Educating the Girls of The Indian Thar Desert

Dear Friends,

This quarter has been full of learning, care, and quiet achievements across Sambhali Trust’s three boarding homes — Laadli, Sheerni, and Abhayasthali.

Together, these homes continue to support over 65 girls and young women in Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. Laadli and Sheerni provide a safe and nurturing home for school-going girls from KG to Class 12, while Abhayasthali supports young women pursuing college, vocational training, and higher education.

For many of the girls, the boarding homes are not just places to stay. They are places where they feel protected, encouraged, and able to dream beyond the limitations they once faced.

This quarter, we are very happy to share that the girls performed strongly in their studies. Across all three centres, the board pass rate was 100%. At Sheerni, the Class 10 board results were especially encouraging, with Kalpana scoring 92%, Ravina 83.67%, and Pooja and Krishna both scoring 81.50%. Noshin also achieved 83% in Class 12 Arts. At Laadli, all girls from Class 8 and Class 10 passed with First Division, and at Abhayasthali, our college-going young women continued to make steady progress in their semester results.

Alongside academics, more than 25 workshops were organised during the quarter. These sessions covered health and hygiene, period health, cervical cancer awareness, nutrition, cyber safety, prevention of sexual harassment, child marriage, women’s rights, financial literacy, confidence building, time management, and environmental awareness. These workshops are important because education is not only about marks — it is also about safety, self-worth, awareness, and preparing girls for real life.

We were also fortunate to welcome supporters, educators, and volunteers who contributed their time and knowledge. Mr. Klaus from Germany conducted a seven-day professional development workshop for tutors at Laadli, helping strengthen student-centred teaching methods. International volunteers from Switzerland and the USA also visited Sheerni and supported the girls through academic activities, celebrations, and personal interaction.

Health remained an important focus. A full eye check-up camp was conducted at Sheerni, and the staff continued regular health monitoring across all homes. Seasonal illnesses such as viral fever, chickenpox, and heat-related concerns were addressed promptly, and no serious unresolved health cases remained.

One of the most beautiful parts of this quarter was watching the girls return for the new academic session with energy and hope. Books, uniforms, and stationery were distributed, routines resumed smoothly, and the homes once again became full of study, laughter, discipline, and dreams.

We would also like to share the story of Kanchan, a young girl from Sheerni. Kanchan lost her father when she was only five years old. Her mother, a farm labourer raising five children, reached out to Sambhali Trust for support. Today, Kanchan and her sisters live and study together at the boarding home. She is one of the most enthusiastic learners in her class and dreams of joining the Indian Army one day to make her mother proud.

Another inspiring young woman is Kamini Devi from Laadli. She grew up in a village where access to good schooling was limited. With her family’s support, she came to Jodhpur to continue her education at Laadli Boarding Home. Now in Class 12, she studies with confidence and focus. In her own words, “This place has played an important role in shaping my education and my future.”

These stories remind us why the boarding homes matter so deeply. A safe place, regular meals, education, guidance, health care, and emotional support can change the direction of a girl’s life.

We are sincerely grateful to every donor, friend, volunteer, and supporter who makes this work possible. Your support helps us keep these homes running with dignity and care. Most importantly, it helps girls continue their education, stay safe, and grow into confident young women with choices for their future.

With gratitude,
Sambhali Trust
Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India