Lakshmi and her sister, Mounika, were born to a poor family in a rural part of India. Lakshmi's family is from the Chamar Caste whose traditional work is making leather sandals. However, modern industrialization has left traditional work like this behind and along with it, the people who have done that work. With no resources for education and advancement, these outcasts fall farther behind. Lakshmi's parents were approached by a human trafficker to have their daughters come and work in the rock quarries. Reluctantly, at 9 & 10 years old, they let their daughters go with the agent to work in the quarry.
Work in the quarry is torture for any child, but especially young girls. Sharp rocks are moved by children in bare feet to make way for heavier equipment. Workers in these quarries only receive a subsistence meal once a day, and they have no access to clean water. Once they enter the quarry, no one is allowed to leave. A local village leader learned of the Lakshmi, Mounika and the 20 other children working this quarry, and he sent a covert team to organize their rescue. At night, a coordinated rescue team dropped rope ladders over the wall around the quarry, and helped the children climb out of the mine.
Today, Lakshmi is 13 years old, and she lives at The CFC Children's Home. She hopes to become a seamstress so she can provide for herself and others.
When you sponsor Lakshmi, you take care of her needs for food and education. You'll get updates from time to time about how you've made a difference and learn about the significant things happening in her life.
When you do what you can For One, you help end child slavery for good.
Dozens of other children are waiting to be connected with a sponsor. See their stories.
*The name used is a pseudonym to protect this child’s identity.