Improved Care and Protection of Girl Children

Case Study: Tanya's Journey from Vulnerability to Opportunity

Tanya, 18 Years Old
Aspiring Undergraduate Student in Travel and Tourism Management

Background

Tanya's story is one of resilience, determination, and the transformative impact of sustained support. Raised in the highly vulnerable environment of GB Road, Delhi, she faced significant challenges from an early age. Her mother worked in the sex trade to provide for the family, while her father struggled with alcohol dependency and domestic violence. As a child, Tanya spent much of her time confined indoors and was deprived of many of the experiences and opportunities that are essential to a healthy childhood.

Despite these circumstances, Tanya's mother remained committed to securing a better future for her daughter. At the age of seven, Tanya was enrolled with Salaam Baalak Trust, marking the beginning of a profound change in her life.

The Role of Salaam Baalak Trust

Through Salaam Baalak Trust, Tanya was placed at Udaan Children Home for Girls and enrolled in a government school in Class 3. She quickly demonstrated academic potential, securing third position in her class. Recognizing her abilities, the Trust later facilitated her admission to DAV Public School, where she experienced private-school education for the first time.

The transition exposed Tanya to new learning environments and aspirations. Observing her peers communicate confidently in English strengthened her motivation to pursue education as a pathway to opportunity. Beyond academics, Salaam Baalak Trust provided a nurturing environment that helped her develop essential life skills, including discipline, personal hygiene, communication, self-confidence, and independent living skills.

For Tanya, the Trust became much more than a support organization—it became a source of stability, encouragement, and belonging.

Academic Growth and Personal Development

Alongside her studies, Tanya actively participated in sports and extracurricular activities, including kho-kho, quizzes, cultural programmes, and annual events. She also performed in theatre productions organized by the Trust, which helped her overcome stage fright and develop confidence in public speaking.

Tanya scored 65% in her Class 10 board examinations and chose the Humanities stream for her senior secondary education. With guidance from the Trust's counsellors and coordinators, she discovered a strong interest in Psychology as well as Travel and Tourism.

In her Class 12 board examinations, Tanya improved her academic performance significantly, achieving 75%. She subsequently appeared for several competitive entrance examinations, including the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) and the Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test (IPU CET).

A major milestone in her educational journey was successfully clearing the entrance examination for the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), one of India's leading institutions for undergraduate education in Travel and Tourism Management. Tanya has been shortlisted for admission and is preparing to pursue her higher education in this field.

Looking Ahead

Tanya's selection for IITTM represents far more than an academic achievement. It reflects years of perseverance, the determination to overcome social and economic barriers, and the impact of consistent care and educational support.

Today, Tanya stands on the threshold of higher education and a professional career in the travel and tourism sector. Her journey demonstrates how timely interventions, safe residential care, quality education, and sustained mentorship can empower vulnerable children to build independent and successful futures.

Through the support of donors and partners, Salaam Baalak Trust continues to create opportunities for young people like Tanya, enabling them to move beyond circumstances of vulnerability and realize their full potential.

From the Pavement to Possibility: The Journey of Laxmi Deshmukh

At just three years old, Laxmi was found wandering near Hanuman Mandir — not an uncommon sight for children living on the streets of Delhi. Her earliest memories are a blur of traffic, noise, and the daily struggle to survive. Some days, she sold balloons, hoping the small earnings would be enough for a meal. On others, she relied on the kindness of strangers at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, where the langar offered not only food but a rare sense of dignity.

Laxmi’s life could easily have followed a tragic path like so many forgotten children of the streets. But fate intervened. A staff member from Salaam Baalak Trust spotted her at one of their Contact Points — a day care centre for vulnerable children. With no adult guardian to turn to, they took a leap of faith and brought her into the safety of a shelter home. It was a decision that changed everything.

In 2010, Laxmi lost her parents — who had been living on the pavement in central Delhi — to drug addiction. Orphaned and with no extended family to claim her, she was placed at one of the Salaam Baalak Trust’s residential homes. There, her journey truly began — not just of survival, but of transformation.

From the start, her mentors noticed something special. Despite the trauma and instability of her early years, Laxmi was bright, curious, and remarkably talented. She quickly caught up academically and was admitted to an English-medium school in LKG. As the years passed, she didn’t just keep pace — she excelled.

Her small frame belied a powerful spirit. Whether competing in zonal-level kho-kho, playing chess, or demonstrating an impressive grasp of general knowledge, Laxmi approached everything with determination. She found her voice — quite literally — in music, studying for a year at the prestigious Gandharva Mahavidyalaya after earlier training at Tansen Global Institute.

Laxmi also became an active member of Salaam Baalak Trust’s Theatre Group, performing in stage productions and street plays across the city. Over time, she stepped into a leadership role, mentoring younger girls and teaching them theatre and dance — passing on not only her skills, but also her resilience.

Academically focused, she chose Social Science and Economics in her senior secondary years and scored an impressive 71% in Class 12. Determined to pursue a professional path, she appeared for the national entrance exam of the Indian Institute of Travel and Tourism Management and secured admission to their BBA program.

She graduated with a professional degree and a job in hand. During her internship, her dedication and performance impressed her employers so deeply that she was offered a full-time position upon completion. Today, she works at a Travel company, learning, growing, and proving every day that she is far more than her past.

But Laxmi’s story does not end here.

With her sights now set on a master’s degree, she continues to dream big. She hopes to deepen her expertise in travel and tourism and, one day, help build systems that uplift children who once had nothing but hope.

Laxmi Deshmukh’s journey is a testament to resilience, the power of support systems, and the unstoppable strength of a girl who refused to let the street define her future.

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