By Machelle Norling | Director
Anitha is a small young lady with a shy smile and a smart wit. She is a brave young woman living in a country that does not see girls as equal. She decided to move away from home to go to college - which is not typical in India - becasue she wanted to go to a good college. She studies hard and is working toward a bachelor of science degree in optometry.
Anitha starts her second year at Sveetha University in the city of Guntur on June 12th. She has been on summer holiday the past 5 weeks enjoying time with her sisters. As she begins a new year, she will be returning to her hostel, friends and a full semester of classes.
Hope Now pays 100% of Anitha's college and living fees. We believe in her and the power of an education to provide her a stable adult life when she graduates. We are constantly being told our kids "can't", but at every turn they have proven they can!
From the very beginning of this journey more than 10 years ago, we understood our kids would need an advocate to ensure they have the same opportunity as any other child. Living with HIV in India is still a difficult life. Our kids have to knock on many closed doors to be seen, heard and allowed into a society that considers them "dangerous." It is our job to educate people in our community about HIV/AIDS, how the virus is spread and how it is not. These conversations can be fraught with half truths, myths and a cultural bias that complicates the most simple daily tasks.
We are committed to having these conversations for as long as it takes to bring our kids into the communtiy. The kids do their part every day when they get on the bus to go to school, when they sit side by side with other kids taking their year-end exams and when they continue to improve in thier studies with each passing year. We are so very proud of all of them.
As we start another year, with 11 kids currently in college and Anitha going off to another year at University, we ask for your help. We cannot meet our commitments without you. Your support keeps girls like Anitha in college and delivers on the promise we make every day to ensure our kids have a quality education and can reach their full potential.
Thank you for being part of our family. We are so grateful for your support.
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