
As a young boy, Mareechi was excited about what his future could hold. But as the months went by, his family found themselves in poverty. Unable to meet their needs, Mareechi dropped out of school and stayed home in order to save his family some money.
When Mareechi aged into a teenager, he examined his family’s condition and decided to find some work to help provide for their needs. But wherever he applied, his progress was impeded by his lack of education. Everyone turned him down.

The only work he was equipped to do was manual labour, so Mareechi worked hard and helped support his family. Soon after, he got married and worked harder than ever to give his wife and children a good future.
As a young boy, Mareechi was excited about his future. But poverty limited his ability to go to school, hampering his chances of attaining a good future. As a teenager, he could work only as a labourer to provide for himself and his family.
The only work he was equipped to do was manual labour, so Mareechi worked hard and helped support his family. Soon after, he got married and worked harder than ever to give his wife and children a good future.
As Business Struggles, Kids' Future Is in Danger
A few years later, after collecting a small amount of savings, Mareechi traveled to a nearby village to buy vegetables that he would sell in his own village. But without something to carry them all in, Mareechi couldn’t sell, and he wouldn’t be able to provide.
Every day, Mareechi would hand over 50 rupees to rent a cart for the day. When he couldn’t afford to rent a cart, or when there was none left, he’d fill a basket with all his wares, carry it on his shoulders and make the four-mile trek back to his village. The hours slid by as he plodded across his village, trying to sell the vegetables before he had to return the cart. It never seemed to be enough time. These challenges made him unable to sufficiently provide for his family, and his children risked losing their education just like Mareechi had lost his years before.

Gifted With a Solution
It was during this time that staff of a local GFA World Bridge of Hope centre met Mareechi while they were out visiting students’ families and learned about his family’s struggle.
After getting married, Mareechi traveled to a nearby village to purchase vegetables and bring them back on a rented cart to sell door to door. But challenges with affording the rented cart and limited by certain business hours to use the cart cost Mareechi the ability to provide for his family.
Gifted With a Solution
It was during this time that staff of a local GFA World Bridge of Hope centre met Mareechi while they were out visiting students’ families and learned about his family’s struggle.
Realizing his need, the Bridge of Hope staff shared Mareechi’s situation with their leaders. Then, when the local church held a Christmas gift distribution programme, 213 families received items to meet their needs and also heard about the Saviour who had met their greatest need: hope for an eternal future. Mareechi was one of the beneficiaries and rode away on his own vegetable cart.

Now Mareechi is able to work free of restricting business hours, allowing him more time to sell his vegetables and keep all his earnings. His family no longer struggles financially, and he’s even able to send his children to school, where their futures look brighter.
Mareechi’s struggles caught the attention of the staff of a Bridge of Hope centre. Soon after this, the local church held a Christmas gift distribution and gifted Mareechi, pictured here, with his own cart.
Now Mareechi is able to work free of restricting business hours, allowing him more time to sell his vegetables and keep all his earnings. His family no longer struggles financially, and he’s even able to send his children to school, where their futures look brighter.
Just as Mareechi was blessed through a gift, there are hundreds of more families whose lives could be transformed by a gift. Through GFA World’s Christmas Gift Catalogue, you can share God’s love with them.
*Names of people and places may have been changed for privacy and security reasons. Images are GFA stock photos used for representation purposes and are not the actual person/location, unless otherwise noted.