Jitendra - an exceptional orphan

  

Jitendra is a boy now studying in class five of our Mujehra Primary School.  He has four sisters and one elder brother.  Their father worked as a Watchman in Mumbai, until he died of a heart attack in 2009.  Their mother, who had been suffering from tuberculosis, died a few months later.  

 

Being without any means of support, the children had to make changes to survive.  Jitendra's brother dropped out of school to find a job to support the family and became a taxi driver in Mumbai where he earns about rupees 2,000 (£20) a month, most of which he sends back to the family.  Jitendra's two elder sisters married early and now live with their husbands' parents.  That left Jitendra and his two younger sisters at home.  Sujata who is about 15, dropped out of school to look after the house and Pooja (13) is studying at a Government school. 

  

Jitendra secured a place in Project Mala's Mujehra School in 2010.  Due to him being mal-nourished, his health is not good.  He has poor eyesight and is very weak.  The school has been trying to restore his health by giving him vitamin supplements and sent him to an optician for an eye test, after which he was provided with spectacles.  At the school he is given a breakfast and a hot midday meal.  Outside school hours he works on an agricultural holding and collects wood for his sister.

  

Since joining our school, Jitendra has worked hard and is one of our brighter children.  He came top in class 3 in the end of year exams in March 2013 and his teachers think he will pass to join our middle school at Guria next year.  We are all hoping that his health improves so he can reach his academic potential and secure the financial future of the family.