Hi I’m Teresa! I’ll be volunteering with TAABAR, an NGO in India that supports boys ages 5-15 who have been orphaned, abandoned, or forced into child labour.

I’ll be in Jaipur teaching English and Math to about 40 children in the Bal Basera Shelter Home. I’ll be spending the holidays through January (including New Year) with them so that they can have some semblance of family and love during a time that's usually about togetherness. I’m raising funds that will go directly toward supplies and other essentials for the children at the shelter.

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About the Organization

https://www.taabar.org/child-labour.php (fyi the site doesn't work all the time)

TAABAR operates in Jaipur and rescues children from trafficking, child labour, and the streets. The shelter home provides everything from food and education to counseling, medical care, and ways to be reconnected back to their family when possible.

How your donation will be used

Every dollar raised will go directly to the children at the shelter. I’ll be handing them the supplies and/or cash myself! As for how I'll be using your donation — I honestly won’t know until I’m there :)

I’ll be teaching and living onsite (not in a hotel or any sort of fancy accommodation), and I want to spend time with the kids and staff to truly understand what they need most. Seeing everything firsthand will help me use your donations in the most meaningful way.

What I can promise is this: I will always prioritize longevity, education, and impact in any supplies I purchase over anything flashy or trendy… though I’m sure a small Christmas gift here and there will really brighten the children's day. Potential things I'll be using the donation towards includes: technology, food, school supplies, or presents. I'll also share updates on how the donations are used!

Why I'm doing this, and why it matters

Giving back has always been a meaningful part of my life. Over the years, I’ve spent months at a time volunteering abroad — teaching in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.

My most recent volunteering was in Guatemala where I helped build eco-homes, and I'm now returning to working with children because I’ve seen, again and again, how even one seemingly small moment — being silly together when we're playing a new game, their laughs at my failed attempts to speak their language, or a kid bravely roleplaying in front of the class for the first time — can open up their sense of what’s possible and expand their self-confidence. Kids growing up in hard circumstances deserve all of that, and I hope to bring those moments of inspiration into their lives.

Here’s a glimpse of the bright, curious spirit I’ve seen in so many of the kids I’ve had the joy of teaching in the past!

Nong Khai, Thailand

Tonal Dek Village, Cambodia

Remote village, Laos

Thank you ❤️

Thank you for taking the time to read this. This GoFundMe is entirely my own choice and not required for any reason. It's actually my first time asking for support for my volunteering work. Anything you choose to give will truly mean so, so much to me and to the children at the shelter in India!