Child Stories
Deepak’s Journey: From Struggle to University
Deepak arrived at Faith, Arms Around the Child in Jaipur in 2011. Before finding the center, he was suffering from painful skin rashes caused by untreated HIV. Having lost both parents to the virus, Deepak lived with his grandfather in a village lacking medical care. Though it was painful to part, his grandfather knew Deepak needed the specialized support only Faith could provide.
Health and Healing
Upon arrival, doctors started Deepak on antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. While he knows he will live with HIV for life, the medicine cleared his skin and restored his health. Despite the initial physical and emotional recovery being difficult, the center provided the stability he lacked.
Growth and Future Ambitions
Deepak’s transition wasn’t easy; he spent many nights crying for his grandfather. However, he eventually bonded with the other boys over cricket and football. Today, he acts as a mentor to newcomers, helping them through their own homesickness.
Deepak’s hard work has paid off:
Education: He passed his final exams with honors.
Current Status: He is studying at Rajasthan University’s Commerce College.
The Goal: Deepak hopes to become a successful businessman so he can donate back to the center and help other children in need.
Anu’s Journey: From Displacement to the Stage
Anu is one of the eldest residents at Faith, Arms Around the Child in Jaipur. Her journey to the center began after the tragic loss of her father, an Indian Army officer, to AIDS. Following his death, his family—driven by stigma and shame—seized their home and cast Anu, her sister Madhu, and their mother out. After a period of instability, the sisters finally found a permanent home at Faith.
Academic Excellence
Anu has always been a dedicated student. Supported by extra lessons provided by the center, she excelled in her final exams and earned a spot at one of Jaipur’s most prestigious institutions: Maharani Girls College. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts, specializing in:
Dramatics
History
Political Science
Dreams of the Spotlight
Anu’s true passion lies in performance, and she dreams of becoming a professional actress. She is particularly excited about the upcoming ‘Jairangam’ theatre festival in Jaipur. True to her role as a mentor at the center, she hopes to bring the younger girls along to share the experience. To Anu, the residents at Faith are more than just peers—they are her chosen family, and her greatest joy is seeing them happy.
Lindiwe’s Story: Breaking the Silence
At age eight, Lindiwe’s bravery in reporting severe “stomach pains” and a “sore heart” to her teacher uncovered a horrific reality: she was being abused by her stepfather. When her mother initially refused to believe her, the school principal reached out to Operation Bobbi Bear for intervention.
The Power of the Bear
A Safety Officer used a Bobbi Bear—a specialized therapeutic tool—to allow Lindiwe to communicate her trauma. Through drawing on the bear, she revealed years of molestation and rape affecting both her and her younger sister. Seeing the physical evidence of the child’s story, her mother was devastated by her initial disbelief and immediately moved to file charges.
Justice and Recovery
The intervention led to a swift legal response and long-term resolution:
Swift Action: The stepfather was arrested and appeared in court within 48 hours.
Support System: Lindiwe and her supporters stood tall in the courtroom, each carrying a Bobbi Bear for strength.
The Outcome: Two years later, the perpetrator remains imprisoned.
Today, Lindiwe and her sister continue to receive counseling. Reflecting on her journey to safety, Lindiwe says simply: “Bobbi Bear helped my mother believe me.”
Angel’s Story: A Fight for Justice
The arrival of 13-year-old Angel’s body at the Bobbi Bear house was met with overwhelming grief. Her story is a tragic testament to the consequences of extreme neglect and the failure of local systems to protect the vulnerable.
Discovery and Condition
Angel’s plight was uncovered by her teachers, who found her locked in her guardian uncle’s flat—starved, silenced, and denied medical care. When Operation Bobbi Bear intervened, her condition was dire:
Physical State: She weighed only 27kg and was too weak to walk.
Medical Neglect: Her life-saving ARV and TB medications had been discarded by her guardian.
Complications: She suffered from severe abscesses, sores, and advanced TB, leaving her body too frail to resume HIV treatment.
The Final Days
Despite around-the-clock care from Bobbi Bear staff in the hospital, Angel’s body eventually succumbed to the abuse. She passed away in a coma, though she spent her final days surrounded by a team that loved, pampered, and fought alongside her until the end.
A Call for Accountability
Before Bobbi Bear stepped in, the school’s deputy principal had been turned away by both the police and social services. Today, Operation Bobbi Bear is channeling their grief into action, urging authorities to bring murder charges against Angel’s uncle for intentionally withholding her life-saving medication.