Riya joined the program in July 2009, when she was 5. I started sponsoring her in August. I was struck by how calm and self-possessed she looked in her little pink dress (and I'm glad to see her current photo also shows a happy, confidant child). 

Riya lives in a village in West Bengal with her parents and her baby sister, Mu. Her father is a carpenter and her mother is a homemaker. Her family speaks Bengali.

The reason I decided to sponsor her was that originally, the family income was listed as $5 (!!!) a month. The average for a simple day laborer in these communities is $30-$35. So I was concerned that this family had some sort of trouble not apparent from the limited info available on the "Sponsor Me" page. (I also considered the possibility of a typo--a dropped digit in the income figure, or some sort of temporary disruption in income.)

After she was added to my account, I sent an inquiry about the income. Within a couple days it had been corrected to $53. So that was a relief. I also sent a letter about myself and an SNG of $175, which I hoped would be used for a latrine as well as other needs.

Riya sent me a welcome letter, too. She was already able to write nicely in Bengali. Her first letter read: "I welcome you to the sponsorship programme. I am very happy to have you as my new sponsor. I thank you for it. I hope you are well. I am fine. I study in Grade 1. I like to read rhyme books. I like to play ball. I am grateful to you for your sponsorship. I send you my love and regards. Your's lovingly, RK"

In the answer to my welcome letter to her (which arrived about the same time), she wrote: "I am very happy to get your letter. I like your photo. Your's and photo of your dog and cat. Hope you are well. I am well. I stay in a village. We have a market, a high school, a primary school, post office and bank in my school [village]. The communication system of my village is very good. I have a sister. Her name is Mou. We are grateful to get your help. With love, Riya."

That line about the communications system cracks me up, coming from a 5 year-old. (I wonder if it's telecomm, or grapevine?)

Apparently, the instructions about the SNG money were separated from the transmission because I sent them along with the inquiry about the family income. (Sahay prefers to handle these separately.) So the family chose to purchase a family bed, a ceiling fan and some clothing and school supplies for Riya. Oh well. The photos show a slightly less self-possessed Riya with her family, somewhat unhappy because Mu is fussing in the photos, I think.

Letter (rcd April; written ?):

DEAR MISS JENKINS, Hope you are doing well. I am fine my family is also doing well. I read in Grade I. I like to read Bengali boI go to school at 10 a.m. Our school gives over at 3 p.m. I play with dolls with my friends in the afternoon. We are grateful to you for your help. Love to you. Your loving RK.

2010 SNG UPDATE

Riya's SNG report came in a while ago, shortly before my house was burglarized and my laptops stolen. Today I got the doohicky that will let me walk photos from my printer to the loaner laptop I'm working on, so I can finally post.

I had sent $235 and asked (again) for a latrine to be built. Unfortunately, it turns out that there's no room on the family property for a latrine. (!!!!) Which was in the report on the money sent last year, but it was on the 2nd page which must have gotten separated somehow, because I never got it. Debbie found it in the original file when she started checking to see why there was no explanation.

But the purchases made with the money make for much better photos!

child's bicycle (with all the trimmings!)
doll and toys for the child (and her sister)
mattress (for the platform bed they bought last year)
4 frocks, 1 skirt for the child
2 sarees for mother
2 frocks for child's sister
shirt & trousers for father
50 kgs rice
1 brass water pitcher
6 brass plates and 6 brass bowls
1 brass bucket

Riya turned 7 in April 2011. Read her 2011 blog here.

For more about life in India, see Jasmina's story.