Educate 500 Girls in Tribal India

This is the story of Saloni, a Nanhi Kali of class IV from the Government Primary School of Khed Block, Chakan. Having lost her mother at the tender age of 5, she has since been under the care of her grandmother. After her mother’s passing away, her father decided to stay back in Kharabwadi, and put Saloni under the care of her maternal grandmother. However, due to lack of income, he joined them soon and has since been helping her grandmother with her trade as a vendor of rice. He also engages in other occupation as when he gets the opportunity and does not have a fixed source of income to support the family. Saloni also has a younger brother, Vedant. Although he is enrolled in school, he has trouble with his classes as he has a learning disability causing him to lag behind in his school work. As the father and grandmother leave for their trade, Saloni brings Vedant along with her to the Academic Support Centre (ASC) and also helps out with domestic chores back at home.

Having forced to take up responsibilities at such a young age, Saloni is accustomed to taking care of herself. She has prepared a time table for herself to manage her time between studying and helping with the household chores. She takes care of her school work and homework with no support from anyone. At the ASC, she manages to complete her work and also help her brother with his school work. She devotes all her attention to him, helps him with adjusting to new and strange environments and keeps him company by playing with him.

Although during her initial months with Project Nanhi Kali she was very reserved and quiet, she soon adjusted to the new setting with the help of her Community Activist and began interacting with her peers. The CA has been focusing on Saloni because of her quiet nature and because of the fact that she was forced to take care of herself at such a young age. Saloni learned to share and take part in interactive learning with the help of the grouping system followed in the ASC and her academic performance has been progressing constantly. She has also built up the confidence to clarify her doubts out loud in class and has found a keen interest in mathematics. She uses her conceptual understanding of the subject to help her peers.

Saloni’s father is deeply grateful for Project Nanhi Kali for its support. Saloni dreams of becoming a Sub Inspector of Police so that she can serve the people. Her teachers are very proud of her who has so gracefully accepted so many responsibilities at such a young age without any complaints.