Charanya* is a middle school student who is just as determined as her grandmother. Despite her age and health challenges, Charanya’s grandmother grows cassava and does hard labor to provide for Charanya and her younger brother.
Before receiving a scholarship from The Freedom Story, both children spent weekends foraging for food to eat and sell. Often, they had to borrow money from others, just to eat.
This reality could have easily forced Charanya to drop out of school—making her vulnerable to exploitation.
But today, Charanya is still in school. She has also learned ways to help her family while learning life skills such as growing vegetables and making homemade snacks. She sells these foods in her community and at school, easing some of the financial burden that her grandmother faces.
““I want to complete my education so I can get a stable job and take care of my grandmother and younger brother,” says Charanya. “Thank you to The Freedom Story for this scholarship and for giving me the courage to dream bigger.”
Charanya is growing as a leader, passing on knowledge and setting goals for the future. But without consistent support—her path toward freedom is not guaranteed. Students like Charanya rely on the gifts of monthly donors to continue their education and break cycles of poverty and exploitation.
Keeping a child in school is the single most effective way to prevent trafficking. In addition to mentoring and support from our staff, our students, and their families, receive the human rights and sustainable livelihoods training they need to thrive long term.
This spring, we’re welcoming 25 of the most vulnerable children into our program—kids like Charanya, who are at serious risk of dropping out of school to support their families. A monthly donation of $60 keeps a child in school for an entire year, but until April 30, that impact can go twice as far thanks to a monthly match. Learn more here.
*We changed the student’s name to protect her privacy.
Want to learn more about our holistic approach to prevention? Watch this video about our Freedom Chapter below.
