Our story begins with the story of ten year old Anthony.
In 2010, the founder of IIF met Anthony who had just lost his father. A peasant farmer in this region, Anthony’s father contracted tetanus after he cut himself while out in the garden. Due to lack of proper medical care, he unfortunately succumbed to the disease, leaving behind his pregnant wife and five other children. Anthony is the second born.
At the age of 10, Anthony resorted to working in people’s farms in order to raise his education fees. His needs were not only lack of education but also food for his family.
We took him on and started supporting 100% of his education needs. When IIF was started, in 2014, he became our first sponsored child.
Anthony is 17 today and heads his family, his mother having moved to another town to look for work. He earns a living through a chapati stand from which he makes about $10 in profits, every week. He uses these funds to buy food for his siblings.