By Girish Kulkarni | Founder, Snehalaya
Thank you so much for your support of our education projects, it's thanks to you that this year our children celebrated a 100% pass rate of their 10 and 12 standard exams.
When we started our Balbhavan slum schools, our mission was to educate children in the hopes of uplifting their families. Rohit is a former student of our Kshitij Balbhavan in Ramwadi. Here he shares in his own words how your support of our Balbhavan team has helped him in his dreams to become the first doctor from our slum schools.
"I grew up in a very small urban slum in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. These slums -called Ramvadi - are areas without healthcare, education and other necessities. The houses are tiny and poorly maintained, and roads are not appropriately constructed, so public transport doesn't service the area.
"My father migrated to Ramvadi to work as a laborer and my mother is a housewife so our monthly income is significantly low. I have one brother and one sister. Our circumstances are difficult and it is hard to make ends meet and there is a constant struggle for necessities.
"I have completed my first to tenth standard education in Sitaram Sarda School and my higher secondary education in New Arts, Commerce & Science College, Ahmednagar. Me and my siblings were also admitted into Kshitij Balbhavan in Ramwadi. Because many students' parents are uneducated themselves and their financial circumstances are poor, few students are able to get extra tuition, so the Balbhavan teachers gave us extra help. I remember that we used to look up to our teachers for everything. They weren't just educating us; they spent time helping us decide what careers to pursue in the future.
"I had always wanted to be a doctor and I decided to pursue that goal. However, in the back of my mind, I knew that the only way for me would be to get into a government-funded medical school. Privately-funded schools charged a lot, and I knew I wouldn't be able to afford it. But I knew I could work hard; that was in my hands.
"I joined private classes to study for the NEET exam. At that time, Snehalaya was always standing with me with motivation and economic support. For three years, I took a lot of effort to ensure my success in the NEET exam. Finally, I got good marks in NEET and achieved my dream.
I got admission to MBBS in Kakasaheb Mhaske Medical College, Ahmednagar.
"I think two factors have made a massive difference in achieving my dream career. One was the support from my parents, the other was Snehalaya's Balbhavan. Thye provided me with an education and the guidance I needed. The Balbhavan showed me the path I needed to follow, and I kept walking.
"Nothing is impossible. I tell others that there will be circumstances where they will feel it is not working out, but they have to be consistent. Be consistent, hard-working and keep trying."
Every penny you donate counts towards transforming lives of so many vulnerable children, thank you. This July Bonus day those pennies go even further with all donations made on 20 July being matched by GlobalGiving. Any amount you can send will go a long way in empowering and educating more young people like Rohit.
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By Girish Kulkarni | Founder, Snehalaya
By Girish Kulkarni | Founder, Snehalaya
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