Help Rakhi educate her children

I have known Rakhi for more than a year now. A week after I moved into my apartment, she came to my place. Since I didn't speak the language I was curious as to what she wanted. It turned out she wanted a job of cleaning the house. Even though I didn't really need a maid, I fell in love with her sweet and happy appearance. Over this year I've gotten to know Rakhi and her two children (Arif 8 and Urmila 10), and I couldn't possibly imagine a more kind and hard working woman than Rakhi. Even when she has a temperature I have to convince her she doesn't need to come if she's not feeling well.

Rakhi was married early, and at a age of 25 she has two children, that she works 7 days a week to provide for. Even though she has a big family she doesn't receive any funds, besides the ones she herself works for. Since she cant read or write or have any other skills, her only option is to cook and clean in house holds near to her slum area she lives in. In spite of her low income, she insists her two children goes to a good school. Because she herself cant read or write, she sends them to an after school tutor to help them with homework. Even though government schools are free in India, sending your child to a private school is the only way to secure they later can end the cycle of poverty by getting a job with a possibility of growth (a cleaner will never be able to make more money than the hours in a day allows).

Soon Rakhi's girl will have to move schools since her school only reaches 5th class. When taking admission in a new school a fee will have to be paid, which is the point of this campaign. Rakhi will never be able to raise this money by herself, and I myself will only be able to provide some of it.

One thing is for sure. If Rakhi gets the choice, she will see that her children gets the education she never got - both her boy and her girl. Who know's - if they get a helping hand, they might grow up to do the same for two other children!

Here is Rakhi with her two children in front of their slum house.