By Alesha Capone
Point Cook couple Mitali and Santosh Bhangle live helping to make a difference in the lives of two children who live overseas.
Mr and Mrs Bhangle each sponsor a six year-old child through World Vision Australia, one youngster who lives in Syria and another who lives in India.
“This gives us an opportunity to make an impact in someone’s life,” Mrs Bhangle said.
“We strongly believe in giving back to the community.
“We enjoy the fact that we are there for a needy child, which will give them a chance to succeed in life with education, nutrition and make them a better human being.”
Although many people were affected by unemployment and financial woes during the pandemic last year, hundreds of Melburnians demonstrated generosity towards disadvantaged youngsters living overseas.
Figures show that more than 180 residents of Melbourne and its suburbs signed up as child sponsors with World Vision Australia in 2020.
Point Cook was the second-most generous suburb, with 16 residents becoming child sponsors (Oakleigh East, in the south-east, topped the list with 21 new child sponsors).
Werribee, Altona Meadows, Lalor, Rowville and Ferntree Gully each signed up seven new sponsors.
Mrs Bhangle said that World Vision was a well-known organisation in the field of empowering children’s education in poor communities around the world.
“We are lucky here in Australia where we have access to all the basic necessities,” she said.
“There is a vast amount of world population which is deprived of these necessities – food, shelter, education.
“It is very important to have gratitude and have an urge to make a small difference in someone’s life.”
Find out more about becoming a World Vision child sponsor at www.worldvision.com.au
