If there is a common thread that ties parents around the world together, it is a love for their children. Sheela and Deepa are two such parents – mothers of children who attend Zamar Academy, a Student Hope member school in the seaside city of Chennai, India. This Christ-centered schools has transformed their families. Here are their stories:
Sheela’s family immigrated from Nepal to India so that her husband could find work. He was an alcoholic for many years, spending most of his earnings on his addiction. Sheela, who has only a 4th grade level of education, was desperate to enroll her sons, Eshwar and Durga, in a quality school. They had experience a six-year lapse in their education and had not yet learned the alphabet. Sheela had little hope for them until they were taken in by Zamar.
Once the boys enrolled, the teachers paid special attention to them, and Eshwar has since skipped two grades, catching up with his peers.
Sheela described the deeper spiritual effect Zamar has had on her family. Strong Hindus, they were surprised to observe Eshwar and Durga praying to Jesus before bed.
“The very inspiring and heart-touching fact is that the moral values my children learned at school, they practiced at home,” said Sheela. “They refused to join with us for poojas (Hindu religious ceremonies). Only because of my children, my family has been transformed. We now have a peaceful atmosphere.”
For the children’s sake, Sheela and her family have stopped going to the Hindu temple to worship.
“I thank Zamar Academy for building hope and confidence in us, that my children will surely come to a higher level,” she said.
Deepa’s husband is also an alcoholic. Working as a mason, he provides 500 rupees (just over $12 USD) per week for his family. The couple have a son and a daughter. Their daughter, Manikavalli, was admitted to pre-school at Zamar Academy.
“She used to be very timid at home because of seeing her father’s cruel treatment,” Deepa said. “It was a big surprise for me to see my daughter talking with much confidence. She says that she enjoys coming to school.”
Deepa’s son was in 1st grade at a government school at the time, and had not yet learned to write the alphabet. Manikavalli, who was excelling at Zamar, taughter her older brother, which inspired the boy to ask his mother if he could also enroll at his sister’s school. He is now able to read and write well.
Deepa’s family, too, experienced spiritual change recently. “At home when we offer Hindu prayers, they both pray in the name of Jesus Christ,” said Deepa. “They are warning us not to worship idols. Now we have stopped compelling them [to do so]. We thank Zamar for bringing such a change into my children’s lives.”