The Sudara team just returned from visiting our partner organizations in India – and we were honored to bring six incredible advocates with us.
These advocates aren’t staff members, they are passionate humans who are deeply woven into our mission.
Through their support, leadership, and advocacy in their communities, they help make our work possible.
John Foundation
Our first stop was John Foundation in Hyderabad, which has grown from one to three campuses since its inception. It was amazing to arrive on India’s Republic Day and celebrate with John Foundation staff, and women and children on campus during the festivities.
We visited the skills training centers, where 20 vocational training programs are equipping young women with practical skills, confidence, and real pathways to independence. Each space told a story of possibility, resilience, and hope in action.
After finishing their programs, 90% of our graduates find immediate work at the career fair held on campus. Approximately 10% become entrepreneurs.
We also spent time in the children’s classrooms, witnessing curiosity and joy firsthand. Education is key to empowerment, independence, and freedom.
The first day concluded with a beautiful ceremony where children and young women shared dances and spoke with pride and courage, celebrating their growth, their dreams, and their futures.
While we were at John Foundation, the Sudara team and our advocates also had the honor of leading a series of meaningful and joy-filled workshops with the women and children.
Matt Collins from the Sudara team led a creative session on music and sound, teaching students how to make rain sticks and exploring the beauty of music, complete with lots of smiles as the children made it “rain” indoors.
Shannon Keith facilitated a thoughtful workshop on healthy communication with the house moms who lovingly care for the children on campus, creating space for reflection, connection, and shared learning.
Molly Bull led an energetic dance class for the teen students and spoke about the role of music and movement in the U.S., celebrating creativity as a universal language.
And, our advocate, Janet Harrington, led an inspiring session for John Foundation staff focused on discovering individual strengths, featuring interactive group discussions and hands-on vision board creation.
One of our powerful stops was visiting the Tuition Centers (one location pictured below) supported by John Foundation.
For children whose parents work long hours or never had the chance to learn to read and write, these centers are a lifeline. Without after-school support, students face a high risk of dropping out, leaving them vulnerable to the very cycles of exploitation we fight to break.
Today, 23 centers are serving over 600 students. For two hours every day, qualified teachers provide more than just homework help; they provide a stable, encouraging environment that keeps children in school and on the path to graduation. By reinforcing their education today, we are securing their freedom for tomorrow.
One of our advocates shared a heart-wrenching moment when we visited a home that is part of our Back to School Program. While we chose not to take a photo to honor the family’s privacy and dignity, the image of that home and the mother’s resilience is something we will never forget.
In our advocate’s words:
“The young woman’s home was the size of my bedroom closet – no kitchen, no running water. The facilities were outside. Her husband had been killed in a traffic accident just one block away, leaving her a widow with two young teenage children – and no job skills of her own. I stood there trying to imagine the weight of her reality: the impossible choice between putting food on the table or sending her children to school, the only exit ramp from this cycle of poverty. But because of the John Foundation, she didn’t have to choose. Their tuition is covered. As we turned to leave, she burst into tears, and my own followed. In that small space, the magnitude of ‘hope’ felt enormous.”
The work at John Foundation goes beyond the walls of the three campuses. We witnessed multiple micro-miracles every day we were there – in the laughter of students, the relief in a mother’s eyes, and the rising walls of a new campus that will house 800 more young women and children who are vulnerable to trafficking.
These miracles don’t happen in a vacuum. They happen because a community of people halfway across the world decided that these women and children are worth fighting for. As we start this new year, we invite you to keep this momentum alive.
Whether through a one-time gift or a monthly commitment, you are the reason these stories have a different ending.
Look for more stories from our incredibly meaningful travels in our next post.
Give now: https://sudara.org/make-a-donation/ Every dollar matters so much 💙
