has gone missing. Now, the family lives with hope that Fanindra’s father would return some day. 

Fanindra’s elder brother Bhaskar was the first to enroll in Nutan Jeevan Foundation's (NJF) Sponsorship Program some years ago. After his father went missing, Bhaskar was compelled to leave the program in order to earn and support the family. He works at a cellphone shop, earns 4000 INR a month which is not adequate to make ends meet. Sunita has been working as a maid since three years to generate some additional income for the family.

Fanindra joined the Sponsorship Program in 2012. Today, Fanindra is in grade 10 and preparing for his board exams. Blessed with the gift of photography, Fanindra aspires to become a professional photographer in future.

The Sponsorship Program has been a huge blessing for Fanindra and his family. Children enrolled in this program receive regular school supplies that include text books, stationeries, monthly tuition fees, school bag, school uniform and one-time yearly admission fees. This aside, periodic medical camps are organized every year. The program also provides full reimbursement for medical consultation done at a private clinic and the cost of medicines.

Sunita says, “Had it not been for NJF's sponsorship program, I couldn’t think of sending my children to school and educating them this far. The support Fanindra has been getting from the center has helped to alleviate our financial burden to a great extent. The extra coaching my son receives at the center five days in a week is a huge boost for his education, besides it relieves me from having to pay a hefty tuition fees outside.”