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R A I S I N G

W A R R I O R S

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T H E L I G H T S H I N E S

T H E B R I G H T E S T

W H E N I T P R E V A I L S

O V E R T H E D A R K N E S S

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A L E T T E R F R O M T H E C E O .

“When you told me I was your daughter, that was the greatest gift you could ever give me. I have everything I need. Now I want to help the next generation of vulnerable children.”

Those were Mita’s words to me when I asked her what she wanted as a gift after doing exceptionally well in her final high school exams. She is now a senior in college, studying engineering, with dreams to pursue her master’s degree. When I think of her response to me, I’m astounded at what God has allowed As Our Own to be a part of over the last 11 years. We have accepted and cared for each child in our family, not as vulnerable or as an orphan, but as our daughter and ultimately the daughter of the King.

But even as we see our children thriving, we can’t help but see the headlines in the news. The stories that we hear of abuse, neglect, exploitation and enslavement sit heavy on our minds and hearts. This daily confrontation of the horrific realities only increases the sense of urgency I have in accomplishing the mission we are called to as a ministry, a team and as a family.

It’s true, the darkness exists. We’re constantly fighting it and as our work has developed and scaled over the years, we’ve uncovered more of the darkness to combat. But, what’s even more powerful and profound, is the light and its response to this pervasive darkness. The light shines the brightest in the darkness; eliminating and dispelling the darkness by pushing it back, so that what was hidden is now revealed and what was suppressed, has been liberated and unleashed. Our daughters are examples of just that. They are fiercely loyal, driven and ambitious in how they want to fight for others,

and have been forged for something greater than themselves. Each are true warriors. Warriors that see the world as it could be, and are set on contributing to its reformation with ferocity.

I’m extremely proud of each of our warrior daughters, for their courage and how hard they’ve worked to overcome the obstacles in their own lives. They’ve embraced God’s blessings and have worked to ensure the next generation won’t be enslaved and bound to broken systems of mediocre solutions. They know there is a better way that can end, once and for all, this seemingly endless cycle of poverty and exploitation. They truly are warriors fighting on behalf of the light, transforming a current reality into something much brighter.

None of this is possible without a family of advocates surrounding our warrior daughters: the As Our Own family, loving, caring and fighting for them, you, our donors, partners and champions globally and even the student cohorts who rally their peers across schools and universities. I am thankful beyond words for your investment and influence in their lives. You fought to protect and empower them, and now you inspire and enable them to take their place in the battle as we all fight for the next generation of vulnerable children.

With many blessings, Ralph Borde, Founder and CEO

It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes all of us working together in God’s timing to raise up warriors.

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Y O U C A N ’ T

D R E A M

I F Y O U ’ R E

D R O W N I N G

The dream of a future is nonexistent for millions of children across the country.

India’s culture is among the world’s oldest. It’s a beautiful place that continues to develop and grow, contributing to the world in finance, technology and retail. Top companies like Google, Adobe, Microsoft, and MasterCard are being run by India-born CEOs, part of a generation of talented students who rose to the top of some of the world’s largest corporations.

Even with this amazing progress, 44 million childrenwon’t have the chance to dream about their future. They won’t imagine themselves as doctors, as lawyers or engineers or teachers or artists. They can’t picture raising healthy families, being married and having children of their own one day.

It’s impossible to take time for something as fleeting— and as important—as ambition when you exist within the confines of poverty and slavery. High rates of orphanhood, exploitation, and enslavement radiate from a generations-deep cycle of poverty.

More heartbreaking than that, red-light districts are covered in darkness, sapping hope from women without regard. Young girls—as young as seven or eight years old—are being forced into the sex trade, abused and brutalized on the whims of others. Their stories vary, but their situations are similar. Some are kidnapped, others abducted. Some are promised a better life—and others are drugged and driven thousands of miles from their family and friends. Others are enslaved simply because their birthplace is a brothel, sold into second-generation servitude because their mothers are also enslaved.

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After her mother died, father remarried, and stepmom tortured her with beatings, a six year old girl was forced to become a laborer.

