Archana joined the program in November 2008. She was only 21 months old, although the minimum age is supposed to be 2 years. I came upon her photo on the CI site in December, and was intrigued by the idea of starting a sponsorship at such a young age. Since my eldest child, Moumita, was graduating soon, I signed on as Archana's sponsor.

Archana lives in the J neighborhood of Kolkata city (near Sarbari) with her parents, 4 year-old sister Anushka, and baby Riya. Her family speaks Hindi. Her 26 year-old father, Ravi Shankar is a day-laborer. When Archana was first registered with CI, he was earning only $36/month (very low for the city). Her mother, Anita, was a 24 year-old homemaker.

When Archana was enrolled in November, she was 2 feet 5 inches tall and weighed 20 lbs. She was too young for school, and enjoyed playing with toys and cars. She slept on the floor with a mat.

Typical of homes in the city, her house is made of concrete (walls, roof, floor), comprises one multi-purpose room and has electricity. There is a clay oven for cooking. Water comes from a community faucet and the sanitary facility is a community latrine.

December - CW Letter

Dear Ms. Jenkins
Archana and her family welcome you to this sponsorship programme. As she is too young, she does not go to school. She has one elder sister named Anushka who is about 3 1/2 years old. Archana likes to play with dolls. She also likes to play hide-and-seek with her sister. Archana sends her love and regards to you and looks forward to your photo and reply.
Mousumi for Archana

Survey on back
Favorite colour: Red and Green
Favorite foods: Everything! (Rice, Fish, Vegetables, Fruit)
Pets: None

2009 - Age 2

January - CP Letter

Dear Ms. G--
Archana and her family became very happy to receive your letter and photo. Through your letter she came to know lot of things about you. Archana is fine here and her parents hope that you are keeping well. Her family likes to convey their thanks for sponsoring Archana and they always pray to god for your health and wealth.
Archana sends her love and regards and looks forward to hear more about you.
Mousumi for Archana

February - Progress Report

In the 3 months since she was enrolled, Archana has grown 2 inches taller and her father's income has increased to $60/month.

February - SNG ($100) Report completed by A Ghosh

Please list the items purchased for the child/family:

• a dress for Archana
• a doll
• set of plastic letters/shapes
• one table fan
• one steel tiffin carrier
• a (kerosene?) stove
• one steel utensil rack
• one steel cannister
• one steel bucket
• transport cost

How will the gifts benefit the family?
"The table fan will provide a lot of relief from heat to the family speciallly during summers. The family can carry food in the tiffin carrier whenever they travel out of the city. The family will use the steel storage container to store large amounts of rice or flour required for their regular consumption. They can keep their kitchen utensils neatly arranged on the steel utensil rack. The child and her sibling can enjoy playing with the doll whenever they want. The cooking stove will replace their earlier clay-oven and make cooking easier and convenient for the mother. The family will store freshdrinking water in the steel bucket provided to them. The set of alphabets, shapes and numbers will help the child to recognize and learn the alphabets and numbers easily. The child will wear her new frock during the forthcoming festivals. The child's mother said, 'We would like to send our sincere thanks and gratitude to my child's Sponsor for the kindness and generosity. We are very happy with the gifts."

Dear Sponsor
Archana and her famly sends their sincere thanks for all the gifts that they have received from you. Archana is very happy to receive a nice doll and a pretty frock. The table fan will be very useful to the family in summers. The family is also grateful to receive such useful household items and kitchen utensils like a steel tiffin carrier, 1 steel storage container for storing rice, 1 steel bucket for storing water & 1 cooking stove to be used during cooking meals. The set of alphabets, shapes and numbers given to the child will help her to learn them easily. Archana and her family likes to convey their love and best wishes to you.
Regards,
Mousumi (on behalf of Archana)

July - CR Letter

Dear Ms. Jenkins,
Archana is fine. She hopes that you are well. She is just 2 years old and does not go to school yet. At home her mother teaches her. She likes to play and plays with her sister. She also studies at home with her sisters. She thanks you for all your support. SHe sends you her love and regards.
Regards,
Aruna Gupta on behalf of Archana

Survey on Back
Favorite clothing: Frock (as opposed to Salwar kameez, Trousers and shirt, Kurta pyjama or Ghagra choli)
Favorite mode of travel: Bus and Rickshaw (as opposed to Train, Boat and Bicycle)

September - CP Letter

Kolkata was affected by a severe cyclone in early June. In my letter I had written that I knew they had a big storm, and how my dog, Buster, is frightened by storms. The letter was illustrated with his picture.

Dear Ms G--,
Archana is very happy to get your letter. Archana and her family convey their thanks. She gets very scared when there is lightening and thunder. Her parents keep her inside the room at that time. Her family is very happy to get help from you. Archana will get new dresses during Durga Puja festival. She likes doll. She likes your dog & its name. She has drawn few lines for you. [Shapes! They were shapes! Either a crooked triangle or a diamond and circle.] Hope you will like it. Please write to her so that she can know you much better through your letter. Thanking you.
Yours sincerely,
Pinki for Archana D--

December - CP Letter

In my reply to Archana's last letter, I thanked her for the shapes and asked if she was learning her colors, too.

Dear Miss Jenkins,
Archana & her family are happy to get your letter. They convey their thanks. Archana is well. They are glad to know about the climate of your place from your letter. They are glad to know that it is snowing there & leaves are falling off. Weather is cold here. Morning is very cold now. We get various vegetables now. We get various flowers. Archana goes to Arganwadi [nursery] school. Her mother teaches drawing. She has learnt colours. They are well. I convey their regards & love.
Yours sincerely,
Kajal Das (social worker) for Archana D--

2010 - Age 3

February - Progress Report

Archana's father is now making $45 a month (down from a spike of $60 at the last report).

February - SNG ($225) Report Completed by M Gupta

Please list the gifts purchased for the family:

• 1 almirah (steel cabinet used as a wardrobe)
• 1 pressure cooker
• 2 steel cannisters
• 1 overnight bag
• 1 handbag for Mom
• 1 sari for Mom
• 1 shirt & trousers for dad
• 1 dress for Archana
• 1 trousers and blouse for Anushka
• 2 containers of mustard oil
• 1 lb honey
• 1 lb butter
• 2 packages of instant noodles
• 1 package of fried grams [chickpeas or chickpea-flour crackers]
• 2 packages of cookies
• 3 packs of mango drink
• 2 lbs "health drink" (Horlicks is like Ovaltine, I think--kind of old-fashioned)
• 4 bars of bath soap
• 1 face cream
• 1 bottle hair oil)
• 1 package of laundry detergent
• 2 Care Bears
• 1 "yo-yo" (I was worried about that for a minute for a 3 year-old--hard toy at the end of a long string and all that--but in the photo it seems to be one of those soft rubber scrunchy things, not what we mean by "yo-yo")
• transport cost