#orphan education support

[townpostin]

Jugsalai Water Crisis: MLA Mangal Kalindi Seeks DC's Intervention

Drinking water shortage and uranium contamination concerns raised Deputy Commissioner assures action on water crisis and orphan’s education support request. JAMSHEDPUR – The water situation in the Jugsalai area is deteriorating, and the local legislator Mangal Kalindi is urging for immediate action. MLA Mangal Kalindi convened a meeting with Deputy Commissioner Ananya Mittal to address the acute…

[farmerstrend]

How Hydroponic Farming is Transforming Lives at Al-Walidayn Rescue Center in Kwale

“Discover how Al-Walidayn Rescue Center in Kwale, Kenya, empowers vulnerable children through innovative hydroponic farming, vocational training, and a holistic approach to building brighter futures.” “Learn how Al-Walidayn Rescue Center transforms lives by teaching sustainable farming and life skills to rescued children, fostering independence and resilience in Kwale County.” “Explore the…

[dazedasian]

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[riding-with-the-wild-hunt]

today's vetted campaigns. please continue to share and donate in whatever capacity you can. these families are struggling every day just to find the basic resources of life - whatever way you can offer support is valuable.

june 22nd:

Orphaned twins Kareem and Carmen, their grandparents, and two aunts ($3,807/$50,000) - @06679799, verified by @/90-ghost

Khalil Abubaker, his five siblings, and their parents (€725/€30,000) - @khalil95, verified by @/nabulsi

Muhammad Al-Azayza and family, including a young child with Down syndrome (kr5,684 SEK/kr200,000 SEK) - @hamouda-az, verified by @/sayruq

Reuniting Mahmoud Helles with his wife (who needs urgent kidney treatment) and their four children (€17,027/€20,000) - @hillesmahmoud, verified by @/fallahifag

Ayman Ayyad's family of eight, including four children ($11,137/$35,000) - @aymanayyad81, verified by @/nabulsi

Sahar El Tibi, her husband Mohammed (who needs treatment for a foot injury), and their 4-year-old daughter (€14,549/€30,000) - @sahareltibi1, verified by @/el-shab-hussein

Mahmoud Saleh and family (they've already lost several members) (€3,531/€20,000) - @mide444, verified by @/nabulsi

Wafaa's family of 15, including four children and a newborn (€13,954/€50,000) - @wafs-posts, verified by @/90-ghost

Mahmoud Khalaf's family of eight (€7,006/€30,000) - @mahmoudkhalaff, verified by @/nabulsi

not yet vetted:

14-year-old Hamza and his family (his father needs treatment for rheumatoid arthritis) (£1,097/£35,000)

Siblings Mai, Khaled, Ola, and Mohammad (€11,720/€40,000)

Hasan Saied and his wife Lena ($12,222 CAD/$20,000 CAD) - @hasanandlena

Firas Muhaisen's family of six, as well as he and his sister's medical education ($545 CAD/$82,000 CAD) - @firasmuhaisen, @nisreenameen

Amna Marwan, her husband, and their three young children (€2,336/€30,000) - @ahmed505

your shares and donations on other posts like this have meant so much to so many. keep up the good work. don't turn away.

[saisevasangh]

Sai Seva Sangh: Nurturing Lives, Building Futures

Hyderabad is a bustling metropolitan city where technology and innovation meet and help with the advancement of the lives of the citizens. Even this bustling city is only partially free of orphans. Although many are providing support for them, there are few places where they can grow and develop themselves for the future. Sai Seva Sangh is a Charitable Trust in Hyderabad that provides a safe place and education for their children. In this article, we will discuss how sai seva sangh nurtures lives and build the future for their children.

A House that Exudes Warmth: 

Sai Seva Sangh is beyond the conventional orphan homes in Hyderabad it is a home away from home for girls and old age women. This charitable trust in Hyderabad not only provides a home for living and growing but they provide a family they didn't have. The children find a loving environment that they call home away from home, with the walls resonating with laughter and the hallways buzzing with the energy of shared experiences.

The Cornerstone of Education:

The primary goal of Sai Seva Sangh is education. Acknowledging education as the means to open doors, the organization makes investments to give each kid in its care a strong educational foundation. From early childhood education to skill development initiatives, the focus is on providing kids with the resources they require to create prosperous futures. Donate to children orphanage in Hyderabad to send your support and help with their development.

