“Their joy becomes a rebuttal to the harsh realities that stare them in the face.”

Jenny Burr
Spur Ottawa Correspondent

Carli and Ben Albrecht may not officially be parents yet, but they have a group of kids they dearly love. These kids live in Nagpur, India, at Prem Sewa Shikshan Sangh—a children’s home and school where Carli and Ben have been volunteering since 2015.

More than 1,000 children live on the 17-acre grounds of Prem Sewa, which was founded by Frank Juelich, 30 years ago. Carli and Ben first connected with the ministry in 2013, when Juelich came and spoke at their home church, Parkway Road Pentecostal Church in Greely, Ontario.

“He half-jokingly told us we could come live in India anytime,” shares Carli. Two years later, they arrived in Nagpur with only their backpacks and no idea of how they would contribute.

“We started off like most volunteers to the school, teaching English and music,” Carli says. “I asked if I could start teaching an art class and some of the boys began to show unbelievable talent. As time went on it became much more than a teaching gig. We both felt like we were parenting a lot of these boys, who are away from their families or who don’t have any parents at all.”

“Art gives them a release and a way to express themselves.” Photo courtesy of Carli and Ben Albrecht.

Ben and Carli began noticing the challenges the boys and girls face, as low-caste citizens. Malnutrition is one of the largest hurdles. They started wondering how they could help these children get the nourishment they need and, at the same time, help them in becoming somewhat self-sufficient.

The solution came through using a Society6 website to display and sell the children’s artwork. The site also takes care of printing and shipping.

“It has really empowered the boys in ways I didn’t expect. Art gives them a release and a way to express themselves. It has also allowed the boys to buy fruit on a weekly basis and some of the fruit has been sent to the girls’ hostel. The boys have gone from only getting fruit at Christmas, to having it two or three times a week,” states Carli.

Carli says when their work gets purchased it motivates them to work harder and become more creative in their drawings and paintings. Photo courtesy of Carli and Ben Albrecht.

The boys are shocked that people are interested in buying their artwork, especially when the buyers are from Canada. Carli says when their work gets purchased it motivates them to work harder and become more creative in their drawings and paintings.

One of the aspiring artists is Tarachand, which translates as StarMoon. Carli says he is very talented for his age. His paintings are free hand and are often done by memory.

“We’ve become more passionate about creating opportunities for them to rise above the difficulties they face,” says Ben. “Seeing a smile on their faces when they receive a piece of fruit is one example of this. Creating space for artistic expression is another.”

“Seeing a smile on their faces when they receive a piece of fruit is one example of creating opportunities for them to rise above the difficulties they face.” Photo courtesy of Carli and Ben Albrecht.

Being able to provide the children with a reason to find joy and a way to express their joy allows them some power over their situation.

“Their joy becomes a rebuttal to the harsh realities that stare them in the face every day,” Ben states.

“We hope to see the children rise above their situation; empowered and liberated to become who they desire to be, unrestricted by their current poverty and powerlessness within the world.”

You can view the boys’ art on their Society6 page.