From Child Labour to College: Support Her Future

Meet Zara, a young girl from Mahalwadi village. Zara lives with her elder brother and parents, who own a small piece of barren land. To make ends meet, her parents work as day labourers, spending half the year cutting sugar cane and the other half working on others’ fields. Despite their hard work, the family struggles to cover their expenses.

 Her elder brother was sent to a hostel to continue his education, while Zara, then in Year 10, faced a daily challenge. She had to walk 4 kilometres each way to attend school in a nearby village. The hilly terrain made the journey exhausting, taking over an hour and a half each way. By the time she returned home, she was too tired to complete her homework, which negatively impacted her studies. Her teachers were concerned about her declining performance.

Zara often asked her father for a bicycle to save time and energy, but due to their financial constraints, he couldn’t afford one. Gradually, Zara’s interest in school began to wane.

Our partner's project began working in Mahalwadi village in 1998, forming the Girls Together Group alongside other activities. Witnessing Zara’s struggles, a social worker visited her home and saw how difficult things were. Realising that a bicycle could make a big difference the social worker was driven to ensure Zara got one for her!

With her new bicycle, Zara now attends school regularly, which cuts the travel time in half. This has allowed her to focus more on her studies. Her teachers have noticed the positive change. Zara also actively participates in various Girls Club activities. She is now more confident and determined to complete her education and pursue higher studies. Zara and her parents are deeply grateful to your support and to the project for providing the bicycle.

Zara’s story shows how a simple intervention, like a bicycle, can transform lives. 

Thanks to your support more girls like Zara can overcome barriers to education and pursue a future of choice.