When 15 year old Monica first came to Sambhali Trust she was withdrawn and scared; a timid little girl who would soon be thrown into a world of very adult responsibilities and demands. Sharing a 5 by 10 foot room with her 2 sisters, brother, and parents, Monica and her siblings could only dream of an education, let alone enough food and clean drinking water to meet their needs on a daily basis. It was clear that without some intervention, Monica would be confined to a life of poverty and powerlessness. Since she began attending Sambhali Trust on a daily basis, Monica has blossomed, making friends, learning English, and gaining a strong sense of self-confidence and independence she never would have hoped of developing on her own. Now enrolled in school, Monica hopes to fulfil her dreams of becoming an air-hostess and is empowered to take complete control of her own life and future.
The Sambhali Trust was founded with the intent of promoting self-esteem, economic independence, and the development of a skill set and social skills as a means of combating the traditionally enforced subordination of women within Rajasthani society. Many women have little or no access to education, basic health services, or even the right to negotiate their own relationships with their husbands. These women need a voice, a support network for their hopes, dreams, and ambitions. For the girls and women of Sambhali Trust, that support network comes in the form of a community, a family of individuals who share the common goal of women’s empowerment and development.