Narratives of Success Despite Adversity:

Every door at Sai Seva Sangh conceals a different story of overcoming hardship. The youngsters residing here are not limited by their history; rather, they are empowered by what lies ahead. Every day, tales of tenacity, willpower, and success surface, demonstrating the transformational power of the loving atmosphere that Sai Seva Sangh offers.

Community Involvement Beyond Geographic Limits:

Sai Seva Sangh educational charities in Hyderabad are a strong proponent of the effectiveness of community involvement. The organization actively engages in community outreach activities, awareness campaigns, and cooperative efforts in addition to its operations within the orphanage. Through active participation in the larger society, Sai Seva Sangh broadens its influence and promotes social responsibility and communal well-being.

Well-being, Holistic Growth, and Health:

Sai Seva Sangh understands the value of holistic development and believes that nurturing lives transcends academic achievement. They support orphans education in Hyderabad and their everyday lives are infused with health and wellness programs, guaranteeing that their physical, mental, and emotional well comes first. They provide free education for poor students in Hyderabad by supporting their education, giving them a place to call home, and a family for their holistic growth. 

Self-Sufficiency through Sustainability:

Sai Seva Sangh a charitable institute in Hyderabad is dedicated to self-sufficiency and sustainability in the long run. The organization breaks the cycle of reliance and creates self-reliant individuals by providing older children with the tools they need to lead independent lives through skill development and vocational training programs. By sponsoring the education of an orphan in Hyderabad they created self-sufficiency through sustainability.

In Hyderabad, Sai Seva Sangh educating the underprivileged in Hyderabad is a ray of hope and also the best charity to sponsor an orphan in Hyderabad; here, people are not only supported but also fostered, and their futures are not just a pipe dream but a real possibility. It is evidence that one child at a time, lives can be changed and futures can be constructed with the help of love, care, and the community. Lives are not merely nourished in Sai Seva Sangh's embrace; they are genuinely constructed for a better tomorrow. sponsor a child in Hyderabad to change their life.

[off-page-activities]

Shepherds of Hope: Lighting Up Lives with Compassion and Care

Introduction: Dive into the heartwarming world of Shepherds of Hope, a non-profit organization that's making a difference in the lives of underprivileged children both near and far. Driven by a genuine desire to uplift those in need, this organization is all about creating lasting change through education, advocacy, emergency relief, and community involvement.

Local Impact, Global Reach: Starting in Waterloo, Iowa, Shepherds of Hope is all about making a positive impact right in their own backyard. Through sponsorships, educational support, and quick responses in times of crisis, they're shaping the lives of local children in meaningful ways.

Key Initiatives:

Education: Shepherds of Hope recognizes the power of education in shaping futures. By providing sponsorships and unwavering support, they're ensuring that children have access to quality learning opportunities that can open doors.

Advocacy & Awareness: The organization is on a mission to shed light on the challenges faced by underprivileged children. Through advocacy campaigns and community conversations, they're not just raising awareness but driving real change.

Emergency Relief & Rehabilitation: Shepherds of Hope is a beacon of hope during emergencies. Whether it's natural disasters or unexpected hardships, they're there to provide swift relief and support to those who need it most.

Community Engagement: Shepherds of Hope invites the local community to be a part of their mission. Whether it's volunteering time, resources, or expertise, community members are actively contributing to creating a more compassionate and resilient society.

Vision of the Founders: At the core of Shepherds of Hope is a dedicated couple whose hearts beat for helping the less fortunate. With roots in both Iowa, USA, and Uganda, Africa, they're bridging continents and cultures to bring about positive change in children's lives worldwide.

Get Involved: Are you ready to make a meaningful impact? Shepherds of Hope welcomes volunteers, advocates, and supporters who share their vision of a brighter future for children. Whether you want to donate, volunteer, or spread the word, your involvement matters.

Contact Information:

Email: joshuaatuhairwe@gmail.com

Address: 951 W Parker St, Waterloo, IA 50703

Phone: +1 (319) 231-4372

In a world that can sometimes feel uncertain, Shepherds of Hope stands tall as proof that compassion and dedication can spark incredible change. Join their mission to empower lives, one act of kindness at a time.

To learn more about Shepherds of Hope, explore their initiatives, or find out how you can contribute, visit their website or connect with them on social media. Together, let's brighten the lives of children in need.

