There are more than 100 million street and working children in India – a third of them are under 10 years old – begging or working in small industries to support themselves and/or their families.
When RAN’s founder Vijay Meesala was 14, he happened to be walking past a meeting hall and saw some dogs fighting over a few thrown out lunch scraps. The dogs were fighting with a couple of skinny, shabby street children for the scraps! “That scene will never disappear from my mind. Right then I knew that whatever else I did in life, I was going to help children like that.” And, in fact, one of the first accomplishments of Reach All Nations was opening their children’s home. A home Vijay sponsored on his own for the first year. He called it simply “Our Home” because it is in his family’s home village just a stone’s throw from the house Vijay grew up.
Starting with a group of ten, Our Home now cares for 28 children, providing them with food, shelter, medical care, education and the love of Christ. These are boys between the ages of 5 and 20 coming from Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit (untouchables), and tribal communities. Most are poor and semi- orphaned; coming from families who can not afford to send them to school. These children are being given the opportunity to experience security and the bright side of childhood. Our hope is that one day these children will be able to stand on their own feet, independent, responsible and respectable citizens of their country – making a difference for Christ.
For just $30 a month, you can cover the cost of one child’s meals, shelter, tuition, books, uniforms, and a yearly medical checkup.
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