Ten years old and crippled.
That is how I found her.

I also found intelligence and spark.
A desire to learn, to engage in the world.
Passion.

And a smile big enough for all of India.

Indra’s father was poor and uneducated.
Never allowed Indra to attend school.
Thought physically handicapped meant mentally handicapped too.

Indra.
Destined to live life closed in world of despair.

What would happen when her father passed away?
Few orphanages accept handicapped children.
I would not let her become a child of the street.

I would not let this magical child waste away.

Indra wanted a life…a life of promise and hope.
Yearned for an education.

This is how Indra became the first child at Prema Vasam Orphanage.

Indra thrived.
Grew into a beautiful young woman, inside and out.
Went to school and studied hard.
Became a care-giver to the other children.

In 2005, Indra graduated from High School with honors.
In 2009 she graduated from University with a Degree in Computer Science.
She now wants to earn her Masters’ Degree.

Meanwhile, Indra still lives with us at Prema Vasam.
Helps care for the other children.
Has started a tutoring program for children who live in the nearby village.

Indra is empowerment in action.

Indra needs money to attend Graduate School.
Wants to have a career as an educator.
Yearns to see children with no opportunities thrive like she has.
Indra will make it happen.

I have to raise all the money to keep the orphanage going.
Expenses like our building, clothing, food, medical care, physical therapy, transportation.
Somehow, I make it work.
Will you help?

Help me take more children off the street.
Help to send Indra and others like her to University.

By: Selvyn, creator, manager, chief bottle washer at Prema Vasam, outside Chennai, in Southern India.