“I dreamed about sleeping in a house where I didn’t hear the loud noise of rain. I dreamed about riding a scooter to school, having a father and mother, and eating eggs and chicken.”
That’s what eight-year-old Ishaan* told a Life for the Innocent (LFTI) counselor when asked what he dreamed about before he was rescued.
Ishaan grew up in one of the largest red light districts in South Asia. For most of his life, he ran errands for brothel owners, like getting contraceptives, cheap liquor and cigarettes. He earned just 10 U.S. cents per day.
He saw things no child should have to witness, like sexual abuse and murders.
Despite this trauma, Ishaan learned to survive on the streets. When he got sick, he would sniff gasoline to numb the pain. Instead of sleeping outside, he befriended the girls in the brothels and slept on the floor in their rooms after all the customers left.
One day, a man who frequented the brothels gathered a group of children, including Ishaan, and dressed them as school kids with backpacks. He loaded up the children’s school bags every day and told them to deliver the bags to another place. They even walked right by police stations.
However, Ishaan hoped to get that chance and often went to the nearby school. Through the fence, he watched parents drive their kids on scooters and drop them off. He longed for a mom and dad to take him to school, too.
A few months later, Ishaan was rescued and brought to an LFTI transition home.
This is where supporters like you bring critical funding for meals, housing and staff. You create safe spaces for survivors like Ishaan to process and heal from trauma.
Start a $25+ Monthly Gift for Survivors
Your generosity also provides opportunities for children to hear the Gospel. Ishaan loved going to Sunday school and said:
“I remember one Bible verse – the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus comes to give us life and give it in full. I helped people who stole and killed. Now when I hear that Jesus came so I can have a new life, and I can fulfill my dreams…I want that God!
I don’t want to sell cigarettes anymore, I want to play cricket, I want to be able to go to school on a scooter with my parents.”
Your support made Ishaan’s simple dreams a reality.
Ishaan was adopted by a couple vetted through LFTI – and occasionally, just like the kids he used to watch, Ishaan gets to ride to school with his dad on the family scooter!
I’m asking for your help today to serve more children like Ishaan.
In addition to food, housing, education and counseling (which costs $1,485 per child), LFTI is providing masks and COVID-19 tests for all children and staff.
To meet these challenges, LFTI needs an additional $3,000 every month. That’s just 30 more people giving $100/month, or 60 at $50/month. I believe we can hit this goal!
Will you start an automatic monthly gift of $25, $50, $100 or more today?
When you sign up on or before October 15, you’ll be invited to an exclusive Sustainers of Hope video call with LFTI staff for an update and time of prayer together.
