Meet Raj and Munu: two international students at Syracuse University who have found a way to sponsor a child on a limited budget.
“We wanted to be part of Ganga Ghar’s one-to-one sponsorship since the program started in 2009 with 5 children. However, being international students, we had some financial obstacles. We had donated money in the past, but sponsoring a child was a commitment we thought we weren’t ready for. So, despite our genuine interest to help, we chose to just be moral supporters of the program.
A few years went by, and Ganga Ghar’s sponsorship program grew leaps and bounds. One day, we heard the “last lecture” by the late Professor Randy Pausch. It changed our perspective and eloquently inspired us to rise above our obstacles: “The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They are there to stop the other people.”
So, in 2012, when children were looking for sponsorship, we decided we didn’t want to just be bystanders. We started looking for ways to make it happen and realized the solution was right in front of us.
One cold evening, we were strolling around the University, and in our routine stop at Starbucks, Munu suggested sharing a coffee instead of buying one for each of us. Even though I thought it was a loving gesture, I knew there was more to her suggestion. When she explained we could then save $2.45 toward sponsoring a child, I instantly agreed. My mathematical mind quickly calculated that we’d save $122.50 from 50 Starbucks trips in a year. We bought our shared coffee and each took a sip. We couldn’t help but feel it was the most heartwarming coffee we had ever had. When we went home, we found a jar and labeled it “Ganga Ghar fund.” We dropped in our $2.45 saved earlier and began this journey of giving.
Since that day we have found more ways to add a few dollars to the jar. Some days it’s the full amount of entrée saved by buying half-price online deals; other days it’s just 5 cents earned for each can we return. Either way, it adds up quickly.
Within about 6 months, we had saved enough to sponsor a child (Sachin) without compromising on anything we previously did or spent money on. Just by regular saving, using daily deal sites, ordering free samples, and being more conscious of our spending.
So, in short, we want to encourage everyone considering sponsoring a child to give it a go. We assure you that it will be the most rewarding investment you will ever make. Possibilities are endless; all you need is a sincere desire to help. The rest will find its way!”