Educate 100 Rescued Girl Child Labourers

Dear Donors,

Greetings from BREADS Bangalore!

It is now time for the next report and we wish to share the stories of two of the rescued girls, whose determination to make the best use of an opportunity given through your support, continues to grow stronger by the days.                       

Navya (name changed) is a 10 year old girl from Yadgiri who was forced to face the pains of agricultural labour, owing to her family’s poverty. This situation where children are transported in auto rickshaws to agricultural fields where they have to work is characteristic of North Karnataka districts like Deodurga and Yadgiri. While our team members went on a raid with the government department officials, Navya was rescued from the fields and brought to our bridge school. Although her parents want her to continue working, she lamented her struggles and expressed her desire to study like other children of her age. After a brief period of counseling, habitation with peers and admission into bridge school, Navya now knows better. “I want to study and will not miss this chance to grow into a learned person”, she smiles. Today, when she goes home for holidays, her family members do not recognize her. The nutritious food, emphasis on health/hygiene, child friendly routine & ambience and the excitement in studying have transformed her physically. She will be admitted to an English medium school in the coming academic year in June 214.

Sahana (name changed) is also 10 years old. Her father was a drunkard, who had died recently, and her mother is working in Bangalore. Survived by her grandmother, she managed all the household work by herself. Although she wanted to play and study like other children, she thought it was an obligation to help the old grandmother. She was rescued and brought to the centre by our staff, during one of their village visits. Inhibitions about coming to a strange place were removed through our customized counseling and other programmes for new comers. At the bridge school now, she is very active and inquisitive. She wants to study like nobody else in her family. She hardly thinks of going back to her house. Even when her grandmother came to take her back, she was firm in her decision to stay here and study.                                                                                            

These girls represent just the tip of the ice berg. There are many more like them who need external support to realize their inherent rights. We thank you all for helping us serve many more children.

Will continue to do our best to mainstream the rescued girl child labourers!