Four-year-old Pritha * lived with her mother and father in a forest area, surrounded by hills. They needed to cross a stream to reach their field where they raised the food to use and sell for their livelihood. There had been floods in that part of Asia, and the rivers were overflowing. It was treacherous for them, but they found a place where they thought they could cross safely. As the father waded out into the stream, a large rock came rolling down the hill, hitting him on the head and killing him instantly. His wife was terrified and devastated. Going back to her village where she had left her little girl, she was inconsolable. Not only did she suffer the grief and trauma of the accident and losing her husband, she was left with no way to earn a living to support herself and little Pritha.

Instead of recuperating from the tragedy, she fell into a depression that led to her total mental collapse. Fortunately for little Pritha, someone had heard of the ICC Children’s Village and brought her to us. The director said, “She looks so innocent, she hardly speaks a word.” No one can imagine the fears and pain of a little child, who can’t really understand why her world suddenly fell apart. She suddenly lost the two people who were her only security.

Even though nearly all the children who come to ICC are from unknown backgrounds, and they react in different ways, the pain is always very evident. The good news is that in an ICC children’s village they find a safe haven, and they soon begin to feel it. They have a lot of resilience, and when they know that they are safe – no one will hurt them, and they will never be hungry again – the tears and sad eyes turn to smiles.

It’s because of the hope of seeing sad eyes turned to smiles that hundreds of child sponsors have joined together to help ICC provide for the love and care that these children need. More children are waiting to be sponsored. You have the power to provide hope to a child just like Pritha. Won’t you join the ICC family as a child sponsor today? Click here for more information.

*Name has been changed to protect privacy.