By Mary Julie | Programs Director
Siva, the newspaper boy aspires to become a Tamil teacher and support his sibling sister in the future.
Siva is 17 years old and he is in his first year college with Tamil as the main subject. Six years before, he was found by Buds of Christ as a neglected child referred by the Govt Hospital. He was shabbily dressed and weak. He had no interest in his studies and had no aim for his future.
Siva is the first child and his sibling sister (12 years) became orphans when both their parents died to a chronic disease 7 years back. Both these children have also been affected by the illness from their parents. As Siva' s sister's immunity was very less, she was started early on treatment, but Siva did not have any idea about his health status.
After their parent's death, both Siva and his sister had to move to two different families, i.e. their father's sisters who came forward to look after them. The care was less for both Siva and his sister, but Siva's sister was in a much worse condition. When she was in class 5th, she lost interest in studies and her aunt encouraged her to beg for money. When this issue was observed during a field visit by Buds of Christ to their home, she was rescued from her aunt and sent to the hostel for girls and is now doing her class 7th in a government school.
And Siva when he was in his class 8th, he was advised for treatment for his health condition. He took the medication casually, not understanding its consequences. There was nobody in the family to guide him, nor show concern. It was then he started attending support group meetings held at Buds of Christ. Even there he was very playful and it took him almost two years to understand the condition. Slowly after meeting and interacting with peers like him he started building hope for his future. He cleared his 10th and 12th grade and got admission into a BA degree course.
He is now very positive about his health and aims to complete his education to become a Tamil teacher. He also works on part-time as a newspaper delivery boy to save an income and also buy special things for his sister during his visit to the hostel. Siva is an inspiration to his peers at Buds of Christ and he loves joking around with them.
By Mary Julie | Director, Programs
By Mary Julie | Director, Programs
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