Rita is in the second grade at school, and also attends Sunday school and church. Her duties at home include cleaning, animal care, and carrying water. She loves to play hide-and-seek and sing. She lives with both parents; her mother is unemployed and her father is sometimes employed as a mason in the village.

Rita lives in the dry hillside community of Desia and Bhumia, home to approximately 9,000 residents. Typical houses are constructed of dirt floors, mud walls and tile roofs. The primary ethnic group is Oriya and the most commonly spoken languages are Tribal and Kui. The regional diet consists of bread, rice and potatoes. Common health problems in this area include malnutrition and malaria. Most adults work as day laborers and earn the equivalent of $27 per month. These communities need vocational skills training and improved sanitary conditions. Your sponsorship allows the staff of Ashisho Sishu Bikas Kendra Child Development Center to provide your sponsored child with Bible teaching, health checkups, vaccinations, hygiene education, games, picnics, birthday celebrations, tuition and field trips. The center staff will also provide health and hygiene education, income generating activities and Bible studies for Rita’s parents.

E-mail instructions:

1) Go to www.compassion.com

2) log in: celina band

       ritadongri

3) Click on the “For Sponsors and Donors” tab at the top of the page

4) Click on the “Connect with your child” tab on the left

5) Click on the link that says “online”

6) Type your message, then enter your e-mail below if you want to receive conformation that Compassion received your letter, but please DO NOT click the box that says “update my file with this e-mail address”