Punam was only four when her father contracted leprosy. That began a nightmare that found her begging, abused, held captive in a leper colony and offered up for marriage by the age of 14.
Her 10-year struggle for survival ended when Punam met a facilitator from Shakti, Aangan’s community-based programme building resilience in vulnerable girls. Shakti sessions helped build Punam’s spirit and confidence. Denied an education by her circumstances, Punam is now enrolled in school and attending tuition classes at the Netherlands Leprosy Relief Foundation. Punam plans to finish her education and support her parents.
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