When I was young, I vividly remember my mother showing me a picture of a young boy whom I didn’t know and saying, “This is your brother, Andreo. He is very poor and needs our help and prayers so that he can go to school.” Coming from a family of all girls, I was very curious about this new “brother.” Each year, we’d receive hand-written letters from Andreo about his everyday life that I’d devour. I needed to know who he was. I needed to help him. I wrote him letters and cared deeply for his well-being. With every prayer we said, we’d never forgot to include Andreo.
I didn’t know at the time that my mother set us up as monthly financial sponsors for a child through Children’s International. I also didn’t realize until last year when I discovered the box of Andreos letters that not only was he from India but from Kolkata, the city that has grown dear to my heart, the city of the Theotokos Girl’s Orphanage. Coincidence?
Andreo was my first memory on poverty and giving back. I am now working on a new project, and I would love your input:
- How do you, as parents or teachers, teach your children about poverty and giving back. Any resources, books or experiences you can share?
- If you don’t yet have children like me, how did you learn about it?
Your story and experience will help me shape my project tremendously! If you don’t wish to comment here, I’d love to hear by email: christiana@theluckygirlsmovie.com
This week I came home to find a beautiful letter from Sister Nectaria and all the girls at the orphanage wishing me and my husband “every happiness in life” for our marriage. It warms my heart to think that these beautiful souls, my little sisters, took the time to make this. Their wishes mean the world to us! I will be mounting and framing this to keep and treasure forever. 
