So often we hear about orphaned and vulnerable children “falling through the cracks” of broken systems. At Restoring Hope, we believe those cracks are created by impossible choices—choices made by loving caregivers who are doing everything they can to help their families survive.

Sumani’s* story reminds us that for many families in rural South Asia, survival is a way of life. And without education and support, children can become trapped in a cycle of poverty that is almost impossible to escape.

A CHILDHOOD SHATTERED

After years of domestic violence, Sumani’s childhood was shattered when her mother died while she was still very young. Soon after, her father abandoned the family. When he later passed away in an accident, Sumani and her brother were left entirely in the care of their aging grandmother.

Grief, instability, and uncertainty became part of everyday life.

For her grandmother, raising grandchildren was not only an emotional burden—it was an economic one. With no social or financial safety net and with her own health declining due to cancer and diabetes, she faced heartbreaking decisions. Sending Sumani to work as a domestic helper felt like a necessary survival strategy. Later, the pressure turned toward early marriage, not as a loss of Sumani’s dreams, but as a desperate attempt to ensure protection and security for her future.

PICKING UP THE PIECES

This is where Restoring Hope’s family-based care and locally led solutions make a lasting difference.

Through our long-term presence and partnership with the local church, Sumani’s family was not overlooked. Local pastors and social workers came alongside her grandmother with dignity, practical support, and discipleship. They addressed the financial pressures that made child labor and early marriage feel unavoidable and provided the emotional and spiritual encouragement needed to protect Sumani’s education.

Instead of removing a child from her family, we strengthened the family—helping a caregiver remain at the center of her granddaughter’s life while building a path toward self-sufficiency and hope.

A GOOD KIND OF BROKEN

Today, Sumani is a top-performing college student. She is pursuing vocational training while also working toward a degree through distance learning, and she dreams of one day working in finance. Most importantly, she no longer views her future through fear, but with confidence—and her faith in Jesus continues to grow.

This is what breaking cycles of poverty looks like. When local leaders lead the change, when families are supported rather than separated, and when education and discipleship are protected, children like Sumani are given the opportunity not just to survive—but to thrive."