8 year old Asha excitedly gets ready for school, they have art and craft periods at school today and storytelling too. Nothing can dampen the energy of this little girl. Her father who worked in a tea garden factory nearby lost his hand in an accident which led him to lose his job. Things began to change from then on, Asha who earlier used to go to a different school had to drop out and so did her brother who began working in a shop to support the family.
Asha was identified by the project coordinator from Ellenbarie Children Project who convinced her parents to send her with them for her education. The family is happy that she and her younger brother is getting better education and proper nutrition for their physical as well as mental growth. The family still struggles but Asha knows that she can make everything go away by working hard at school.
Earlier Purnima, her two brothers Somesh and Shubhash and her grandparents, who these three children stay with, lead a life of despair and poverty. Her mother and father worked in Delhi and used to send some money every month. She usually used to take care of the household chores and her brothers. Seeing all her friends go to school and talk about it she also longed to go to school someday.
It was through her friends that Trinity Foundation came to know about Purnima and her brothers. After much discussions and talks with her grandparents Purnima was finally admitted Grace English School under Grace Children Project. She currently studies in class 6, her brother Shubhash is in class 3 and another of her brother Somesh will come to class 1. Very soon their hard work and dreams are going to bear fruit and they are going to be successful.
Tanuja's mother keeps very unwell, leaving her husband alone to win bread for the family. Tanuja's father works in a medical shop, earning only Rs 5000/- per month. More than half of the amount is drained out in the medical treatment of Tanuja's mother. And with what remains month's proceedings become difficult, leaving the family in hand to mouth condition. In this situation educational expenditure of two children was a burden.
Tanuja was made to stop going to school immediately after she successfully passed the 2nd grade. Her parents took educating the son as priority. And Tanuja was asked to do the household chores to support her ailing mother. Hurt with this Tanuja tried reasoning with her father. But Thanuja's wish was not considered.
But Tanuja did not give up. She picked up books from her friends. Along with carrying out domestic work Tanuja started studying at home.
Her determination was spotted by Rajkumar Parihar , the project coordinator of Education and Education Welfare Project. He counseled her parents on the importance of education for girl child also.
Thanuja is in 5th standard now and her education is sponsored by the Foundation. She regularly attends her classes and even helps her mother in the household chores. Tanuja and her parents are grateful to Trinity for the opportunity that was given to her.
Sex workers are the most marginalize communities in India. This has a dangerous effect on the children in these communities; it restricts their fundamental rights, such as quality education. Children born and brought up in red light districts are more often subjected to abuse within their “homes” and are ostracized in social spaces. And due to the nature of trade, girl children are most vulnerable. So was the life of Manvi.
But her life took a turn after the survey conducted by Love and Hope Project, where she was introduced to the organization. The field workers visited the nearby brothel areas. She was counseled about what was happening, what could happen if she spends rest of her life in the brothel area and the changes she could experience if she joins the organization and get educated. In Manvi’s word, “I was really overwhelmed to know that even I can get education and lead a better life, far from this environment filled with darkness and fear.
Manvi now studies in class 3. “I want to be a teacher so that I can give back to the community where girls are constantly at risk of being forced into sex work. There is nothing else I would choose to do over the work I do. I love my mother and I want to rescue her from the brothel.”