A girl had something slipped into her drink. She woke up thousands of miles away in a brothel, locked in the dark and abused physically until she obeyed without question. Soon after, her new reality was made clear as customers arrived.

Her father contracted AIDS after spending time in the red-light district. After returning home, he passed the disease along to his wife which ultimately killed them both, leaving their three year old daughter alone, orphaned and vulnerable.

W E ’ V E W I T N E S S E D H E A R T B R E A K I N G S T O R I E S :

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Initial Terror

For days, the girl is kept na-ked in a cold and dark room with no food or care—the confusion and terror areoverwhelming.

A Brutal Orientation

Multiple men repeatedly rape and torture the girl, warning her that attempts to resist or escape will result in the murder of her family.

A Dark Reality

The abuse, torture, and threats have done their work: the girl gives up, yielding to her new existence as a lifelong slave.

A Hopeless Existence

Once enslaved, the girl faces a lifetime of rapes, abuses, pregnancies, abortions, health problems, illnesses, diseases, AIDS, and eventually death.

A Remote, Rural Village

A destitute family struggles to survive each day with no means, complete Illiteracy, no hope for a different life.

An Offer Of Escape

A stranger approaches a young girl and offers to give her everything her family cannot: food, work, escape from poverty

A Desperate Hope

The family entrusts her to the stranger with great hope for her new life.

A New Life

The girl is taken to her new home and place of employ-ment: a brothel; neither the girl nor her family has ever heard of such a place.

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How does a child become a slave?

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There is so much work to be done. It’s hard to hear of top-performing students in Indian schools being brutally gang-raped, beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. Children living in shelter homes are being victimized by predators lurking within the system. There are dozens of newspaper headlines, each sharing heartbreaking stories of children who have been taken advantage of and abused.

Broken communities in extreme poverty cannot offer children the additional help or resources they need for a better tomorrow, thus extending the cycle of generational poverty. Meeting only their basic needs of food, shelter and clothing is not enough, nor can education alone make a difference. In order to overcome the solution gap in nonprofit service, we have to commit ourselves to something greater—to a lifetime of relationship and care.

“ G I R L S B E L O W 1 0 G I V E N H O R M O N A L I N J E C T I O N S I N T E L A N G A N A S E X R A C K E T ”

— NDTV 2018, August 6

“ R A P E , D R U G S , A S S A U LT : T H E R O T I N S H E LT E R H O M E S

G O E S F A R B E Y O N D ”

— Outlook India, 2018, August 17

“ S T U D E N T , E X - C B S E T O P P E R , G A N G - R A P E D A N D D U M P E D N E A R

B U S S T O P I N H A R YA N A”

— NDTV, 2018, September 14

“ M O R E T H A N 1 9 , 0 0 0 C H I L D R E N D I E D I N M A H A R A S H T R A ( O N E

S T A T E I N I N D I A ) I N 1 2 M O N T H S : H E A LT H M I N I S T E R ”

— NDTV, 2018, July 22

I N O R D E R T O C H A N G E

T H E H E A D L I N E S

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W E H A V E T O C H A N G E

T H E C O N V E R S A T I O N

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T O C H A N G E T H E

C O N V E R S A T I O N

W E N E E D A

W A R R I O R M I N D S E T

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Let’s give children the opportunity to dream. It is not enough to feed and clothe a child and at adulthood provide her a skill or trade to help her earn a meager living. This continues to propagate the cycles of vulnerability, poverty and exploitation. In order to change these headlines, we need to do more than simply help the vulnerable become self-sustaining.

As Our Own has an ambition for each girl to live their most rewarding lives, with the chance to discover who they were created to be. They are never alone, rather each girl is given

a lifetime commitment from the entirety of our staff: a promise to stay close, to mentor and teach, and to cherish them as their own daughters.

With this approach, each child not only escapes the darkness, but is empowered to live a life with purpose and to experience the fulfillment of making a lasting impact on the world as a warrior able to fight not just for herself, but to fight for and protect the next generation.

What is a warrior? As Our Own invests everything possible, along with an incredible reservoir of passion, into developing programs that empower each child. The development process of each warrior offers independence, allowing each of our daughters—for the first time in their lives—to not only have a voice, but to understand the intrinsic value she has as a child of God.

