Changing Lives One Person at a Time

“I want to go to school”.Those were the words uttered by Shikha from the time she was a young child. Unfortunately, Shikha was raised in a traditional Indian family in the provincial city of Moradabad.There young girls are usually not encouraged to attend school. Even if they do, in most cases they do not study beyond the 8th standard.

Shikha is the eldest of four siblings and her father’s ambition for her was to take care of the family cow. Cows are treated with reverence in India and this was an important job in Shikha’s father’s eyes. But Shikha was a determined young woman!

Seeing her daughter’s single-mindedness Shikha’s mum remembered how as a young girl she had also wished to go to school but was not allowed to do so. She was married at the age of sixteen and quickly became a mother. She made a decision that her daughter would not suffer the same fate.

 

 

 

So mother and daughter made a pact.Shikha’s life would expand beyond the little house they lived in.Shikha did go to school.She even managed to get a bachelor’s degree by correspondence which is quite an achievement for a girl from her background.

That is when Shikha heard about the vocational training centre run by HOPE worldwide, sponsored by Wal-Mart. She joined and completed a computer literacy course. She grew in her confidence through the life skills which were imparted to her at the center. She also received a lot of helpful counseling.

 

 

Now Shikha works as a consultant for a well known insurance company. She is independent financially and although she still lives at home she has a bright future ahead of her.

India is changing; it is developing fast. Some of the most crucial agents of change are the young people who refuse to be limited. They have big dreams and they show tremendous courage in fighting through daunting obstacles. It took a lot of determination for a young girl like Shika to get an education. She succeeded partly, thanks to the opportunities offered by HOPE worldwide,which provided the stepping stone on the way to financial independence.

HOPE worldwide serves over 250,000 people each year in India. Each one, like Shikha, has a story to tell. Thank you for making a difference in their lives.

 

If you have stories of courage and encouragement to share, please send them to us at nadine.templer@dtoday.net, meghna.thomas@dtoday.net, or elvi.levang@dtoday.net.