[piracytheorist]

Idk I just really like that Twilight's reaction to being told "Your wife used to be a prostitute!" is to go like

and proceed to say how honourable and worthy of respect her dedication, self-sacrifice and mental fortitude are, and how we're shown he actually means that.

And then my girl Yor sees his reaction and hears his words and for the first time in her life she goes like "This is a man who literally just met me and has no connection to me yet he not only understands my position, he's also willing to bring himself out there and have my back when other people have free bait to judge me" and like damn how important that was to her, to have someone (who doesn't owe his survival to her like Yuri does) actually see her and respect her choices and have the absolute BEST of faiths in her. Like, what Camilla says there has the societal power to make her look like a pariah. Yet this dude comes over and without knowing anything about her, he vouches for her and immediately assumes her reasons were noble and altruistic. And though he doesn't know what profession he's actually vouching for, he's completely right in his assumption about her intentions, and considering how easily the general public judges sex workers, it's no surprise this support gives Yor the courage to believe Loid will understand her and won't think bad of her if she ever disappears on them due to her work, because he's open-minded enough for his first and immediate assumption about her is that she has good intentions.

And I just wanna SCREAM because she has absolutely no idea how little he will judge her about her assassin gig. She already considers herself lucky she's come across someone who is compassionate enough to think the best out of someone who works in a profession that is not considered "morally acceptable" by the public. But she has no idea the actual jackpot she's hit, because his own profession is far more dark and sinister yet he still has the kindness and empathy in his heart to understand people who do the same as he does.

Like, that's it with her character, isn't it? She sacrificed her own youth and morality to help Yuri grow up and be educated, and that caused him to idolize her, and because he was the only family she had left, she has been desperate to not cause any of her ties with him to break. But it also caused her impostor syndrome, and she had no confidence in any of her abilities aside from killing and cleaning up after her work, because she lives in a misogynistic society that is suspicious of unmarried women (like, that judgment alone, considering unmarried men don't experience such scrutiny, can be enough to damage a woman's psyche) and because she has been working under a man cruel enough to hire orphaned teenagers as assassins and nearly kill them in tests of their abilities ever since she was a teenager. For her it was either "I'm either perfect in something or I'm completely useless and I deserve people's judgment". Because if Yuri sees she doesn't have the perfect record, she thinks he will be horrified and she'll lose the ties to her last remaining family. And she will think she deserved that. If her killing skills waver in the slightest, she will be killed, either by enemies or by the Shopkeeper doing his little "tests". And she will think she deserved that. And if she doesn't abide by the society's expectations, she will at best be judged and mocked (for not cooking at home) and at worst get arrested (for being suspected as a spy). And she will think she deserved that.

Yet again, this stranger comes along, is told she's worked a socially shameful profession, knows she's shy and with so few connections that she can't even find someone to act as her pretend boyfriend for a party, and he supports her. And then he finds out how socially unskilled she is, how terrible she is at cooking, how she can't even pretend to kiss him for their mutual benefit, how she has the tendency to get so drunk she accidentally kicks him unconscious... And those things that she considers fatal flaws of her, he says are parts of her that she doesn't need to pretend don't exist. That's who she is, and there's nothing to fix, and she can just accept them without feeling bad or ashamed of it, that pretending she's someone else, someone perfect, will only make her miserable and exhausted.

And like... fuck. How can she not feel glad she got to marry that guy?

And how much will her heart break when she finds out he's a spy and will immediately doubt all the supportive words he's told her? And how astonishing will it be when she finds out that he actually meant pretty much everything he's told her, and that he really resonates with her and believes in her?

(anime only here, don't spoil me for the manga)

[muuurder]

YESSSS IM KISSING YOU ON THE MOUTH FOR THIS ONE.

stop normalizing quillsh wammy he literally invented the orphan industrial complex

[silicacid]

The team of Care For Gaza has opened a new account that focuses solely on the orphans in Gaza: @/CFGorphans Donors will be signed up for a sponsorship. This sponsorship ensures the fulfillment of the child's basic needs for improved health and nutrition, while also offering support for their (future) education. Through this, orphaned children that are living through war and loss, receive a message of hope and significance. Please follow and consider supporting us in this.

