The story of Krishna Bhatia, a Year 5 student at Doha College, is a touching and inspiring example of selflessness and generosity. On his 9th birthday this January, he asked that instead of gifts, he be given money he could donate to those in need.

When summer came and he went to his parents’ homeland in India, he made good on his promise and divided the money between two causes: a food donation campaign based on spirulina-infused nutrition, and a purchase of educational supplies for the Ashray Orphanage in Mumbai.

Spirulina-infused food is beneficial to malnourished children, and the campaign was run in partnership with charity group bhookh.com. Krishna met Anny Kohli, a well-known activist and social worker who cultivates spirulina herself in Nasik, a city near Mumbai. The growth and general health of the children reached by this campaign will be monitored, and work is in progress for a licence required to run formal tests through a pathology laboratory.

The Ashray Orphanage houses and educates HIV-positive and abandoned children. Ashray is one of several projects run by a non-government organisation called Committed Communities Development Trust (CCDT). Previously, there was no screening mechanism in place for children born to known HIV-positive mothers; and it was considered unethical to test a patient when there was no available medication to treat the condition, should the child be proven to be infected. Now, fortunately, treatment is available. All children under the care of Ashray receive basic healthcare and nutrition which they would not have otherwise received, and are thriving as a result.

Krishna’s Big Heart

Doha College_KrishnaThis is not the first manifestation of Krishna’s empathy and forethought. Back in 2014 when he was just 6, he received a sum of money from an elderly relative. Having seen his grandmother suffer from cancer, he decided to donate the money to cancer patients in India.

His proud parents Kunal and Kusum said they are very grateful to Doha College for reinforcing values that they try to instil in Krishna. They said that the school and the teachers play an important role in the development of the child and Krishna has been very lucky to have been taught by some of the best.

Krishna has been studying in Doha College since 2011, and is a wonderful example of the work that the school does for the community. The Secondary School has a long-standing Charity Committee that raise funds to help various causes throughout the year. During the past year, the charities that benefited from their efforts include: The Brain Tumour Charity, Orbis and QAWS.

The school also rewards exceptional charity work through its annual Walton Community Award. Most recent recipients include Ross O’Donnell (2017), Anushka Bande (2016) and Rebecca Jacob (2015). The staff, too, contribute to charitable causes; one of the most notable was Movember, which supports men’s physical and mental health. A Charity Committee has been introduced in Primary level this year, and the whole school is looking forward to seeing the work of younger students and its impact on the community.

When asked how he came to decide on his selfless deeds, Krishna said it’s good to be of help to people.

When I was six and donated the money, I felt happy that I could help some people get better, so I wanted to give more and help more. The kids in the Ashray Orphanage must have a tough life without parents; with these donations, they will learn more and know more, and this knowledge will help them become more successful.’

Doha College is one of the oldest British curriculum schools in Qatar providing world-class education to students from over 72 nationalities. For more information about their charity efforts, visit their website at dohacollege.com.