From Child Labour to College: Support Her Future

Sarthak, aged 9, comes from the village of Sonewadi in Maharashtra, India. He lives with his father, mother and four sisters in a two roomed, tin roofed house. The total household income for the family is the equivalent of £1.60 per day.

Sarthak came into contact with the project through his local Child Parliament. The project’s Child Parliaments encourage children to shape their future though collective decision making on issues that are of importance to them. They also play a role in educating children on issues such as education, child rights and gender equality. Sarthak had the role of Health Minister with his local Parliament which meant he was responsible for raising awareness of hygiene and sanitation with his fellow students.

However Sarthak’s Mother was concerned about Sarthak’s performance at school. Though he had lots of energy he rarely focussed on his studies and spent much of his time playing and joking. Through the Child Parliament the project team heard about Sarthak’s difficulty with his school work. A project social worker started to give individual attention to Sarthak and to convince him of the necessity of thinking about his future. He encouraged Sarthak to apply his energy in school as well as in the Child Parliament.

With one on one care Sarthak has started to show a real interest in his studies. He goes to his teachers with anything he does not understand and studies with his friends so they can help each other. Through the Child Parliament he has begun acting in street theatre plays designed to inform children of the importance of education. He has also started growing vegetables like potatoes and chillies at the front of his house.  

Now Sarthak is studying for the state scholarship programme. His Mother has noticed a huge improvement in his grades and is very grateful to the project for helping her son reach his full potential. None of this would have been possible without the project and its supporters.