— Care For Gaza (@/CareForGaza) February 26, 2024

[friendforyoufoundation]

[townpostin]

Tata Steel Engineer Becomes Brother to Orphaned Sisters

Hari Singh Rajput celebrates Rakshabandhan with four girls in Chaliyama village A Tata Steel engineer brought hope to four orphaned sisters by becoming their brother on Rakshabandhan eve in a village near Jamshedpur. JAMSHEDPUR – Hari Singh Rajput, a Tata Steel engineer and founder of Voice of Humanity, celebrated Rakshabandhan with four orphaned sisters in Bankati Tola of Chaliyama village, 45…

[envysparkler]

Haley's Circus visits Gotham when Bruce is 18. The Graysons fall, leaving their toddler an orphan, and the circusmaster whispers something about the Court of Owls before booking it out of Gotham and leaving baby Dickie behind.

Alfred takes in Dick and Bruce is all fired up to investigate this Court of Owls. He always knew there was something seedy about Gotham and he's determined to get to the bottom of this!

Featuring: baby Dickie as the most adorable little toddler; teenage!Bruce in full detective mode but without any training; the Rogues as a grad student support group that are mainly trying to survive higher education while keeping their precocious friend from ending up in a dumpster.

Harvey: so whose turn is it to follow Bruce this weekend?

Crane: I have an exam on Monday, not it.

Pamela: I need to be in the greenhouse this weekend.

Edward: if I have to watch him try to stalk Falcone one more time I'm going to scream.

Dickie: don't be sad! here, sticker!

Everyone: :coos:

Harvey: wait, why are we watching the toddler? where's Bruce?

Harley: oh, I saw Dickie in the trees hiding from some people in owl masks, so I grabbed him.

Harvey: ...but Halloween's not until October?

[ana-bananya]

Hi! My last donation post reached the 100 link limit so this is my new one. I'm going to work on getting individual lists for each cause and linking them here, so it's a bit more organized than the last one.

I have added a few new links, but for the time being, I am focusing on the campaigns I have listed. While I do not have the capacity to take on anymore campaigns, I will still reblog ones I see others post about to help share them.

I will do my best to keep the links updated with their progress.

DISCLAIMER: I do not vet fundraisers. I do not know enough of the vetting process to do so properly. The few posts I've made where I've spoken with people were just me trying to help show proof they are credible and help them share information. I did this for Wafaa and her family, but I am refraining from doing it for others as it's led to some people thinking I'm a vetter when I'm not and I'm uncomfortable with that. My intention in sharing that post was to help others be able to draw their own conclusions about whether or not to trust the fundraiser. The only other accounts you will see me share information about are ones sent to me by Wafaa or her brother Mohyi because they can vouch for those people.

As for the fundraisers linked on this post, they are all either vetted by others or credible enough to be shared. Majority of the links will take you to the original posts I made when I first shared the fundraiser, where I share how they are vetted or where I got it from. The links for organizations will take you directly to their website or socials.

Palestine

Sudan

Congo

Tigray

Hurricane Beryl Relief resources

Arab.org - Daily clicks

World Food Programme trivia game - play to generate donations

Links to more causes:

‼️ indicates that a fundraiser has experienced a decrease in donations or has been without donations for some time

Stand with Jordan: Transgender Refugee's Battle ($135/$700 - VERY low on funds) ‼️

Help the LGBTQ Refugees of the Kakuma Camp ($194/$1,000) ‼️

The Levin House Child Foundation (gfm: £5,429/£35,000 - VERY low on funds) ‼️

Uyghurs

Support an Uyghur orphan's education (79.10% raised) ‼️

Uyghur Human Rights Project

Static & Noise - Film and Advocacy

Haiti

P4H Global Education Development

P4H Canal Support

Hope for Haiti

Action Against Hunger

List of resources for Haiti made by @/hobiebrownies on twitter (places to donate, accounts to follow, news sources, and educational links)

Thread of gfms for Haiti

Progression Society Art School Fund - A New Start ($3,312 CAD/$5,500 CAD) ‼️

Rohingya Refugees

Donate to help provide education to K-12 students living in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh. ($5,725/$15,000) ‼️

Stand with Rohingya Families Escaping Genocide in Aceh: The Rohingya Women's Network ($6,130 AUD/$10,000 AUD) ‼️

Qurbani Emergency Aid for Rohingya Refugees ($11,470/$12,000)

Advocating for Peace and Building Hope: RCP Appeal (£12,030/£50,000 - VERY low on funds) ‼️

Nigeria

Donate to the Humanitarian crisis in northwest Nigeria ($2,505 CAD/$15,000 CAD - VERY low on funds) ‼️

Medical and sanitary supplies to support women & children in Congo, Nigeria, and Sudan ($30 CAD/$3,000 CAD - VERY low on funds) ‼️

Claire Aid Foundation

Action Against Hunger

[siriuslyobsessedwithfiction]

Alina Starkov - the most inconsistent main character. A tragedy of not wanting to have an identity.