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Y O U C A N ’ T B U I L D

F O R I M P A C T

W I T H O U T A S O L I D

F O U N D A T I O N

A warrior is strong and confident in her identity

A warrior is equipped—and ready for battle

A warrior stands for truth and justice

A warrior fights for those who cannot fight for themselves

A warrior has strength and conviction from something greater

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T H E

E V O L U T I O N

O F A

W A R R I O R

Now a warrior, each daughter uses her talents, skills and network to continue the cycle of rescue and lifetime, family care.

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R E S C U E F R O M D A R K N E S S

Working through our freedom network, vulnerable children living in dire situations are identified. We then become their advocate, standing in the gap, working to rescue them into our care.

I N F L U E N C I N G I M P A C T

As our daughters begin to look ahead and plan for their future, she turns to her trusted counselors—her family. Pursuing college and advanced degrees is the catalyst for becoming an influential member of the community, whether through her career, or by starting a stable, loving family of her own.

D I S C I P L E S H I PO F T H E H E A R T

The rescued children don’t join an institution, but are accepted and cared for through the steady, unconditional love of a family consisting of trained staff and counselors. We work to heal trauma, build trust and develop healthy attachment. We care for them, not as a vulnerable child, but as a daughter.

D E V E L O P I N G C A P A C I T Y

With the loving and stable commitment of a family, girls begin to thrive. We work to cultivate each girl’s unique talents so that she becomes confident in her individual identity. A quality English education is critical for combating social prejudices, allowing children the opportunity to become women of influence in society, the changemakers for our world.

V I C T O R YT H R O U G H F A M I L Y

Family, for life. We go beyond the basics of food, shelter and cloth-ing and make the pursuit of their dreams possible. By laying a solid foundation, we empower them to make decisions from a place of safety and security. We walk with them through each life stage and every season. This family is extensive, stretching out globally as our student cohorts advocate for them in school, and our donors provide and pray for them.

T H E WA R R I O R D A U G H T E R

Because of her courage, her integrity, and her inclination to look out for the least of these, she joins an army of warriors who seek to shine light into the darkness. Instead of being only a recipient of the outpouring of passion from her family, she is now a leader in the movement to change the way the world cares for vulnerable children.

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Advocacy on the groundEarly identificationGenuine and persistent concern Patience and gentleness

Healthy marriage counselIdentifying career opportunitiesAssisting college decisionsInclination to do good Developing the mindset to fight for others

Family care model1:4 caregiver to child ratioPatiently foster emotional safety and support

Challenging bilingual academics Rewarding sports and performanceCompetition between house systems Nurturing passionsCoaching with greater independence

Lifetime of family commitment Solid foundationAdvocate for othersMoved from safety to empowerment mindset

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Y O U K N O W Y O U

A R E A L W A Y S S A F E

W H E N Y O U H A V E F A M I L Y

L O O K I N G O U T F O R Y O U

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< 1% of Indian children attend a school at this caliber.

One of our girls received the Kala Ratna award for the best drawing in elementary! Translated, Kala Ratna means artistic jewel or gem of an artist.

This year, 38 of our grade school girls won 144 awards across academia, sports and extracurriculars.

100% of our daughters graduate high school.

By2030 our goal is to be ranked in the top 1% of schools in the country.

Planned for this fiscal year 8 new homes to house up to

100

children.

What does life as a daughter look like?

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We celebrated a wedding with the As Our Own family.

We were thrilled to plan a wedding for our daughter Arya! Truly what a joy it was to watch our daughter beam with pride as she confidently walks into this new season of life, as a wife. While it feels like time has flown by, we’re grateful for the godly woman she has become and the heart she has for others. The Lord has truly answered our prayers in the man he has provided her as a husband.

Arya has her Master of Divinity and married Ragin, who has a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology. As a married couple, they will both be training leaders at a college.

Over the last few months, we’ve been able to rescue 11 young girls out of the darkness of the district. They have settled well into their new home and now safe, they are free to begin the journey towards healing and empowerment. Their laughter combined with their sisters’ is a refreshing addition to our campus. Praise God for his providence in their lives!

