Sandesh’s Story in his own words
Finding hope and community
“I was all alone, my mum died and my dad was always drunk and didn’t want to look after me. On the streets I joined a gang, they helped me survive. But it was very hard – we had to steal and sometimes older kids and grown-ups treated me badly and would hurt me.
Things got better when I met Sunita [a Kidasha outreach worker]. She was kind to me and made me feel safe. Over time she persuaded me to go to their centre. Here I have somewhere to sleep, I eat good food and people look after me.
They are helping me get better – when I was hungry and cold I used to sniff glue which made things feel better, but now I’ve have stopped. I am learning to cook and care for myself and I now go to school.
I used to think I would die on the streets but now I am hopeful. I’ve started visiting my dad and step-mother at the weekend. I plan to study hard and my ambition is to join the army.”
Sandesh, age 14 at time of sharing his story
Donate today to enable children and young people living in chronic urban poverty to have safer brighter futures.