The main character in Shadow and Bone trilogy, a prime example of "she deserved better". A.k.a. soldier, Sun Summoner, Sun Saint. In reality, a false saint and a false hero, who has less personality, goals, spine and consistency than her three love interests. How did this happen? Short answer - bad writing. Long answer? Here we go.

Her character at the beginning - a blank slate.

Physically small and weak, sickly, fragile, with a sour face and sourer attitude. Grew up in an orphanage funded by a Duke, who they were taught to basically worship while looking down on religion and beliefs in saints. Children in the orphanage were beaten if they misbehaved or didn't do chores, but were given education and fine food, which means they were faring better than peasants and farmers. Alina had not many, but several options in her life. She could learn a trade that would not require physical labour, like sewing. Or, she could marry and hope her husband was gracious enough to buy a donkey instead of making her carry heavy sacks of salt on her back, as we see a random man do to his wife. But Alina had no hobbies, interests, aspirations or ambitions in her life. Except her childhood friend Mal. Mal gets a mandatory draft in the First Army, and of course Alina follows, and settles for being a mediocre cartographer. Mal thrives in the army, showing off muscles and hooking up with women, while Alina dutifully waits for him saints know why. She doesn't have other genuine friends, she doesn't like people, she doesn't like anything. This is not a bad start in a sense that there is much room for growth and improvement.

Refusing to belong

Alina discovers she's a long awaited sun summoner, who can vanquish the Fold and unite Ravka. She doesn't want to be special, but not for the reasons you might think. Instead of fearing the burden of such an important task or genuinely becoming paranoid of being assassinated (she gets over those in five minutes), she just...doesn't want the responsibility of actually being useful for something. She'd rather not have powers at all, and go back to being in a constantly sickly state. She'd rather be tailing Mal like a mouse. Which doesn't make any sense for following reasons:

Alina's insecurities in SaB:

Not being pretty and talented

2. Not being as pretty and talented as Grisha

3. Being an orphan, being unwanted.

Being a Grisha actually solves all those problems for her. She gets prettier and healthier once she stops repressing her powers, has a unique cool power, and a community that cares for her. Plus, the support from important figures in Ravka. In time, she could have a family.

Instead, she refuses to acknowledge she's one of them, doesn't train properly, preferring to cling to her prejudices and make digs at Grisha. She'd rather complain that they're prettier, confident and pampered than acknowledge they are serfs, nothing but glorified servants with no basic human rights. Instead of her superstitions and prejudices being shattered when she starts living with them and realizing what Grisha have to go through, becoming rightfully enraged that her people are being treated this way, she still doesn't feel any empathy. In fact, she still doesn't see the General as a HUMAN BEING WHO MIGHT HAVE FEELINGS, even though he makes time in his busy schedule of running an army to make sure she's comfortable, jokes along with her, listens to her fears and reassures her, etc. Why would he go through the trouble if he was heartless? He's the General of the Second Army, by the King's law, she's his soldier. She is obligated to obey him regardless.

The narrative supports her delusions.

I get missing her friend, I get struggling to adjust, but it's more than that. Alina is getting dragged along from a plot point to a plot point kicking and screaming, as if she has anything better to do. She doesn't have a life, why is she so against of getting one? Once she finally somewhat adjusts to her life in the Little Palace, it turns out Darkling has had malicious intents towards her powers all along! Aha, you were right to be prejudiced, Alina! Now abandon your people, your country, and run!

“He … he said that Darklings are born without souls. That only something truly evil could have created the Shadow Fold.”

Imagine telling a person who saved your life that he was a soulless abomination, even though you do not know him, and he is still kind to you and reveals as much about him as he can. There is no grooming and manipulation here, it's just called not being a bitch. Darkling tells Alina he's over 120 years old, Alina is an adult, and the damned kiss was consensual. Of course he didn't tell her everything. Even regular people don't reveal their life-long ambitions and deepest childhood trauma to their crush after several conversations. It took Alina months to stop being in denial about being a Grisha, still didn't like being one, you're telling me if Darkling set her down and explained the complex political situation and his plan to overthrow the corrupt monarchy and bring an end to the war, Alina wouldn't jump out of the window?

