Thanks to Kati Cysarek, we were able to successfully establish a new partnership in India.
Kati spends 5 months a year in India and, together with her team, oversees several educational projects. Her focus is on empowering street children and teacher training. In Germany, she founded the Damini e.V. association together with friends to support this work.
Thanks to Kati's commitment, we became aware of the impressive life story of young Pooja. Until she was 9 years old, she lived on the streets with her alcoholic parents and was mainly responsible for childcare of the youngest children, but was also regularly forced to beg. Despite all these obstacles, Pooja completed her school education as part of the Damini program and worked as a trainee educator in the Montessori-oriented Damini kindergarten with street children. During the Corona pandemic, Pooja suddenly had to take over the care of her entire family. At just 24 years old, she looked after her parents, who were struggling with alcohol problems, two of her sister's children, her two mentally disabled sisters and two other siblings. She also became the central contact point for medical emergencies in her social environment.
Unfortunately, Pooja passed away unexpectedly in November 2023. This loss has hit both us and the entire community deeply. Pooja was a highly valued personality, known for her helpfulness and commitment to the community. The initiative we funded was to enable Pooja to complete a dual training course that included both official certification as an educator and practical training. The school fees amounted to 200 euros, and she also received a mini salary of 150 euros. During her training, all of the children Pooja looked after on a voluntary basis were given a place in school and kindergarten. Pooja's financial support promoted both her training and the education of the children she looked after.
In her memory, we are now working to find suitable care solutions for the children she left behind and to secure their future. We are keen to support those who depended on Pooja's care and to honour her selfless devotion.