In April, a new group of young women and girls started ILSC-New Delhi’s “Learn to Earn” program, which provides English and job skills training to help underprivileged young Indian women expand their opportunities for future success. India is a competitive and contradictory country that currently boasts one of the fastest growing economies in the world at the same time as it contains an estimated one third of the world’s poor. For students in the Learn to Earn program, gaining critical language and job skills can help them leap the divide between the haves and have-nots.
Here are the stories of the current group of young women and girls who are taking the program:
Anmol (Annu)
ANMOL (ANNU) KHAN
Age and Educational Background: 16 years old, currently in Grade 10
Annu’s Story: Annu’s parents separated a few years back and her father left the children with their mother. Annu’s mother started working as a prostitute at GB road to try to provide for Annu and her two sisters. It was not possible for her to provide good living conditions to all of her daughters. Annu’s father also wanted to take Annu to work as a prostitute to support him. As well, Annu’s mother was staying with a man who was not very respectable. Annu’s mother recognized the challenges of Annu’s situation and sought help from Shaktivahini, a local human rights organization that was working in the area. Through them Annu came to Salaam Balaak Trust with her siblings.
Dreams and Ambitions: Annu has a keen interest in learning cutting and tailoring and she has completed her cutting and embroidery course from Delhi Council for Child Welfare. Her teachers were very impressed with her.
Yogita
YOGITA GAUTAM
Age and Educational background: 16 years old, Currently in Grade 11
Yogita’s Story: Yogita was adopted by a couple, but when her foster father died, her foster mother sent her to her paternal aunt’s house. Unfortunately, they could not take care of her so she was sent for institutional care. Salaam Baalak Trust worked with Yogita, recognized her positive attributes, and motivated her to study hard. A volunteer has been teaching her at the Trust, and she has been encouraged to participate in co-curricular activities. Yogita is more confident now and has started working with the younger children in the center. She is taking a session with them on health and hygiene, and is a support to the home.
Dreams and Ambitions: Yogita is always in high spirits and is seen smiling most of the time.
Khushboo
KHUSHBOO
Age and Educational background: 18 years old, Completed Grade 12
Khushboo’s Story: Khushboo’s mother works as a helper in a local hospital to support her family. Khushboo has 3 brothers, two elder and one younger. One of her brothers is mentally challenged while another brother has been struggling with his studies.
Dreams and Ambitions: Khushboo dreams to be a better human being and to study very hard so that she can help her mother. She is very charming and bright and is eager to learn new things. She is a confident and enthusiastic girl.
Manju
MANJU SHARMA
Age and Educational Background: 18 years old, Currently in Grade 10
Manju’s Story: Manju was living with her parents and other siblings on footpath. The family had no shelter/ home to live in and struggled with very poor living conditions. The parents were involved in begging and wanted their children to do the same. To protect Manju, a social worker from Salaam Baalak Trust, GRP centre counseled the family and suggested they put Manju into a children’s home where she could study and work towards a career and better opportunities. The family agreed and Manju went to Arushi-children home for girls.
Dreams and Ambitions: She is keenly interested in a photography course and wants to be a professional photographer.
Sahiba
SAHIBA BANSAL
Age and Educational Background: 18 years old, Currently in Grade 10
Sahiba’s Story: Sahiba was living with her family on a street near New Delhi Railway Station. She wanted to study; however, her parents believed that studying would be a waste of time, and that she should earn money by doing domestic work. Salaam Baalak Trust staff then suggested that Sahiba’s parents put her in a home so that she could study and do vocational training. The family agreed and Sahiba was admitted to the Arushi-children home for girls.
Dreams and Ambitions: Sahiba is interested in doing a professional beautician course, specializing as a hairdresser and would like to have her own salon.
Husna
HUSNA SHEIKH
Age and Educational Background: 18 years old, Currently in Grade 10
Husna’s Story: Husna comes from a broken family and lived with her mother who had no regular source of income. Her father did not support her family and most of the time Husna had to live alone at home while her mother went out to earn a living. Husna wanted to study so her mother approached Salaam Baalak Trust and put her in the home to study. Husna has completed the 8th standard in regular school, but due to her domestic problems, she wants to complete the 10th standard through NIOS (The National Institute of Open Schooling) so that after some training, she can earn money for her family. She is an active learner and does well in school.
Dreams and Ambitions: Husna is keenly interested in a photography course and wants to be a professional photographer.
ILSC’s Learn to Earn Program is sponsored by ILSC Sister Schools and private donors. Anyone who wishes to help sponsor this valuable program can contact the ILSC-New Delhi campus at inquiry@ilsc.in
