The children of Rainbow Children Home have all come to us from a range of unfortunate and difficult circumstances. From losing parents and becoming orphaned, to being abandoned by family members. Some children have been brought to us by family members unable to care for them, whilst others we have rescued. Each child has a unique story to tell but they all share a common goal – to receive an education, a healthy and safe home and a positive upbringing ensuring a bright future, despite the difficult hand that was dealt to them at an early age.

To provide an understanding of the circumstances to which these children have come into the care of Rainbow Children Home, we would like to share a few of their heart-rending stories. Names have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

Kamala was welcomed into our home at 10 months of age when she lost her mother to cancer, as her paralysed father was unable to continue caring for her alone. We rescued brothers Bishnu and Prabin who witnessed domestic violence and were eventually abandoned by their father and left homeless and begging on the streets, with their mother spending any money received on her alcohol addiction. Shiva, Suman and Babita were living in a slum area by the river. Their father had abandoned them and their mother had a chronic respiratory disease and could not earn enough money to feed them. Rishi at just 4 years of age walked for 15 days with his uncle from a remote mountainous village to reach RCH. His father had passed away from a tragic accident and their mother was unable to take care of all the small children in the family independently.

Mahesh fell from a balcony when he was small and as a result was left with a physical deformity needing medical treatment that his family could neither access nor afford. Ritika aged 4 at the time had both parents living with the HIV/AIDS virus. Her father unfortunately passed away and her mother was hospitalised in a critical condition. Durga lost their mother during childbirth and at just 6 years of age was forced to abandon her education to help raise her younger siblings. Sunita’s father was injured during the war and lost his leg. Her mother also suffered from malnutrition and was unable to work and provide for the family. Nikesh came to RCH with his grandmother who was seeking employment for herself and education for her grandson. Nikesh’s father suffers from a mental illness and his mother was unable to look after both her husband and son. RCH took them both in with the grandmother helping to look after the children and tending to the vegetable garden and Nikesh thriving at school.

Lastly we would like to share the incredible story of one of our boys. Born out of wedlock, Milan’s mother was abandoned by her husband. She remarried on the condition that she abandon her son. She arranged for grandparents to take Milan but they disowned him. He was left to wander the neighbourhood, scavenging for food and eating whatever was given to him. He slept in the fields and by rivers, often wandering through the National Park and even sleeping there, where he was at risk of being harmed by wild animals. He would cross rivers that became treacherous during monsoon season. When he tried to return to his grandparent’s home, his grandfather would beat him. None of his other relatives would take him in. Milan would walk for three hours to visit his mother, but each time he would be thrown out by his stepfather. After two years of living like this he was rescued by RCH at the age of 4.

We are forever amazed at the resilience and zest for life that our children possess. The distressing circumstances that have brought them to RCH have not dampened their outlook on life. They are confident, outgoing and friendly children who try their best at their studies. They truly value their education and appreciate the safe and nurturing environment and new family they have here at Rainbow Children Home. We are so proud of them and the journey they are on.