The video call was relatively quiet until Radha* popped her face onto the screen. “Do you know my name?” she asked Katie Leonard, Back2Back staff and Hope Program mentor, in a voice deeper than expected for a young girl. “So many of the girls are timid with me, so Radha’s pop quiz surprised and delighted… Read more
Suhani* has lived on the Back2Back campus for eight years. To those who don’t know her well, she comes across as quiet, but inquisitive. Her soft spoken nature requires visitors and friends, alike, to lean close to hear what she has to say, but like so many who speak softly and sparingly, what she does… Read more
As India is hit with another round of COVID outbreaks, children who normally live on the India Hope Campus are still living and learning with their extended families. “There is a lot of uncertainty and with the risks involved, we want to keep the children as safe and healthy as possible against the virus,” shared… Read more
For many who call the slums home, having money to feed their families takes precedence above all else. Children are enrolled in schools, but if money gets tight, children are kept home and asked to work alongside their fathers. These tough decisions aren’t made to intentionally keep children from their education. A young man in… Read more
For many students in the developed world, education can feel like an obligation. It is a means to get a job, to live on your own, to seek and gain success. For those in still developing countries, education is often seen as a privilege. Gender, economic status, geography, and safety for the poor, the marginalized,… Read more
The girls at a partnering children’s home in India come from all over. Their families, nomadic herders by trade, are known for moving often and without much warning. This way of life makes education difficult, as the children aren’t often around for entire school years. Transitions can be difficult for everyone, but for nine young… Read more
Ours starts similarly to how any conversation between two strangers begins. What’s your name? How old are you? What’s your favorite color? The only difference – I am in a foreign land, sweating profusely, and I am thinking of questions to interest a 13-year old boy. That was five years ago on my first trip to India,… Read more
The Strong Families Program in India has allowed staff to witness the dedication of the students who are given fresh opportunities to pursue their educational dreams. Even when school went virtual for the students, they remained focused on their studies and asked for helping when it was needed. Adya*, a young girl in the program,… Read more
The aroma in the slums is strong. Daily, men faithfully show up to sort through remnants of leftovers and recyclable materials, taking their job seriously. It’s with this work they care for their families – the sorting and piling, and like any job, there are advantages and disadvantages. To abate the smell of what they’re… Read more
As Hope Education Program students are returning to university and living away from the campus they’ve called home for so many years, they are building new and lasting relationships. One young man, Ari*, recently celebrated his birthday, but due to restrictions, his mentor wasn’t able to be with him in person. Birthdays have always been… Read more