Get 10 000 children out of labour and into school

Prakash, the leader of the project sent me this story a couple of weeks ago. I found it really moving, but also incredible - how simple measures seem to be making a big difference for individuals, and by extension whole families on the ground. Here's the story of Bhagubai - 

Mrs. Bhagubai Ashok Tajanpure was residing at Saikhnidi.  As her husband is not educated or skilled he was working as wage labour.  But it was not possible for him to maintain his family in his small earnings.  Therefore Bhagubai forced to roll bidis to supplement her husband’s income.  Her all three children are taking education and therefore both- husband and wife’s- income is not sufficient and they were living in extreme poverty.  Their house was just like a hut, which was not safe, secure and suitable to live.  In winter and rainy seasons they are facing maximum problems due to this low quality housing condition.  They are always scared in nighttime.

Once Mrs. Bhagubai came in contact with NISD’s staff and enrolled her name in the SHG.  NISD also helped her financially to purchase 5 goats, which afterwards increased upto 25-30.  Her husband started looking after the goat as he got full time work and good and permanent income source out of goat sale, milk and manure.  This increased their saving.

But still their house problem was not solved because there income was not sufficient to construct house by taking bank loan.  In the SHG meeting she came to know Habitat joint housing project initiated by NISD in that area.   She raised some money from her relatives, took loan from NISD Bachat Gat Mahasangh and applied to Habitat’s support.  By noticing her need NISD sanctioned her proposal and assisted her.  Her husband and she both worked as labour on the construction. 

Now Bhagubai says that she never expected that she could build such house but because of Habitat and NISD’s support she could able to build her dream house.  Now  we have safe, secure and good house where we can sleep fearlessly, she added.  

Let's carry on helping to make people's dreams a reality!

Ashwini, her two brothers and parents stay in Pokhari village.  Her father has a small piece of land which he works on.  Income used to be solely dependent on the mercy of rainfall.  Ashwini is a clever girl - she used to always get good marks in her exams.  After 10^th standard her parents did not send her to school so she started helping her parents on the land. Her brother also started doing labour work after 10^th standard. Ashwini is a member of the youth group and during one meeting  she came to know about the  Hospital Assistant course.

Ashwini’s family did not have proper housing. The project helped them to build a house through a Habitat housing project, and also helped them in the development of dairy business. As a result their business increased.

The social worker of the project talked with Ashwini’s parents about sending her  for further education. But as her parents were reluctant, he gave them information about the Hospital Assistant course that NISD was planning to start.  He convinced them to send Ashwini for this course.  Her mother agreed in the end. Ashwini was also happy - at least she could get some education, so she agreed to do course which she completed successfully.   

Present Situation:

She completed the course successfully and has got a job in a hospital where she gets a monthly salary of Rs. 2000/-.  Ashwini and her parents are very happy through just a three-month course, Ashwini got a good job and is contributing to her family income.