Courtney’s Journey To India And How It Changed The Lives Of Orphans

I first visited India in 2010 to research fabrics after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan.

Just moments after stepping off the plane, I saw children begging on the streets, mothers struggling to feed their crying babies, hoping for someone to help them. I was shocked.

I then started volunteering in a slum in North East Delhi. Soon, I realized that this was my calling — to help orphans in India. These children had no one to help them, their pain was heartbreaking.

My trip to India was supposed to last only a month. But at 23, I made what some may call an unthinkable decision. I decided to go back to the US, sold all my possessions and came to India in 2011.

Life as I knew it had completely changed. India became my home, and I married my husband, Yogesh in 2014.

We started Samarpan Trust together to help underprivileged children and economically disadvantaged families. We do our best to give them the love, care and opportunities they deserve.

All of these children have been through unbelievable pain and trauma. Most of them have had no access to even the most essential items.

It’s been over a decade now, and I’ve dedicated my life to caring for these children. I want to create a world where every person is provided with basic necessities and is given equal opportunities to live a dignified life.

- Courtney Lalotra, Co-Founder, Samarpan Trust