Sabita joined the program in March, 2007. I started sponsoring her in April, 2008. I think she was the child with one of the lowest incomes. I like her big smile!

Sabita lives in rural West Bengal with her parents and her brother, who is one year older. Her father is a daily worker (probably a farm worker) and her mother is a homemaker. In 2009, they had an income of about $32/month. She and her family speak Bengali.

Even though Sabita was just shy of 8 years old when I started sponsoring her, she must have started school only shortly before. Her welcome letter was written by a social worker:

"At the outset of this letter here are my best wishes. I am the Social Worker writing this letter on behalf of SP. Hope you are fine. Sabita and her family are fine here. The child reads in Nursery class and is learning her consonants and vowels now. She spends a lot of time playing with her little friends who live nearby. Sabita and her family are delighted to have you as her sponsor. I am extending the endless thanks that the family wants to have conveyed to you. That's all for now. Yours, Mrityunjay Mondal (for SP)"

MM wrote again for Sabita in August and November, 2 similar letters:

"Dear Ms. J, To begin I wish you and write you on behalf of Sabita Pramanik and I am a social worker. Sabita's parents cannot write. She reads in primary school. She is writing new letters. Her school starts at 11 a.m. Tiffin [lunch] is at 1 p.m. She eats nutritious food in school. At afternoon plays with local boys. [Interesting...] School ends at 4 p.m. She and her family is helped for you helps. Her family conveys thanks for it. Mrityunjay Mondal, SW (for SP)

But by January, Sabita was writing for herself:

Dear Ms. G, I have so pleased to get your nice letter. Hope you are all fine. We are all doing well. You have a pet cat and a pet dog--I am pleased to know it. We have a goat. I am doing my lessons well. Thanking you for your kind help. With love and best wishes, Truly yours, SP

In March:

Dear Ms. J, Please accept my love to you. Hope you are well. We are all well. I read in class II. [Skipping 1st grade, it looks like!] I am studying sincerely. There are 25 boys and girls in our class. I play in the afternoon. I receive all your help. I offer my thanks to you. Yours lovingly, SB

May:

Dear G, I am very happy to get your letter. Hope all of you are well. We are well. I had nice birthday. I got 2 salawar suits from project as your gift. [The regular CI birthday gift.] I am using these nice dresses. I study sincerely. Please accept my thanks.

September:

Dear Ms. J, I convey my love to you. Hope you are all well. We are fine. I am in Std. III. I am studying carefully. I go to tuition [not sure whether she means school, or tutoring at the project center before school] in the morning. I help my mother at home. I play with friends at afternoon. I am privileged to get your helps  & thank you a lot. Yours, SP

This last January:

Dear G--, I am happy to get your letter. Hope all of you are well. We are well. I study in grade III. I have a best friends. Now it is winter here. It is very cold. Now harvesting is over and paddy [rice-growing] is over. I play in the afternoon. We are highly benefitted by your aids. With regards, yours lovingly, Sabita

And a couple weeks ago:

Dear G, I am very happy to get your letter. Hope all of you are well. We are well. I study in grade IV sincerely. I have a brother. He is in grade V. In the afternoon I play with my local friends. We are highly benefitted by your aid. Please accept my thanks, yours lovingly, SP.

The family used their first SNG ($225 or so) to make improvements to their home. Last year, they bought clothes for the children and their mother, household goods, and an almirah. (Looking at my other blog posts, you will see that there's a pattern here: First they buy goods that they need, then they buy storage. Then, usually, they start looking at home repairs or income generation. Sabita's family did some home improvements first because I felt the description of their living conditions in the report warranted directing that the money be used that way.)

They've plastered the exterior walls and added grills and a gate to the verandah. Great smiles from Sabita and her mother; now we have to work on her dad! (More photos showing the rest of the hosue in a comment to the Home Improvements thread.)

This photo shows the edge of the neighboring house:

Sabita's Thank You reads: Dear Sponsor, I start my letter with love to you. I hope you are well. We are all fine. I am doing well in studies. With your financial help we have plastered the 3 outer walls of our house. In addition, we have covered the veranda with grills and fixed a grill-gate at the entrance of our verandah. Now the house looks better than before and has become much safer for us to live in. We are grateful to you for looking after our needs and I thank you for the same. I end with regards. Yours, SP.

October? - CR Letter

Dear Miss Jenkins,
Let me extend my  best wishes to you at first. Hope you are doing well. We are fine here. I read in class IV. In the morning I take private coaching. [A regular benefit of this community center.] Bengali is my favorite subject. I also read other subjects. I have got one elder brother. He reads in class V. It is now monsoon here. Paddy is being cultivated in the field. Everyday in the afternoon I play with my local friends. We are being highly benefitted by your assistances. We extend our thanks to you.
Yours loving[ly],
Sabita P--

November--Education Report

In her last letter she said she's in fourth grade and will start high school next year. But...Indian high school starts at 6th grade. However...Sabita got a late start, and was still in "nursery" class as late as 2 years ago. Evidentally, she's had a couple of "double promotions" since then, and is almost caught up to her peers. So another double promotion didn't sound impossible. To help her along, I sent a donation for tutoring for her and 11 year-old brother, Ganesh, so there'd be no issue with her having extra help and overtaking him.