Alina running away, not confronting the problem, and straight up deciding Darkling was evil incarnate with no evidence snowballed into Darkling deciding she couldn't be trusted and taking more drastic measures. Liberation of his people was on the line and one pesky girl screwed up a carefully planned coup because she couldn't handle her feelings.

False badassery

Throughout the whole three books, every time Alina makes a decision, it's immediately followed by self-doubt, shame and scorn. But no actual objective criticism. We often see variations of "It was foolish, but I didn't care", "I knew it was reckless but I couldn't bring myself to care", but never her actually analyzing why, or deciding not to do something like that again. Her small victories are immediately followed by thoughts on how would others feel about it, even though the person in question isn't even there and couldn't give less of a shit: "Never is it to be said that Ana Kuya didn't teach us manners", "A cheap trick, but a good one. Nikolai would be proud". Ana Kuya was an abusive mother figure, Nikolai was using Alina's status to get the throne. Sure, it's good that Alina is capable of learning useful things from every kinds of people, but she doesn't think "That was smart of me. I learnt that. I'm proud of myself for an accomplishment". She thinks "Is it good? Would they like it? They like things like that, right?". She attaches herself to people that fit her view of "deserving" and helps them, even though it might not be for the best. Extreme lack of self-worth, combined with entitlement.

When Alina hears a rumour Darkling ordered his heartrenders to sew a traitor's mouth shut, she's horrified. Even though that's hardly the worst punishment for a traitor in an army. But when some pilgrims insult Genya, she orders to have their tongues cut out after they're given only one warning. When Alina commits violence at slightest provocation, it's baddass. But when Darkling commits a controlled necessary military act to stop enemies from overrunning the country, it's madness and is falsely labeled genocide. Look up the definition, genocide is what was happening to Grisha.

The Darkling never kidnapped children and put them in the war zone. He only lied to Alina that he did, a clever strategy with no bloodshed. Meanwhile, Alina let her cult fight for her, whose members were brainwashed children, some only twelve years old.

When Alina faces a dilemma or a tense military situation, her go-to strategy is suicide. That is not martyrdom, nor it is badass.

Darkling became a bad person out of good intentions and desperation, Alina is just a bad selfish person.

Desperate people are the ones capable of the worst acts. Darkling didn't go nearly as crazy as he could, and frankly had a right to on behalf of his people.

"Aleksander had marched south with the king’s soldiers, and when they’d faced the Shu in the field, he’d unleashed darkness upon their opponents, blinding them where they stood. Ravka’s forces had won the day. But when Yevgeni had offered Aleksander his reward, he had refused the king’s gold. “There are others like me, Grisha, living in hiding. Give me leave to offer them sanctuary here and I will build you an army the likes of which the world has never seen.”

It doesn't matter how much genocide, prejudice, abuse and dehumanization the Grisha suffered through for centuries all around the world, Alina never bothers to look at the big picture. Her help is only for those who she deems worthy of it.

She attaches herself to people who fit her narrow-minded view of "worthy". She immediately believes Baghra's rather flimsy expose of Darkling, even though the old woman has been nothing but unhelpful to her, only insulting her and beating her. But Alina associates her with her only mother figure, Ana Kuya, another old hag she had a toxic relationship with. And even though Baghra is an immensely powerful Grisha who refuses to help or even lift a finger, or just spit out vital information, Alina coddles her and provides protection. Instead of telling her to fess up the useful information and save her unhelpful comments, Alina looks up to her as a mentor.

When Genya tells her story, Alina feels bad for her, but not bad enough to see things her perspective. She only becomes protective of Genya once she gets mutilated, out of pity. If it was genuine compassion, she would've forgiven and understood her from the start.

Every Grisha has been hunted and shamed for merely existing, almost every Grisha has lost a loved one to war. But Alina pointedly ignores it, because she doesn't personally know and care for those people. Therefore, she doesn't feel empathetic. Because if she feels empathetic, she might start feeling guilty about how she runs away from her responsibilities at every given opportunity. Just look at this passage:

“You know what he plans to do, Ivan.” “He plans to bring us peace.” “At what price?” I asked desperately. “You know this is madness.” “Did you know I had two brothers?” Ivan asked abruptly. The familiar smirk was gone from his handsome face. “Of course not. They weren’t born Grisha. They were soldiers, and they both died fighting the King’s wars. So did my father. So did my uncle.” “I’m sorry.” “Yes, everyone is sorry. The King is sorry. The Queen is sorry. I’m sorry. But only the Darkling will do something about it.”

