Child Protection India Project #19906

Safe care and adoption for Indian Babies

by Snehalaya 'Home of Love'

Safe care and adoption for Indian Babies

Project Report | Oct 28, 2025
How your support helps

By Dr Girish Kulkarni | Founder

A new family for our siblings

Thank you for your support which sometimes helps in ways none of us can predict!

In a remarkable story of hope, resilience and the transformative power of love, two orphaned siblings, 6 year old Kush and 12 year old, Lav (names changed), have found their forever family in Italy, thanks to the dedicated efforts of our Snehankur adoption center. Their journey from hardship to happiness will inspire many and highlights the critical need for family reunification and adoption initiatives worldwide.

A Childhood Marked by Struggles & Loss

Kush and Lav hail from a remote village in the district of Ahiliyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar). Their estranged father abandoned the family when the mother was diagnosed with a chronic, contagious disease. Despite hardship, the children selflessly cared for their mother for the last four years of her life, providing her with love and support until her passing in 2022.

Following their mother's death, the children were reunited with their father but faced neglect and abuse from their stepmother, compounded by their father's substance abuse. Unable to endure the hostile environment, Kush and Lav ran away from home. Their disappearance sparked an extensive two-month search conducted by our Snehankur team, involving police assistance and efforts across districts like Beed, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Pune and Jalgaon. The children were eventually traced to a religious asylum.

Restoration & Legal Procedures

Understanding the deep trauma and the complex circumstances surrounding Kush and Lav, we worked tirelessly to assess the situation, ensure the children's safety and explore options for their wellbeing. After careful deliberation, the children’s biological father, recognizing the importance of providing a stable environment, voluntarily relinquished his parental rights before the Child Welfare Committee at Ahilyanagar in November 2022.

This legal process paved the way for Kush and Lav’s new beginning. The center’s loving and secure environment gave the siblings a renewed sense of trust and belonging, nurturing their emotional recovery.

A Bright Future in Italy

Today, Kush and Lav are no longer just children of hardship—they are children of hope. Lav excelled academically at Snehankur's English Medium School, where he is known as a bright, talented student. Kush, known for his playful and cheerful nature, was the most lively child in the pre-primary class at the center.

On 16 September, an adoption ceremony was held, following Indian traditions, to formalize their adoption. The event, attended by distinguished guests, including members of the government child protection offices, adoption advocates and social workers committed to the cause of child welfare and other notable dignitaries, saw the children embraced by their new parents - both doctors of Indian heritage.

Thank you so much for ensuring we are there for children like these, we couldn't fdo it without you.

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