Varun & Vaibhav

Varun and Vaibhav were the first children we sponsored when we started our NGO. Their story is etched in the heart of Alphabets, a story of resilience, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication. Their story marks the completion of a full circle for us at Alphabets, where children who once needed help to afford basic education are now earning to support the education of others.

It was in the early days of our NGO when we came across Varun and Vaibhav. The twins were in the third grade, on the verge of quitting school due to financial difficulties. Their father had suffered a paralysis attack, leaving their inexperienced mother to find work as a house-help. The founder member of our NGO found them, two bright boys with dreams too big to be crushed by circumstances.

Listening to their plight, we decided to adopt them into our sponsorship program. Education is essential and must not be stopped, especially not in the third grade. We had a rule in our NGO to sponsor the education of only one child per family, ensuring fair chances for everyone. However, seeing the twins and knowing they had been together through thick and thin, we made an exception. Sponsoring one and not the other would have been wrong and harsh, so we decided to support both.

We enrolled them in Blue Bells Academy, a good school where they could thrive. Despite the financial strain on our nascent NGO, we sponsored both of them from third grade onward. The boys were excellent students, hardworking and determined to make the most of the opportunity given to them. Their father’s condition and their mother’s struggle as a house-help made it even more crucial for us to support them. It was heavy on our pockets, and that year, we couldn’t take in any new children because of the expenses for Varun and Vaibhav. At one point, we even considered dropping one of them due to financial constraints. However, their dedication and perseverance kept us going, and we continued our support.

Their older sister, who had completed her 12th grade, took up a job to help finance her siblings' education. In the 10th grade, both boys scored a perfect 10 CGPA. Their intelligence earned them an 80% discount at Akash Institute, where they prepared for their engineering entrance exams.

Both brothers cracked the entrance exams and got into top engineering colleges in Bihar. We sponsored their education, not only till the 12th grade but continued to support them through college. Despite the 80% discount, we still paid 1,20,000 INR per child for their coaching at Akash. We registered them in the student credit card scheme for college and arranged hostel fees, essentials like laptops and food.

For the last two years, the government funding has been inconsistent, so we covered their fees during those gaps. We also funded their forms for other government exams and provided for any extra requirements during college, like field training. Vaibhav cracked the GATE exam and got offers from IIT Bombay and Kharagpur but chose to work and earn money to stabilize their financial condition. Both brothers aim to work for PSUs for good pay and job security and plan to reappear in the GATE exam to secure a top rank.

Their dream is to sponsor their own postgraduation and get to a stage where they can support their older sister, who remained unmarried until 32 to support them. They want to help her get married and sponsor her child, completing a cycle of giving back.

When they went to engineering college, they started tutoring 11th and 12th-grade students to earn pocket money, showing their commitment to self-reliance. Varun and Vaibhav’s journey from nothing to something extraordinary is a testament to the power of education, the strength of family, and the impact of unwavering support. They embody the spirit of Alphabets, and their story continues to inspire us to reach out and change lives, one child at a time.