Kunal’s Story

JIREH CAMPAIGN, PROJECT RESCUE | 2024-2025

Kunal.
(short version)

As a boy, Kunal longed for love but was passed from one abusive home to another, eventually working to survive. His life began to change when he found his sister, was welcomed into the Academy, and discovered both a God-given gift—and a safe place to belong.

KEYWORDS

  • What's most inspiring about this story is the search for a loving family that Kunal embarks on. Kunal has had a big desire to belong since he was a kid. His loyalty to his mom and his love for his sister are key elements in his story.

  • What makes this story unique is the musical aspect of it. Kunal's spark of interest in playing drums begins at the academy and leads him to being a celebrated musician who travels and plays for large audiences. He also is the music teacher at the academy.

  • Because of how significant the ask is, our main audience will be donors, partners, churches who are already invested in Project Rescue. They’ve been tracking with us for years, and they’re confident and eager to partner with us in this multi-year fundraising project.Because of how significant the ask is, our main audience will be donors, partners, churches who are already invested in Project Rescue. They’ve been tracking with us for years, and they’re confident and eager to partner with us in this multi-year fundraising project.

  • When our main audience (our invested donors and partners) watch/read/see any campaign resources, we want them to feel ignited, fired up and ready to go! They adopt the energy of such  an incredible and historic moment, they are not overwhelmed, they’re ready for action.When our main audience (our invested donors and partners) watch/read/see any campaign resources, we want them to feel ignited, fired up and ready to go! They adopt the energy of such  an incredible and historic moment, they are not overwhelmed, they’re ready for action.

  • We hope and expect our audience to join the campaign and donate, but much more than that, especially for this campaign that will last years, we want our audience to feel empowered and take ownership of the project- taking action and bringing others in on it as well. We invite them to take a big role, because we need them and they are important for this campaign to succeed.We hope and expect our audience to join the campaign and donate, but much more than that, especially for this campaign that will last years, we want our audience to feel empowered and take ownership of the project- taking action and bringing others in on it as well. We invite them to take a big role, because we need them and they are important for this campaign to succeed.

 
 

Kunal


CHARACTER BRIEF

Kunal is the main character for this story. We will follow his journey from a young boy to his life as an adult and the impact the academy family had on him. He is still thinking about whether we can show his face and use his real name.

  • Kunal is a very friendly and likeable guy and he is a great drummer. He plays for large audiences and travels internationally as well as teaches music at the academy.

  • Kunal's main desire is to belong. He desperately wants a family to be a part of and to love him.

  • He lived with his abusive relatives until he was 4 years old. He was beaten regularly and made to do all the chores.

Justin Devaraj (maybe)


EXPERTS

Justin may be interviewed to help fill any story gaps if necessary.

 

STORYBOARD

 

HOOK
1. Crackers for his grandma

Film opens up with a 4 year old Kunal on a walk with some crackers that he’s “sharing” with his grandma who passed away. It shows how desperate he was for companionship, for wanting a loving family.

CONFLICT
2. Unwanted in his family

Kunal was living with his aunt, uncle and grandpa who all abused him daily. He was made to do chores and work even as a young 4 year-old. He wasn’t loved or wanted, yet he desired so much to belong and have a loving family.

INITIATION
3. Moves to live with mom

As soon as he learned he had a mother, he begged to be taken to her, with so much hope that his life would change and he’d find that loving family.

JOURNEY
4. New life is a disappointment

Unfortunately, his mother was living with a man who was a drunk, and extremely abusive. His mother worked, probably in the Red Light District and his step dad abused both of them. One day the step dad tried to kill them and Kunal ran away and got the police. He was put in jail and Kunal started working to try to help provide, but they were very very poor.

JOURNEY
5. Meeting his sister

His mother told him about his older sister that lived at the academy, and he immediately was insistent on meeting her. That’s when he ended up being invited to the academy.

JOURNEY
6. Wanted to do something for God

Kunal loved his time at the academy and it changed his life. He had a lot of support from the teachers there and came to give his heart to God. At one point he told Him, “I want to do something for you.” And shortly after he picked up the drums and started learning.

JOURNEY
7. Musician

Now, Kunal has become a celebrated drummer who tours and travels to play on worship teams in front of thousands of people. He is also the music teacher at the academy and enjoys helping the young students.

RESOLUTION
8. He is wanted, needed and valued

That desire he had as a little child to belong and have a loving family has been met in so many ways. God has blessed him with the academy family and with the worship team family who values his talents and love for God. And he has his immediate family, and now lives with his sister and mother which he is so thankful for.

PUNCH
8. Learn about Jireh

Imagine if Shabana’s story could be multiplied by x300. Learn more about the new school, Jireh International.