We’ve welcomed 11 new daughters to the family!

Committing to the training of our staff remains a priority.

Investing in the training of our staff remains one of the most important commitments we have as a ministry. Our team is hungry to learn and is constantly discussing how we can continue to develop, care for and empower our daughters. Through ongoing training, each staff member is equipped with the tools necessary to better understand our daughters’ hearts, behavior, and attitudes.

Because they’re with our daughters each and every day, they have the closest relationships with them and are truly responsible for helping our daughters understand their identity. Making sure our staff feels supported, empowered and capable enables them to be their best which, in turn, affects their ability to pour into the lives of our daughters.

Each of our daughters is ambitious and eventually heads off to college to further her education. She understands the value of this opportunity and takes full advantage of the experience, realizing it isn’t just for herself. What she learns, who she meets, and the skills she attains contribute to the powerful impact she will have in the world as a warrior.

Our daughters are attending college, all around the world.

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P O O J A

A W A R R I O R ’ S

S T O R Y

You may often wonder, as you invest in and pray for children that this ministry cares for, “Is it really worth it? Does it really work?” It does. I am testimony to that.

Pooja and her sister didn’t have it easy growing up. Her parents died and her aging grandmother was unable to care for them. They found As Our Own, and Pooja’s stay at Grace Home changed her life. After finishing high school and her undergrad, she went right to work at her previous school caring for the little girls, now sisters, who had been rescued from the red light district in her city. Her education gave her tools to disciple and care for young girls’ hearts. Pooja’s conviction was solid.

This past summer, Pooja visited the red light district for the first time. It broke her heart, but fueled her passion. As she was there, she realized the depth of the darkness and the need to fight for the children

who are still living in such dire situations. Her past has given her perspective, but her future is giving her hope. Attending college at Houston Baptist University, Pooja’s had the chance to study and learn in the United States. Her family has given her opportunities to see the world, and to note injustice where she finds it. Pooja’s work is only beginning.

Pooja is a warrior. Her impact in the world is the result of our collective impact and influence, supporting her rescue, her growth, her education and ambition. She’s the best of us.

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A L I S H A

A W A R R I O R ’ S

S T O R YI like to care for each patient as my own family. If I see them as my own, then that helps me know how to take care of them. And through this work, I know I can be satisfied and confident that God will bless me.

After a devastatingly painful childhood, Alisha found her As Our Own family and came into her own. Now a nurse at one of the top hospitals in the region, she works mornings, evenings and night duty. As a nurse that lives on-campus in a hostel, she’s hands-on and embedded in the work as she develops her career. Alisha’s work spans disciplines, working in intensive care, cardiology, oncology, and pediatrics — although her best challenges occur when she’s working in the cardiac unit as an emergency is happening. Alisha is prepared and able to contribute life-saving skills to the team around her.

Alisha’s career has given her opportunity to invest in her sisters, teaching them what the nursing profession is like and showing them how they can help others. She’s always telling the girls to receive joy gladly from the life that God’s given us. In the future, Alisha wants to develop health seminars and clinics for her sisters in need, and even more than that—to financially invest in them, blessing them as she has been blessed. The future is coming quickly, and Alisha is ready and willing to stand as a warrior.

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Y O U C A N F I G H T T H E

D A R K N E S S W I T H U S

T O G E T H E R — A S A

W A R R I O R F A M I L Y

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Thank you, for helping us give each girl a chance to dream again, to find the safety and security of a family and to realize her full potential as a warrior for the next generation.

We can’t do this alone and need you to stand with us as we train, empower and fight for each child in our care and those yet to come.

Please prayerfully consider if 2019 could be a year for you to deepen your partnership with us.

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Our vision: to transform the way the world cares for vulnerable children.

Our mission:to fulfill the sovereign purpose God has for vulnerable children in India, caring for them as our own, for life.

1717 St. James Place, Suite 220Houston, Texas 77056

asourown.org713.936.5758

*pseudonyms used for security and protection*As Our Own is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization

R A I S I N G

W A R R I O R S .

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