by: Kevin Squires | Sr. International Programs
When you meet Prameela, you can’t get past her smile. You can’t get past her big, brown eyes that give you a sneak peek into her soul, a glimpse that shows you a pure picture of joy and hope in things to come. She is strong, diligent, and a hard worker. In many ways, she is just like the other 20-year-old college students in her bachelor’s program, but in most ways, she is different. In all honesty, she’s very different.
Born into extreme poverty and all the stressors that surround it, Prameela’s family struggled continually during her childhood. Her father was frequently running from the law, while her mother battled mental health issues. When Prameela was four years old, her mother committed suicide and her father was later arrested and sent to prison. Prameela and her younger brother and sister were sent to live at a children’s residential home at Bethel Gospel Church—one of World Orphans church partners—who, at the time, administered group homes for orphans and vulnerable children in and around Hyderabad, India.
Prameela grew up as a “child of the church,” literally surrounded by the church, and guided by the church leaders. Although it wasn’t family, the church and staff offered some of the things that families are designed for—love, a sense of belonging, care, grace, shepherding, and hope.
However, struggles and tragedy continued to plague Prameela. When she was in ninth grade, her younger sister became ill and died. When her father was released from prison, he remarried but his wife didn’t want to reunify with his children from the previous marriage, so Prameela and her younger brother stayed in the residential home. Then the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world, greatly impacting India as well.
As COVID-19 spread, large group gatherings needed to be limited. The Indian government made the difficult decision to close many residential homes for orphans and vulnerable children, with the hope that they could reunite them with their families. In the homes that were not closed, directors were asked to decrease the number of children by reuniting as many as possible.
In response to the government sanctions, World Orphans and Bethel Gospel Church began hiring and training social workers to help with the reunification of children back into their families. We designed a system around the wholistic care of the child and family, seeking to care for their spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, and social needs. Social workers and church leaders spent hours working overtime to increase family counseling and meet discipleship needs.
In the case of Prameela’s family, a miracle happened. Her father and stepmother had a change of heart, and they welcomed Prameela and her younger brother into their home.
The reunification of the family started the path towards restoration, a process that will take time but is already showing fruit. Bethel Gospel Church started a Family Strengthening program for reunited families, investing time and resources on social and emotional improvements. Prameela’s family is attending church together. Her father is excited about the path God has him on, and he values spending time with Prameela and his son. Her stepmother is taking on motherly responsibilities and appreciates when they call her ‘mom.’
Prameela is the first person in her family to attend college, studying to earn a bachelor’s degree in science, specializing in medical laboratory tech. She feels blessed and encouraged that God fulfilled his promise that he would “never leave her nor forsake her.” Knowing that she is able to love because he first loved us, Prameela is dedicating the rest of her life to giving back and serving the Lord by helping others through her work in the medical field.
Thankfully, Prameela is just one of many stories of reunification, family preservation, and family restoration that we’re seeing around the world as God continues to lead World Orphans and his church to care for children and families in need.