Nirmala: Thank you New Zealand
Thirteen-year-old Nirmala will never know the hardship her
remote tribal community used to face. The 18 families living in
Moudipada used to struggle just to survive. They could only eek a
few crops out of their barren land each year and when food dried up
completely they migrated to bigger centres, sleeping rough in the
hope of finding scraps of work.
Health was poor, and access to schooling for children was
non-existent or at best disrupted. World Vision started working
with the community 12 years ago and today Nirmala and her friends
are smiling. Sponsorship dollars from generous Kiwis have allowed
this proud village to establish an irrigation system. Abundant
crops including cucumbers, capsicums, chilies and pawpaws now fill
their fields.
They have enough to eat all year round and as a result health
and nutrition have significantly improved, seasonal migration is a
thing of the past and every child not only attends school but is
expected to complete high school.
In the evenings, adults sip chai while Nirmala and her friends
play the traditional game of gilli dhandha and little ones chase
tyres. This is a community that is doing well - so well in fact
that they can now take care of themselves and their future
development. World Vision will soon be moving on to help another
community in need.
Nirmala has a simple yet heartfelt message for her New Zealand
sponsor: "Thank you."
If you would like to help transform the life of a child like
Nirmala please call 0800 800 776 or go to worldvision.org.nz.