Give a girl a bike: help her to go to school

“Shreya’s mother’s name is Ashwini, Before getting the bicycle, Ashwini spent a great deal of time each morning walking her daughter and her young son to school and back. As such she had no time to work to earn a second income. However, since getting the bicycle Shreya can take her little brother to school, saving Ashwini much needed time. She has now started working and is able to support her husband and supplement the family income.”- Says Ashwini

Shreya is a student at the Kanyashala Girls School in Satara and lives in a small apartment 4km away from her house. Shreya walks to school daily as her family is not able to afford the bus or taxi fare to send her to school. This commute was bad for Shreya’s health and she found that she was often too tired to complete her homework upon returning home.

Despite all these difficulties, Shreya is an extremely good student and has topped her class every year since the 1^st standard. She is well loved by all the classmates as well as her teachers, and hopes to attend university someday.

Now that she has a bicycle Shreya’s commute is very short. She is not tired after she comes home, so she spends even more time studying and working towards her academic goals. Shreya’s dream is to someday be successful enough to take care of her parents and build them a nice comfortable home of their own.

Links:

• Girls on Wheels

Dear Mann Deshi Supporters,

Swapnali is a student of Panchkoshi Vidyalaya studying in 9^th standard. She was born in a poor family. Her parents work as daily labours. Sometimes, even Swapnali has to go for labour work. They don’t own a land to farm by themselves neither they have a job. Hence, her parents grab every opportunity to do work of any kind. Their household expenses and children’s education is dependent on these earnings. Swapnali has two sisters who got married early due to their family conditions. So, it was not possible for her father to buy her a bicycle. That’s why Swapnali had to take 3 kms walk to reach school. Due to this time spent in daily commute, she was unable to find time for studying and ended up securing only 50% in her 7^th standard.

When Swapnali was in 8^th standard, she was gifted with a bicycle during Mann Deshi marketing mahotsav. As she saved much time in her commute due to the bicycle, she secured 65% in 8^th. She was able to go the school on time and save time for studying. Swapnali says, "Due to easy commute by cycle, I am able to attend extra classes in school. I can return home early and give time for studying after doing the household work. There are other girls in my school who also need this kind of help. I thank my school principal for recommending my name for this bicycle. This was not possible without the support of Mann Deshi and my school.”

Thank you so much for all our Supporters !!

Links:

• Her own voice: How rural women contribute to community radio - T

“It is not a bicycle; it is like wings for me. Now, I can give more time for my studies, can reach school in time. I am very thankful to Mann Deshi who made it possible for a poor girl to seek education in Rayat Shikshan Sanstaha. I will try my best to fulfill the expectations of everyone”- Says Aishwairya

I, Aishwarya begin with the thought of great author V.S.Khandekar- “Human mind can’t be tied with the chains of the past tightly. It is blessed with the blessings of future like the wings of eagle. I have also seen a dream.”

I live with my parents and brother. My father was a farm laborer and the economical condition of the family was poor. My mother was doing her best to save money for our education. But as it was drought in our area, the family earning was so little to live. The condition became more severe as my father fell sick. All the savings of the family was spent on his treatment but in vain. We lost him.

It was a big loss for us. I go to school by foot. The distance is 4 Kms. My mother wishes and dreams that both her children would seek good education and become self reliant. Either of my parents was interested in education but poverty diverted them from it. Now, I have decided to fulfill their dream. My brother also studies.  We both go to work on holiday.

I like reading and always wins first prize in speech competition. My Headmaster helped me by selecting me for ‘Free Bicycle for Girl Students Initiative’ of Mann Deshi Foundation.

“It is not a bicycle; it is like wings for me. Now, I can give more time for my studies, can reach school in time. I am very thankful to Mann Deshi who made it possible for a poor girl to seek education in Rayat Shikshan Sanstaha. I will try my best to fulfill the expectations of everyone”- Says Aishwairya

Dear Mann Deshi Supporters,

Thanks for giving me WINGS to fly in the sky...says Bhagyashri..

Bhagyashri is studying in 8^th standard. She belongs to a very poor family. Her family doesn’t have any farm. Her parents are mere laborer and whatever they were earning on weekly wages was the family’s only income source. Though this family was poor, they were contented. But as it is said ‘Man proposes and God disposes’. Suffering from a disease, one day her father died. It was a big loss for her family. Her mother has to recover for the future of family. So she started to work on wages on farm. But she could get only Rs. 2000 per month. When it’s a holiday, whole family goes with mother for work.

Bhagyashri's mother says, she wishes her children would seek good education in order to be self reliant in life. Bhagyashri's sister and brother are in 10^th std. To reach school, they all have to go by foot, daily 3-4 Kms.

“Mann Deshi selected me for their ‘Free Bicycle for Girl Students Initiative’ and I received a bicycle. It helped me to reach school in time and saved much of my daily time. Now I could give more time for my study. I want to become an engineer and to achieve this goal, I have started the journey. Mann Deshi helped to fulfill the dream of my mother. Thanks to Mann Deshi Foundation & its supporters for giving me wings to fly in the sky.”-says Bhagyashri

Dear Mann Deshi Supporters,

Shubhangi wants to be a Class One officer in the future. .

Shubhangi just gave her SSC examination. She is living in Hingani with her mother and two elder brothers. Her mother is labour. Her Family is poor. Shubangi was a student of New English School. Her school was far from her house. Every day she has to walk 3.5 km to go to school. It was very hectic for her to walk such a long distance every day. It has takes more than hour to Reached School.

10 months ago Shubhangi received Bicycle from Maan Deshi Foundation. That moment was very special to Shubhangi. After receiving bicycle she always reaches her school in time and it takes only 15 min to reach school. Because of that she was able to save her time and energy. She used that time for studies and to do household works.

Shubhangi said "Am very possessive about my cycle. I do not allow anyone else to ride my cycle".

Shubhangi wants to be a Class One officer in the future. .

Thank you so much for Global Giving Supporters !

Vanita Shinde