The Darkling never wanted power for selfish reasons. He didn't want to take over other countries or lift Grisha above regular people. He wanted his kind to have basic human rights. Centuries of diplomacy and servitude only gave him enough power to make a school for Grisha children and save adults from slavery and getting slaughtered by serving nobles. He wanted to use the Fold as a border, to stop enemies from invading whenever they pleased, so he would have the time to save Ravka from collapsing. What has Alina done? Started a civil war, destroyed the Second army and helped put a morally dubious man with no claim on the throne to continue an outdated absolute monarchy tradition.

Alina Starkov was meant to be the sun, but turned out to be a trick of the light.

Every time it felt like Alina was emerging from her cocoon as a beautiful butterfly, embracing her true self, she went back to the toxic situationship and the toxic mindset. The narrative also always struck her down. Every book begins and ends with her being sickly, fragile, missing an essential part of herself. It would be good if it was written differently and showed themes of being disabled or having a chronic illness accurately, but it's not. It started out well. Alina was removed from an abusive environment, found a purpose in life, started loving her newfound powers, outgrew the stupid crush who she was way too dependent on, but it all went downhill from there. And then some. This constant vicious cycle does not fit the theme of growth and improvement, and neither does the ending, where Alina loses her powers and goes back to the orphanage. Once again, she's frail and strange, servants (who she now employs) don't respect her, sneer and make fun of her, while her now husband Mal turns a blind eye. Everything is back to the way it was: Mal thrives, Alina is...there. The ending is supposed to be bittersweet, a couple who survived a war building a new life together, but I don't see the sweet part.

Trick of the light - definition: something appearing different from what actually is as a result of the quality of light.

Darkling wanted her to be a strong Grisha, his equal and balance. Grisha wanted her to be a capable leader, Bataar twins wanted a living saint they could worship, Nikolai wanted a wife interested in Ravka and politics. Alina tried to be all of that, but never really wanted to be any of those, so she half-assed it. Mal wanted the version of Alina who was small and insignificant, because anything more made him insecure, and he got his wish.

Illusion, mirage, spectre.

No matter how much the author tries to tell us that Alina's every problem is Darkling's fault, her thought process and actions paint a different picture. Alina was never mentally healthy and she never addressed or resolved her problems. Growing up in a controlled and abusive environment affected her more than anyone, including herself, wants to admit. I am not a licensed psychiatrist, so I will refrain from officially diagnosing Alina, even though she's a fictional character. I am NOT saying I know for certain that Alina has these, if any, mental problems, but she does have some alarming symptoms. It seems like depersonalization. While her symptoms don't fit into one particular mental disorder, I am reminded of psychiatric infantilism, but it is not a mental illness with symptoms. Psychiatric infantilism doesn't necessarily mean the person acts outwardly childishly. To explain very roughly and simply, it means the psych is not as developed as it should be (even if the person is very smart and clever). It shows in avoiding responsibility or not feeling it at all, problems with social connections, not seeing the big picture and taking it seriously, etc. When Harshaw tells the story of his brother getting brutally murdered by people who hate Grisha, even brash Zoya is appalled and expresses her condolences. While all Alina thinks about is that Harshaw might base his hope of having a better life on her now.

Alina also might have Dependent Personality Disorder, but it's hard to say, since we are never shown her being on her own long enough to see whether or not she can take actually care of herself. But her relationship with Mal, Darkling and Baghra (after she no longer objectively needs them) is weird, to say the least.

She never gains the sense of self or an identity, she refuses to become something, then delivers an inner monologue of accepting her fate and five minutes later goes back on her words. Her willingness to sacrifice her life is never out of thinking of the greater good and future, justice, or patriotism. She just doesn't want to live, especially without Mal, who has been doing nothing but shitting on her. Her titles are slapped on her, and she peels them off. Her personality never really changes. Everything she went through feels like a really bad exchange program she was in for a year, and from which she has learnt nothing.

P.S. I don't hate Alina's character, I just mourn her lost potential.

