Educate Destitute Girls in Kolkata, India

To grow up the child of a rag picker puts you among one of the most marginalised and despised groups in society. Even within the slum where you live, you are at the back of the queue for water. In a highly stratified society you are right at the bottom. Shehnaz’s mother is a ragpicker. She supports her family of six by collecting cardboard, plastic, paper and metal waste from the streets and selling in on to dealers.
Unlike many other rag pickers Shehnaz’s mother wants her children to stay away from child labour and to get an education. All the children except Shehnaz’s disabled 6 year old brother attend school. We admitted Shehnaz to this programme because her mother couldn’t afford to pay for the additional tuition necessary for her daughter to pass her exams. Since then Shehnaz has passed her class X and is happily studying in class XI. With your support and her hard work she will pass class XII next year and have the opportunity to go into higher education.

I am particularly excited that I’ll be able to meet Shehnaz and all the other girls on this programme next week when I’ll be in Kolkata to catch up on all Tiljala SHED’s projects. So watch this space for up to date news.

Meanwhile Shehnaz and her family send a special thank you to our GlobalGiving donors and wish you a Happy New Year.

Almost a year ago I reported here about 6 ambitious young women who were busy defying all expectations and about to embark on a university career. https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/educate-destitute-girls-in-kolkata-india/reports/?subid=99072

Today I am delighted to report that they are all doing well and loving college life.  Back in November 2017, we were worried about Dulari. 

Like the others she had proceeded against the odds through the Islamia Girls High School (enduring class sizes of 150 and upwards).  She had been inspired by Sofia Khan, who had grown up in the same slum but had fought the system and is now a senior officer in the West Bengal Civil Service.  Determined to get into university, Dulari jumped at Tiljala SHED’s offer of free Sunday tuitions, passed her class 12 exams and won a free place to Bhawanipore College.

But her family was so poor that her parents wouldn’t be able to spare her for any more education, nor would they be able to provide her with the books, stationery, travel costs and other expenses she needed to be able to continue with her education.

Thanks to your generosity Dulari was able to join this sponsorship programme and all these costs are covered.  She wants to join the civil service, like Sofia.  You have given her the opportunity to make a success of her life.

Report from Shreya and Aamna who run the programme:

"Dulari lives with her family in a rented room at jannagar Road kol-17 Her father Md Alauddin he works as a Auto Driver and he earn very less Her mother Kharuinisa she is a house wife .They are four sisters all of them are studying in school. At present she is studying in B.A 1^st year at Bhawanipur education society college it’s a famous collage at Kolkata. She said thanks to GlobalGiving Project for her support now she is getting everything .Before getting the sponsorship she was in Anjuman Islamia Girls High School during that time she faces many problems it’s a big challenge for her to complete her education her family is very grateful to GlobalGiving Education. Hopefully she will complete her graduation."