Vanshika was born on the floor of a slum hut and wrapped with dirty newspapers. She suffered near death jaundice for her first month of life. Her parents couldn't afford to give her birth at a hospital and no one was there to help.

Both of her parents are HIV+. They are often sick and can not work to provide for Vanshika and she's forced to go to bed hungry, having only water for dinner. In the slum she lives in, education is not a priority, work is the priority. And there is no age restrictions when a child can began to earn by working.

Vanshika was a very smart girl and often played teacher in her slum. But her greatest fear was that she would never get to attend school. She was sent to work at the market sitting on the ground selling vegetables. She would have to sit there until 10pm each night hoping to make just a few pennies. She would often doze off, then a customer would rudely wake her up by smacking her in the face or waking up and seeing her vegetables were stolen.

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Nagpur, Children's Center

Nagpur, India

Nagpur, India (Street Ministry)

Nagpur, India

Nagpur, India

11 years, Nagpur, India

Mumbai