Neelam's journey | A story from the field
“Today, as I embark on a nursing training course, I reflect on the journey that brought me here."
by Akashamitra
This past February, I had the privilege of visiting Nishtha to collaborate on planning the next phase of the Sikhai Hatiyar education project.
Many of you will know Nishtha well. Supported by Karuna for over a decade, they have developed a sustainable model of community leadership, primarily aimed at empowering girls and preventing child marriage. I've had the privilege to work closely with them for many years and was delighted to witness the tremendous success they achieved with this project. Now, confident in the communities' resolve to support girls' education, they can expand that work to reach new areas and girls.
During my visit, I also had the opportunity to reconnect with Neelam. Neelam joined the Sikhai Hatiyar project at the age of 10. Despite facing many obstacles to her education, the project enabled her to progress through to secondary and higher levels.
When she graduated, she chose to become a community leader herself, supporting other girls to avoid child marriage and receive educational support.
When I had met her on a previous visit, I was immediately struck by her extraordinary determination to pass on the benefits she felt she had received to others. For Neelam, her plans didn’t stop at becoming a community leader. Eventually, she wanted to become a nurse too.
Prior to joining the project, ambitions like this had remained tragically out of reach. In Neelam's rural West Bengal village, rates of child marriage among girls are terrifyingly high – as are the rates of domestic violence many face once married. Without support, women like her are routinely stripped of ownership over their futures and decision-making.
Knowing this, I was so pleased to learn she was now studying at one of the most prestigious nursing schools in Bangalore. Home for the holidays, she was eager to make the trip to us from her remote village and pass on her thanks to Karuna's supporters in person.
"Today, as I embark on a nursing training course,” Neelam shared with me, “I reflect on the journey that brought me here."
"Karuna, Nishtha – thank you for gracing my life with your unwavering presence."
I’m sure you’ll agree that Neelam's story exemplifies the transformative power of education and community support for these young women. Seeing her now, it is hard to believe just how close she might have otherwise come to a life defined by servitude and violence. It is similarly hard to believe how many girls still need support, unable to realise their dreams and choose their futures.
Thankfully, your generosity means that not only can we keep trying to reach them, we can ensure our strategies continually improve each time we do. By supporting a sustainable approach, you allow us to build on the successes of our partners like Nishtha and pass those benefits forwards to the next generation. In the end, that means more girls avoiding child marriage and accessing the education, opportunities and futures they deserve.
Thank you for everything you do to make that possible.