FROM CLOSED DOORS TO SKY SO WIDE!
Arshifa comes from a very conservative Muslim family. The family shifted from UP to Delhi around a decade
Arshifa comes from a very conservative Muslim family. The family shifted from UP to Delhi around a decadeChildren from EOW raising learning new things from Ms. Arsshifa ago. Her father is a fruit seller and mother, a housewife. With four children to feed, the financial situation never eased. Poor Arshifa was never sent to school. When we started our project in Haiderpur we convinced her mother and enrolled her for Non Formal Education.
Who knew that the girl, who was kept in four walls till then, shall bloom into a flower that will radiate love, energy and happiness for others? The classes enthused her and changed the perspective of her parents too. After about a year or so she was mainstreamed to a Government school in Class 8. After attending classes in the
Students raising their queries while learning the basics
school, she attended remedial education classes too at our learning center.
However, after 8th her father did not allow her to study further. Despite continuous counselling her father did not budge from his stand. Somehow our teachers managed to enroll her to Open School and supported her to the extent they could by resolving her queries. She too worked hard and scored 82% marks in class 12. Her parents never expected that. Willy nilly, they enrolled her in a few vocational courses. Later on, she enrolled for graduation too through distance education.
As she grew, she started feeling a sense of responsibility towards her family and wanted to Arshifa recieving her first salary cheque from Deepalaya.
support her father. It was an uphill task to convince him. After much persuasion he agreed and Arshifa applied for a teacher’s post in Deepalaya for our learning center at Haiderpur. It makes us feel proud to say that she was the best candidate who appeared in the interview and was therefore selected for the job. She is earning Rs. 10000/- a month, much more than what her father does. She wants to pursue B.ed. Her cheque towards the first salary was handed over to her on 12th January, 2016. It was certainly a proud moment for us. A student has turned into a teacher. What else we want!
About the Author
Ravi Pahuja
Noida
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