Ensure Education for 100 Child Laborers

The widow of Senthil, Vellaiyamma looks at her son Surya proudly, her eyes gleaming when telling that he wants to become a doctor. Born with 5 children Surya suffered with his mother after his father's death. The first three children had to drop out from their studies and started sharing their mother's burden of feeding the family. Surya was sent to a nearby town Namakkal and worked in a sago factory there. He was earning Rs.2500/- per month.His eldest brother Devaraj is a coolie in an iron shop. His elder brother Prakash was also a coolie in the same shop.

The boys were identified when our team was doing a survey of the child labour children in the locality. The team tried hard to convince the mother to stop the children Surya and Prakash from going to work and start studying. It took long to convince her. Surya was brought back home from the mill and they started coming to the special school run by us. Now in these two months Surya has picked up his studies well. He is much interested in becoming a doctor.

Surya says with a big smile "I have been motivated by my teacher and counsellor to excel in my studies. Now whatever may come, I will continue my studies and will become a doctor. Here in the school they not only teach me education but also life skills like yoga, stitching, etc. which is of much use to all of us here. Now I dont disturb my mother for stitching my torn dress or my missing button. I do it myself."

Prakash is also happily studying in the same school now. So many other children like Surya are studying in the special school and get back their childhood and their rights secured. This is possible only with the support of people like you. So we feel proud to share the story of Surya with you people who made this possible.

Thank you friends for continuously supporting us and spreading words about us. Together let us fight against the evil of child labour.