Children From Hard Places
As we gathered for Orphan Sunday 2025 in Pune, our hearts were drawn to a group of children from hard places whose stories often remain hidden. These are boys and girls who wake up each day in environments most of us cannot imagine. They grow up in unsafe neighborhoods, surrounded by poverty, exploitation, and neglect. Some have been abandoned, trafficked, or left to survive on the streets. Others wait in institutional care, longing for someone to look them in the eye and say, “You matter.”
In communities like Budhwar Peth (one of the largest red-light districts in India), childhood is stolen far too early. There, children live with daily danger and broken systems. Their wounds are not only physical; they carry deep emotional scars formed by fear, instability, and loss. And yet, despite everything, they dream. They hope. They long for something better.
Orphan Sunday calls us to stop and truly see them, not as statistics or distant realities, but as children created with purpose, who deserve love, protection, and a nurturing family. They are waiting for people who will step into their stories with compassion and courage.
Every child is designed by God to grow up in a safe, permanent, and loving family. This is not only a goal; it is a right and a calling to us as the Church and as a community. Even the smallest act of prayer, advocacy, or support can rewrite the story of a child who has known only hardship.
There was truly no better way to mark Orphan Sunday this year than to stand among these children in some of the hardest places.
A Day of Joy in the Streets of Budhwar Peth
On 19 November, 145 children, along with several mothers, gathered for a special Orphan Sunday celebration right in the center of the red-light district. The streets that usually echo with pain and brokenness rang instead with laughter, games, fun treats, and fellowship.
Among the children was Neena (name changed), a little girl with a sparkle in her eyes, maybe six or seven years old. She seemed eager to talk. After the event ended, I noticed her looking for a moment to connect. As I approached her, she quickly bent down to touch my feet, a cultural gesture of deep respect and gratitude.
I immediately embraced her, and in that simple hug, I felt God’s heart move.
What she expressed was more than thanks. It was a longing to be seen and valued. I left that place carrying these children in my heart, especially Neena. I hope to return soon to explore how we might help these precious children grow up in safe and loving families.
The Church Responds
120 churches in Pune and 80 more churches across the state of Maharashtra participated in Orphan Sunday 2025. They prayed, shared stories, raised awareness, and opened their hearts to the needs of vulnerable children.
The Church in India is rising with compassion, responsibility, and Gospel-driven love to stand with every orphaned and vulnerable child in our nation.
One of the most powerful parts of this movement is the way churches and NGOs work together. As a ministry leader and a Regional Ambassador for World Without Orphans, I see firsthand what collaboration makes possible. When churches, community organizations, and leaders unite around a shared purpose, hope multiplies. Impact grows. Children are protected. Families are strengthened. And entire communities experience transformation.
A Movement Beyond One Day
As Orphan Sunday concluded, we were reminded that this is far more than a one-day observance. It is a call to a lifelong movement.
May God strengthen us to carry this movement into our cities, villages, and streets until every child is seen, known, loved, and placed in a safe and nurturing family.
Together, the Church in India will make a difference — one child, one family, one community at a time.
Anu Silas
WWO Regional Ambassador, South Asia
Founder & Executive Director, Vanitashray
