No Longer Abandoned and Alone

Shanto was abandoned by his parents. The young teen living in South Asia was left with the heavy burden of taking care of himself. He started to work whatever jobs he could find, no matter how hazardous. But it wasn’t just the physical abandonment that haunted him — it was the immense pain he felt in his heart.

“I still don't understand why my parents had to leave me,” he says.

He dreamed of escaping a life of poverty, but that dream seemed almost impossible. Refusing to give up, Shanto worked hard to try to balance work with his studies. He went to school four afternoons a week from 1 to 5 p.m. He spent the rest of the day working multiple dangerous jobs.

As a painter and construction site worker, Shanto earned around 500 taka, or $4.50, per day on an on-call basis. The income was far from stable, so Shanto was constantly looking for other jobs to fill the gaps.

Shanto's aunt, Tahmeena, soon graciously took him in and gave him a place to stay. However, she required Shanto to contribute 2,500 taka, or $22.72, per month for rent. Shanto began working in his aunt’s restaurant in the mornings before leaving for the construction site for the day.

He made barely enough money to survive.

With the burden of attending school while constantly working and worrying if he'd have enough to pay for rent, food and school fees, the weight of poverty was too much to bear. Shanto was exhausted. Knowing he needed help, Shanto sought out the local church where he joined the Compassion program. For the first time in a long time, Shanto felt hope.

Compassion partnered with the local church to pay his school tuition, allowing him to continue his studies without the burden of dangerous work. And through his sponsor, pastor and tutors, Shanto receives the love, care and spiritual encouragement he so desperately desired after being abandoned.

Even though his parents left him, Shanto knows he still has people to love who will love him back. He’s found a community to support him and encourage him. Most importantly, through the Compassion program, Shanto has learned he has a heavenly Father standing by his side who promises him a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

Although each day will bring its challenges, Shanto now faces them with confidence and resilience.

Child labor affects millions of children around the world just like Shanto. But they can find hope and rest through the support of a local church and the Compassion program — and ultimately in a relationship with Jesus.