Our 1st grader, Ravi, comes from a village not far from the Shanti Bhavan 1 campus. There’s a small local school in his village, but Ravi spent his early days playing outside while his recently widowed mother earned that day’s wages.
But one conversation changed everything.
In 2022, during a visit to Baldev Medical Center, Shanti Bhavan’s community clinic, a staff member told her about a school that offers free education and boarding to children just like Ravi. A few days later, she brought Ravi to see it for herself.
As she stepped onto the Shanti Bhavan campus, she took in the sprawling school grounds, older students in crisp uniforms, and younger children walking in a neat line behind their teacher. She learned that students stay through 12th grade and go on to college—an opportunity unheard of in her family.
And for the first time, she felt hopeful about her son’s future.
Ravi’s story is just one example of how children find their way to Shanti Bhavan.
When Shanti Bhavan opened in 1997, we went door to door in some of the poorest communities. Families were unsure what to make of a school that offered everything for free—a safe home, meals, and a path to college. It sounded too good to be true, but many of them put their faith in us.
Today, thanks to your support, we’ve expanded into new communities with a second campus.
Ms. Sagaya, our head house mother and admissions counselor, visits families to understand their struggles. With her binder filled with photos of children learning, playing music, and celebrating festivals, she helps parents dream of a brighter future for their families.
For many children, poverty is inescapable—but you and I are changing that.
By supporting Shanti Bhavan, you help open doors to a future once thought impossible. You give children the education, mentorship, and tools to break free from poverty—for generations to come.
Thank you for being part of this life-changing journey.
