Ms Johanna Uuranto, a Finland National, along with her husband Mr Samuli Mollberg visited CYSD’s Child Development programme area in Thakurmunda on 6th February to see their Sponsored Girl Child Sarfa Marandi, a 14 years old girl of Bharendia village.

On their arrival in Bhubaneswar on 5th February, both the Sponsor Parents (SP) were wellcomed and briefed about their visit plan to Thakurmunda by CYSD representative, Mr. Dipti Ranjan Mohanty, Lead – Sponsorship. Following which, during their stopover/stay in in Bhubanewar, Shri P K Sahoo, Chairman of CYSD had an interaction with SPs on various ongoing programs and projects of CYSD, especially  with the support of  Plan International India.

The next day early in the morning, the SPs proceeded to Thakurmund by road and  around 10.15 am they reached in CYSD’s Child Development Project office. On arrival, they were cordially welcomed by the project team too.  In an introduction-cum-interactive session, they were aprised about the programmes and activites of the organisation in detailed.  Mr. Samuli and Ms. Johanna acknowleged the efforts made by CYSD and appreciated the Child Protection Policy being implemented in partnership with Plan India.

It seemed, the Sponsor Parents were  quite excited to see thier child, Sarfa. So just afer the  brief meeting, they proceeded to Bharendia village and reached their  at 11.30 am. The couple was cordially received by Sarfa’s family (the sponsored family) as well as wellcomed by other community members and entered into the village with traditional tribal song and dance. Further, a community meeting was organised for them where all CBOs members includinng Child Club, women SHGs, Child Protection Committee delightfully received the sponsor parents and shared with them on different community development programs / projects being implemented by CYSD in their village.  The assembled mothers also shared about continous support they have been recieving from CYSD for ensuring children’s right to health, education and quality of life.

During their visit, an awareness campaign on “Child Rights and Child Protection” was going on in the village where the SP couple also had the opportunity to get involved and could see a puppet show  focussed on creating awareness and educating community members on girl’s education and consequence of early child marriage, which the sposor couple enjoyed every much.

The SP family offered some gifts of play materials, like cricket bat & ball, skipping, flying disk and ring ball to the child club members at the end of the community meeting. Besides, they also interacted with the sponsored child ‘Sarfa’ and other family members offering gifts, such as notebooks, pencil, pen, dress materials, etc. Before bidding Adieu to the village, there was a few photo sessions with the community members and sponsored family including the Sarfa and her siblings.

Then after, the SP had visited the Girl’s High School where Sarfa was studing, especially the World on Wheel programme – digital literacy campain was being running at the school. The couple observed a digital learning session of girls in a well equiped bus. They were very happy and appreciated this innovative initiative taken for promotion of girl’s education. Moreover,  the SPs interacted with the school girls, teachers and its management committee (SMC) members and visited the school library, class rooms, WASH infrastructures and praised for the supports extended jointly by CYSD & Plan India ensuring quality education for girls.

Coming back to project office and after taking lunch, at 3.30 pm, the SP family had a brief meeting with the Sponsorship Team where the couple tried to understand about the sponsorship processes and loved to see the photo gallery of programs and visits of seveal sponsors.

On their departure, the SPs had given a written feedbacks and conveyed their sincere thanks to the team for making their visit more meaningful and memorable one. “It was a phenomenal visit to meet our sponsored child, we want to thank Plan and CYSD for this great experiment and hospitality. The visit was great and although we had high hopes, visit exceeded our expectations. It is great to see how your job is excellently done, keep on doing it untill we meet again” clearly wrriten by Ms Johanna and Mr. Samuli Mollberg in visitors’ note book.