Sonam, 8, lives with her parents and 5 siblings in Kaali Basti, Uttam Nagar. Her father installs playground swings, her brother is a drum beater and her mother works as a maidservant. Sonam had never been to school, but joined the Katha Community School, after overcoming her parents’ initial reluctance.
Katha’s way of teaching and learning through fun activities based on stories made studies interesting for Sonam. The friendly, supportive teachers helped her adjust to the new school environment. Along with basic subjects, she also learned about health and hygiene which led to encouraging changes in her life and habits.
Sonam now loves reading and can write the names of all her family members and friends. She understands numbers and calculations, and aintains a daily record of expenditure for her family. Sonam aspires to be a teacher one day.
“I had never been to school, but always wanted to study in one. I love going to my school with Katha…When I grow up, I want to be a teacher and teach other girls like me”.
By the time she was 13, Dimple’s parents had planned to get her married. “Without education, I knew my life would be just like my mother’s,” she says. With Educate Girls’ support, Dimple can now pursue the bigger dreams she has for her future.
“I did not like staying at home as I had to do all household tasks. I always thought about school and how I could learn a lot there. When a community worker from EG came to talk to my parents, I was finally able to tell them that I wanted to return to school. Since EG talked to my parents, they are convinced that a girl should be educated. I am happy to be back in school.”
Dimple still faces challenges that her brothers do not, yet she is determined to continue her education. “There is a teacher at my school and I want to be a teacher like her when I am older,” says Dimple.
