Bonnie is now 15 years old and is maturing into a fine young lady. She will enter high school in a few months. It is apparent that without our assistance, she would not be able to attend school. As it is, her family still needs to sacrifice to provide those costs that sponsorship does not take care of. It is a difficult struggle for her family.I saw Bonnie in a different light this time. She is no longer the little girl that we sponsor. She communicates clearly and I was impressed with her poise and confidence. She wants to be a doctor someday, but she will need to study hard and to catch a break here and there for that to happen. Bonnie and her family have become an extended family for Dee and me, and we want to support and encourage her growth. If she is able to succeed, her entire family will benefit.
Even as I think about Bonnie, I find myself wondering how many times this scenario is being played out around the world for other children who are sponsored. They are being given hope, and they can dream of a future that is better than their current reality. But, I see that there is more that we need to do. Driving through the streets of Kolkata, it is apparent that for many there is a daily struggle just to survive today. Tomorrow the struggle will be just as difficult.I know that there are many children that we serve that will not break out of the cycle of poverty their family has been locked into. A child in India, or Kenya, or Honduras still has to have a desire to succeed and they have to work hard. But, if we help, at least they have a fighting chance to get ahead. Bonnie has a chance to dream big, and with determination, she has the opportunity to achieve a level of education and opportunity that no one in her family has ever experienced. That’s certainly worth the price of a few cappuccinos a month.
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