If you have made it to the end, I salute you, congratulations and thank you. 😊 🙏 ❤️

[riding-with-the-wild-hunt]

vetted fundraisers from today. please continue to give support to families like these in whatever capacities you can, they are suffering such unfathomable deprivation and grief.

july 18th:

Safaa, her husband, their baby son Amir, and Safaa's parents, who both urgently need medical treatment ($1,086/$75,000) - @safaamiroo, verified by @/90-ghost

Amira Alanqar, her two siblings, and their mother, who needs treatment for diabetes (Amira is solely responsible for her family after the loss of their father) (€14,484/€20,000) - @amira-world, verified by @/nabulsi

Ashraf Alanqar, his wife Widad Issa, and their little son Bakr (€8,974/€30,000) - @ashraf-family, verified by @/90-ghost

Wafaa Alnhal's family of 15, including four young children and a newborn (the family has already lost multiple members, including Wafaa's sister and teenage niece) (€34,690/€50,000) - @wafa-nahll, #171 on @/el-shab-hussein and @/nabulsi's spreadsheet

Widow Hadeel Abu Jiab and her family of 12, including three young children (Najwa who was orphaned, Samira who needs treatment for vision problems, and Almas who is in severe shock) and Hadeel's injured mother and brother (€2,814/€20,000) - @palestinianhadeel, verified by @/90-ghost

Salahaldin Hor, his wife Sundus, and their three young daughters, two of whom have been injured (€1,946/€40,000) - @salahaldinhor, verified by @/90-ghost

Islam Al-Najjar and his family (€15/€30,000) - @islamgazaaccount2, verified by @/90-ghost

The Ayyad family of eight, including a sick child who needs treatment to save her sight (CHF3,753/CHF60,000) - @basel-1995, @amanyayyad, #214 on @/nabulsi and @/el-shab-hussein's spreadsheet

Mohammed Atallah (needs urgent surgery after being shot with an explosive bullet) and his family of 11, including a toddler and a newborn (€3,205/€82,000) - @mohammed-atallah, verified by @/90-ghost

Ola Ahel, her four siblings, and their parents ($7,308/$20,000) - @olagaza, #205 on @/el-shab-hussein and @/nabulsi's spreadsheet

Yousef, a toddler who needs lifesaving treatment for a severe blood disease, and his parents (€4,080/€25,000) - @dima96yousef, verified by @/90-ghost

Nour Ashour, her husband, and their two little children, including Muhammad, who needs continuous treatment for disabilities relating to birth asphyxia (£55/£80,000) - @nourashour33, verified by @/90-ghost

Hala Daoud (needs vital treatment for multiple sclerosis) and her three children (€180/€17,000) - verified by @/frostedforestfairy (contact for more details)

Helping Tawfik Satoom continue his education ($902/$20,000) - @tawfiksatooom, #238 on the operation olive branch spreadsheet

Ahmed Alanqar, his wife Dina, and their four young children, one a newborn (€31,345/€35,000) - @ahmedabuyamin, #174 on @/nabulsi and @/el-shab-hussein's spreadsheet

Helping Siraj Abudayeh, his wife, and their three young children rebuild their treasured home ($6,972 CAD/$82,000 CAD) - @siraj2024, #219 on @/el-shab-hussein and @/nabulsi's spreadsheet

Shimaa, her husband Abdel, and their little daughter Juri (€386/€50,000) - @shimaashaban22, @abdelmutei, verified by @/90-ghost

5-year-old Nour, her three sisters (all suffering from malnutrition), their parents, and their grandmother ($373/$25,000) - @nourbader2019, verified by @/90-ghost

not yet vetted:

Salem Anqar, his wife Hadeel, their two little children, Salim's five siblings (three of whom are children), and their chronically ill parents (kr1,022 SEK/kr990,000) - @salemanqar

Mohammed Ayyad and his family of seven, five of whom are children (Mohammed lost his mother when she was not able to evacuate for medical care) (€11,473/€35,000) - @mohammedayyad

The Eleyan family of 18, including eight children, one a newborn (€3,185/€50,000)

Doctor Mohammed Shurrab, his wife, their child, and ten extended family members (€435/€100,000) - @684599

a small amount of your time and effort can have an immeasurable impact. please don't scroll past without engaging in some way, it really makes a difference

[saisevasangh]

Sai Seva Sangh: Nurturing Lives, Building Futures