Name: Nilophar Nisar Shaikh.
Age: 18 years
Education: 12th STD
"First, let me thank you for letting me build my strength and confidence. I quite shy by my nature. After completing 12th standard, I was at my parents home, unsure what to do next. As soon as I came to know a computer course was running, I enrolled my name for it.
Along with computer skills. we also learned about personality development, communication skills, how to prepare our curriculum vitae, and how to handle interviews. All of this information was essential in me getting a job.
Now I am working at Alfa to Sparsh. The computer skills I learned on the course are completely relevant to my work.
There are four of us in my family. My father works as a watchman in the community. After completing the 12th standard, I did not leave my home. I used to help my mother with housework, and I did not think much about any goals for the future. Then one day, a member of the project team came to my house and told me about the vocational courses they are conducting for adolescent girls. My mother was persuaded to let me go with my friends to learn computer skills.
At the time of joining, I didn't want to do much more than this one class, but the positive atmosphere and encouragement of the whole project made it worthwhile. I learned many other valuable things alongside the computer skills, such as communication skills, and the issues of adolescent marriage in our community.
My mother and father are very proud of my progress.
Thank you to the project and the whole project team.
It is such noble work to support girls like us, who would otherwise never leave the house, and be dependent upon men for our whole lives. Thank you very much for helping us to become independent.
Swati Vilas Gaikawad is 13 years old.
Her parents are wage laborers, and the family of 5 live in dire poverty in Karule, Sangamner. Swati was born blind. Up to 3rd standard, she was attending a School for Blind Children in the neighboring town of Shrirampur. However, problems at that school meant that they could no longer support Swati. Upset, she had to return to the small drought-prone village of Karule, which has almost no facilities. She would spend her days sitting at home with nothing to do and nothing to stimulate her.
Her mother, realizing that something needed to be done, began leaving her in the NISD run pre-school center while they worked, in the hope that she would at least be able to play and pass her time.The Reading Improvement Teacher (RIP) spoke to Swati about her situation, and decided to take action. She collected all the information available on Swati, and met with Local Government school teachers. The problem was discussed in a Village Education Committee (VEC) meeting.There were members of the committee who had attended NISD's Child Right trainings and appreciated education was a right for all children. Thus the VEC insisted that educational facilities appropriate for Swati should be available in the village.
The case was taken to the Education Officer, and further action was taken by the VEC and NISD project staff. Finally, a Government teacher with the necessary skills was assigned to the village, under the Government's 'Education for All' initiative. Swati is now enrolled in the 4th standard, with braille books and other educational materials provided, and a teacher to guide her. The VEC and Child Parliament members also registered her for a Government scheme for visually handicapped children.
Swati is very intelligence child. Seeing her willingness to learn, she has also joined the RIP. She greatly enjoys all the new stories she is learning, and is always ready to answer questions about them. Swati is now enrolled in education, and spending her time meaningfully.
Thanks to all who have donated for supporting the various child development programmes that helped us to bring hope to Swati's future.
Age: 28
Educated until: 7th std.
Address: At Sabalewadi, Post. Sangnore, Tal. Junnar, Dist. Pune.
Mrs. Kusum’s family consists of herself, her husband, her two daughters, her son and her in-laws. They live in Sabalewadi village, described as "a tribal and most backward area of Pune district." Kusum’s family lost their fertile land due to construction of Pimpalgaon Joge dam. The fertile land was submerged, and all that remains is on the slopes and barren. This meant Kusum had to work on others' fields, walking 14-15 km daily one way. Their life as wage labourers was very difficult, as only Kusum and her husband could work to support the seven of them. Also, because they had to leave the house very early and returned very late, they were not able to look after either the children, or the elderly in-laws.
A few months back Kusum joined a Self-help Group and started saving Rs. 20 per month from her meager income. NISD’s representative told her about the Land Leveling Scheme implemented by NISD and how it could will help to make their remaining sloped land productive. Kusum discussed with his family members but they had no money. Kusum’s Self-help Group helped by giving her a loan. Thus Kusum leveled 2 acres of unproductive, barren land. Family members started cultivating this land, growing crops such as millet, wheat and various vegetables. They produced a paddy in the rainy season, and reaped much food and grain. From the profit they not only repaid the loan but also dug a well in their field to solve irrigation problem. Now both husband and wife work in their own field as proud farmers and fulfill all their family needs from the income. Kusum can now take time to care for the children, their education and her elderly in-laws.
This is all thanks to the Self-help Group; only possible through the generosity of the donors.
