Priyanka’s learnt to swim in just two weeks

Dear Anne, Candy, Mr and Mrs. Jeff Wilson, and Alice and Brad,

Five year old Priyanka’s  mother hails from the village of Al Bariya near Kolkata, India, and was sold into the sex- trade through deception. She works in the Bhandup red light area in Mumbai, and was petrified that her daughter, Priyanka, would also be forced into the sex-trade. She confided her fears in the social worker from Sahaara, who encouraged her to admit Priyanka into Anandalay,­ a shelter home run by Sahaara, for daughters of trafficked women. Priyanka was welcomed into Anandalay on 11th April 2011.

Initially when she came in, she was very withdrawn and suffered from separation anxiety. In a couple of days, she began to mingle with  the children. Over the past days, she has begun to enjoy her freedom and safety and the friendship of the other children. She enjoys good food, loves writing,  colouring and drawing.  She particularly enjoys swimming which she has picked up over an impressively short period of 15 days!  She is also responding well to the houseparents, well-adjusted with the children and is now very talkative.

Priyanka is enrolled in Nursery in one of the quality educational institutions in the locality and looks forward to a bright future afforded by education.

Your generous donations,  Anne (x4), Candy, a donation made in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Williams, and Alice and Brad, will enable Sahaara to bear the cost of tuition for Priyanka, for half an academic year.

Your support will ensure that Priyanka continues attending school and honing her talents, thereby paving the way towards a self-reliant and bright future! Thank you!