Shristi is a small, active, happy girl of three. Early in the morning she is already jumping around and she is always stuffing herself with food during lunch. After that she mostly feels so tired, that she sleeps deeply throughout her afternoon nap.
Shristi’s father is disabled; he has weak legs as a result of polio. In Nepal, life for handicapped people is extremely difficult. A lot of people still consider a disability a punishment by the gods for mistakes in a former life. That’s why disabled are often neglected by their families and live as outcasts. Through experience with the youngsters of our Daniëlle Children’s House in Kathmandu, we know that it is possible to overcome this. By building up their self-confidence and offer them a vocational training, they can take care of themselves and receive respect from others.
Also Shristi’s father got those chances, of an American institution, and he now works as a volunteer for an organization protecting the rights of disabled people. Thanks to his positive attitude and positive character, he met his wife and they now have three children. She is an ambulant vendor and earns just enough to fulfill the basic needs of her family. Shristi used to go out on the streets with her mother, but now she comes to the Child ‘N Family center. The parents are very proud of their healthy children. They want them to go to school and learn a profession, so they won’t be dependent of anyone in the future.
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