This year New Chapter is raising money for a little girl called Aishwarya.

When visiting India in 2015, Rachael Carver (Divisional Manager at New Chapter) met a 5-year-old girl called Aishwarya playing on the street during Diwali - the festival of light; which is celebrated all around the world by lighting candles and fireworks.

Once Rachael and her family had finished lighting their firecrackers, Aishwarya noticed the disappointment on their faces and asked her father (a shop assistant) to give them some more so they could continue to celebrate and have fun.

We recently found out Aishwarya was adopted and that her adopted father died in a road accident a few months ago. Her adopted mother has been rejected by her family for raising a child that is not her own, leaving her without support and she is unable to pay her rent or pay for Aishwarya to go to school.

Hundreds of millions of people in India are trapped by caste and gender discrimination and by the cycle of poverty which results in child labour and therefore no education.
• Half of all children in India are malnourished
• One out of every three girls growing up will not finish primary school
• 60% of adults unable to read or write.

Aishwarya has very little however, this doesn't stop her from giving to others. Therefore, we have decided to sponsor Aishwarya this year. The money we raise will go towards her rent so she has a home, for her schooling so she has an education, as well as her healthcare and living costs.