In the busy district of Gopalganj in Bangladesh, a 5 year old girl named Rupa* struggles for her mother's attention in the midst of her four siblings and the work that needs to get done in the house.

Rupa's parents struggle to provide for their children. While her father works long hours as a house-painter, her mother does her best to prepare meals for her five children. But Rupa does not eat three full meals a day. The nourishment she needs at her age is vital for her physical and mental growth but in poverty, Rupa must make do with the little that she has.

When her parents heard about the Hand of Hope feeding program, they hoped Rupa would be able to attend and eat healthy food every day. Carrying her doll with her, Rupa walked to the Feeding Center and sat before a plate of nutritious food filled with fresh rice, vegetables and a slice of cake and fruit for dessert. After meal time Rupa and the other children, who were quick to become her new friends, sat in a circle around a teacher who talked to them about how special they are – a central theme which brought them all together that day. When Rupa went to bed that night, she was thrilled to know that she would be spending a few happy hours every day at the Hand of Hope Feeding Center.

Now a healthier and more active child, Rupa has new dreams for her future. With a deep longing to support her family, she wants to become a teacher and help other children find out about all the wonderful things she is learning every day at the Hand of Hope Feeding Center. With your partnership, this dream is a possibility for Rupa.

If you would like to help other children realize their potential by feeding them a nutritious meal everyday, partner with Hand of Hope! Click here to find out more.

*Name changed for privacy