When You Can’t Afford to Feed Your Child

Even though he has struggled in life, Krishna still has a smile on his face. He is an intelligent young man, so it was hard for him when he had to drop out of school in second grade. Krishna explained, “All my friends used to go to school, but I had to stop going because my family could not afford it.”

Krishna’s mother said, “There was no way we could afford school clothes and supplies for my children. We barely earn any money working in other people’s fields and chopping wood. We went deep into debt borrowing money just to buy food.”

Because they couldn’t even afford to feed Krishna, his family sent him to live at a neighbor’s house. He had to do household chores there, and in return, he got food and shelter.

Krishna said, “I cried when I left my house and my family. And the people I stayed with were not nice to me.” Krishna’s mother said, “I was very depressed after Krishna went away, but I had no choice but to send him. I cried so many times missing my son.”

“I used to cry a lot thinking of my parents,” said Krishna. “I always wished I could live with my own family again.”

Then Krishna’s mother heard from a local pastor about Orphan’s Promise’s “Keeping Families Together” program. She reached out to us. We met her and her family, and heard about their financial struggles, and about Krishna. We found out Krishna’s family had enough land to have a greenhouse. We taught them how and what to plant and gave them everything they needed to get started.

Krishna’s mother said, “I have planted tomatoes, chilies, coriander, and much more. We sell the harvested vegetables to the shop keeper and earn a lot of money that way. I am so happy for all the help I received.”

Now that the family is earning enough money to support themselves, Krishna has come back home. Krishna said, “I am so happy to be back in my own home with my own family. I get to live with my family again, and I am also going to school!”

Krishna’s mother said, “I am so grateful that we get to live together again. I want to thank everyone who helped me return to my family."