Making a Difference: Tanya Pinto

From the creator

This is the VOA Special English Development Report, from http://voaspecialenglish.com In two thousand five, Tanya Pinto was a successful young businesswoman in Dallas, Texas. But she decided to take three months off from work at an advertising company to visit her birthplace, India. She volunteered at Mother Teresa's home for orphans in Kolkata. She also traveled, and saw children in great need. Mizz Pinto said that experience changed her life. And that is why she decided to start an aid organization. She returned to her job in Texas and began Baal Dan Charities. In Hindi, the name means "child donation." India has an estimated eighteen million poor children. Some charity workers say the conditions on the streets are, if anything, worse than those shown in the film "Slumdog Millionaire." Many children depend on international charity projects like Baal Dan. At first, Baal Dan provided street children with clothes. Today, the organization gives money to orphanages, schools and local projects. The money provides food, medicine, schoolbooks and some education. The work is centered in Kolkata, Hyderabad and Kerala province. Tanya Pinto started her project with small donations from friends and co-workers. She said she would pass them in the hallway and they would say, Hey, the next time you go back to India, here is twenty dollars, here is fifty dollars, here is ten dollars for the children." Today, Baal Dan has other financial supporters in the United States. P

Published 2009-09-15 · Watch on YouTube ↗
Availability and playback restrictions are controlled by the original channel.