Educate Destitute Girls in Kolkata, India

Tabassum resides in the densely populated Mochi para. Her father is a cycle rickshaw driver. Her mother works as a maid servant and earns a small meagre income of INR 4000 (US$ 48) per month after working for 8 long hours. Altogether they are a family of six members, her father is a diehard alcoholic and spend all his income to support his addiction. Tabassum has completed graduation and post-graduation (M.A. in History) from a Kolkata based reputed institution Lady Brabourne College. Tabassum was inducted in this project in the year 2016. Prior to this the family was struggling to meet the educational expenses and probably she was planning to drop out from her studies and start working as a maid. The project support she received from this program was a boon for her as it helped her to meet the expenses related to education. Tabassum is conscientious and very serious with her studies by dint of hard work. She secured a job for herself in a school as an office clerk. Her job was to manage the school administration work. She was paid INR 8000 (98 US$) per month after dedicating more than 8 hours of work.

While she was working, she did a course in advanced computer applications and then she switched jobs for a better opportunity. Now she is working in a BPO as a team leader. The money she earns helps her to support the family. Her mother is a heart patient and needs regular checkups and medicines. Tabassum helps her by providing essential medicines. Tabassum is grateful for the help the project has provided her. She promised to help other needy students who come from vulnerable families and are under the education project to learn how to operate computers in future. She wants the other girls to get access to digital learning.

This is a way to show her gratefulness for the help she received from this project. Now she is an independent girl. She works hard and is energetic. She has a positive attitude towards life, and she can overcome from any difficult situations. Tabassum is very strong-minded girl, and she is very thankful to all the donors who have supported her during her struggle days. Now, she is earning a good amount and helping her family to come out of the poverty. She says that “ I will not stop until I take my family out of poverty”. She is on a mission to end poverty in her family and she has a passion to help other impoverished girls like her. 

With your continued support, we can reach out to many more Tabassum's. 

Laxmi, 23, stays with her family in Kolkata slums beside the railway tracks. Her father Rajkumar sells street food, and her mother is a homemaker. She often helps her father in his work.

She has 5 family members at present. She is pursuing Bachelor of Commerce 1st year and studying in Bangabashi College at Sealdah. She goes to her college in the early morning and travels by train. She has completed her computer vocational training and also in advance excel. She has recently started learning tally which will upskill her and will be an advantage in her career. Her parents were unable to support her education.

If Tiljala SHED support was not there, she would be a domestic help by now. Her school fees were due, and other expenses were not met by her parents. Then she eventually got the support from the organisation and all the expenses were taken care of. Tiljala SHED even arranged for her course books which she couldn’t manage. She always scores good marks and is a meritorious student.

Besides studies, she is a good artist and has received many awards for her drawings. Both of her brothers are studying in school and also help their father in the food shop. Laxmi is very confident of doing well in her studies and has improved her ranking in the class. She is a very good football player.

I hope that she will succeed in her life, fulfill her dreams. She is also preparing to compete in government exams and hopes to achieve her goal. Your support has instilled hope in Laxmi’s eyes. Your support can transform many such Laxmi’s in the communities.

We hope we can count on you for many such inspiring stories.

Thanks to all our donors for their untiring support.