Hiba’s* family couldn’t see beyond Hiba’s visual defect. Mocked and teased by many because of the squint in her right eye, she grew up with low self-esteem and lacked confidence. As a result of this, her parents didn’t pursue her education.
“People make fun of her when she goes out,” her father Riyaz* told our Community Case Counsellor (CCC). This was one of the reasons she never went to school even at 11 years of age. Her elder sister studied at the local BMC school till grade IX, yet Hiba showed no interest in schooling because of the insensitive remarks she had heard from those around. When our interns first visited the family, they were reluctant to talk and did not feel confident that Hiba would cope well in school.
When Hiba’s family left their village in Uttar Pradesh the father hoped to find work and have a better life in Mumbai, but the most affordable accommodation he could find was adjacent to Mumbai’s largest dumping ground. Their home smelt of garbage that was piled up in the surrounding areas and the ‘nala’ (gutter) nearby. Water was contaminated and the toilets were far from the home. Our team observed that food was not being cooked properly in their home. Our CCC spent time with the family to raise awareness, and we noticed that Rahima*, the mother, started to clean the house regularly and cook and serve the family hot meals.
As our team slowly built rapport with the family, Hiba’s parents agreed to enroll her in our education program in July 2020. During the pandemic, our interns visited Hiba’s home and taught her our grade I curriculum. When our Beacon Learning Centers (BLC) started offline education, Hiba ventured out. It is through your support dear donors that Hiba and others have received early childhood education even amidst the pandemic.
(Read more about the provisions our children receive by enrolling in our education program – https://visionrescue.co.in/why-education/).
Now 13 years old, Hiba is in grade III. In two years, she has gained confidence through her interaction with teachers and peers. She answers the teacher promptly and can read well. Her confidence rose when she won the second and third place for two races during sports day. Her social interaction skills have improved, and she has learnt that each child has a different struggle to cope with. She is now preparing to join formal school in the next academic year and one day hopes to be a police officer.
Her elder sister Sheeba* gladly says that Hiba takes more interest in studies than before. “She now takes care of her own things and eagerly gets ready for school by herself. It makes me proud that my daughter is now skilled in life and studies,” says Rahima.”
Like Hiba, many children enrolled in our education program have been able to look beyond their limitations, broaden their horizon and make way for intergenerational progress and transformation, all through your continued support, dear donors.
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Vision Rescue exists to rescue children from all forms of exploitation by engaging and sustaining them in education. We are a registered NGO for child education under the Bombay Public Trust Act 1950.
You too can partner with Vision Rescue to empower people to find their purpose, enjoy their rights and live with dignity
Join us as a volunteer – www.visionrescue.co.in/volunteer
Partner with Vision Rescue as a donor – www.visionrescue.co.in/donate
