Hi! I'm Arush Panda, a grade 9 student studying at Calcutta International School; and I've decided to do something a little different from what I usually do — not to make my applications look pretty or tick off a box, but to help children who really want to learn and grow.

It might be a little hard to believe, but some kids genuinely want to go to school and learn new things. We students (myself included…) often take that for granted. After all, it's easy to forget what school gives us when we're stressing over homework, tests; or even just waking up early in the morning to show up! I can't say I'm not guilty of it either ; I can't even count the amount of days where I've wished I could be anywhere else.

That being said, these children want to go to school — they want the big textbooks, the work we dread doing, and most importantly, the chance for a brighter future.

Trying to wrap my head around the fact that there are kids out there fighting to live through the same days I call boring and hard to get through — and the fact that they can't, usually because their families can't afford it — made me want to help. It's why I’ve chosen to work with SWIS, to help kids smile, learn, and grow, just like I get to.

I'm not asking for much — a donation of ₹900 or more would help a lot in giving a child a full year of education. INR 16,000 supports one child — but I don't want to stop there, I hope to support as many as I can. I can't do it alone, but with your help, I believe we can really make a difference.

Thank you for reading. Have a blessed day!