Educate Her, Make Her Independent

In a world where most would lose hope, Sachi*, at just 8 years old, possesses wisdom and vision that defy her age. Despite physical challenges that would daunt even the most resolute, she clings to her dreams with unwavering determination.

Sachi was born with a disability; her hands and legs were affected from birth. Daily life tasks that many take for granted present her with difficult hurdles. Yet, she continues to work hard to overcome these obstacles.

Residing in a small village in the Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh, Sachi hails from an area where resources are scarce, and families frequently migrate to Nepal for work. Education becomes a distant dream for the children of this village, who often accompany their parents or remain without formal schooling.

In Sachi's family, the burden of responsibility intensified when her mother passed away during her childhood. Sachi says, "When I was younger, I was very shattered due to the death of my mother, and I was not able to understand anything. Then my father explained and consoled me a lot. He shared that there are ups and downs in life. But looking back will only bring sadness. After that day, I have never looked back in my life."

Her father, Arvind, works as a labourer and tailor, often traveling to Nepal for tailoring work. Sachi, as the eldest child, shoulders a significant load. This included taking care of her younger brother. Despite the adversities life threw at her, Sachi was determined to receive a quality education. Her father's earnings supported the family of four, and financial constraints made pursuing education challenging.

As time passed, Educate Girls emerged as a ray of hope in Sachi's life. Educate Girls’ Team Balika volunteer and Field Coordinator learned of her situation, visited her home, and tried to convince her father to allow Sachi to attend school. Her father, deeply concerned about her physical limitations and the responsibilities she bore at home, hesitated.

Educate Girls' relentless efforts did not go in vain. Their workers visited her family daily, delving into the complexities of their situation. Finally, her father gave his consent for Sachi's enrolment. Educate Girls facilitated the necessary documentation and successfully enrolled her in Class 1!

Today, she is an inspiration, proving that with the right support and determination, even the greatest challenges can be overcome.

*Name changed to protect the identity of the minor.