Hi, I’m Nirmala. I’m 28 years old and have been at the Sambhali project for the past two and a half years. My life before coming to Sambhali was devastating. My husband was an alcoholic. He, along with my mother-in-law, used to beat me. They dragged me out of the house, after which I went to live with my parents. That was a period of profound sadness for me and I felt very depressed. I was responsible for taking care of my parents and my children, but I did not have any skills with which I could earn a living. Then my niece Soniya introduced me to Sambhali. My life has completely changed since then. Sambhali not only gave me the confidence to be independent but also equipped me with a variety of skills through which I’ll be able to design a better future for myself and my family. At Sambhali I learnt stitching, embroidery, block-printing with a host of other things. Sambhali has been able to find my sister and me a job. The Sambhali Trust also pays the school fees for my son, Raj. If you ask me for one change that Sambhali has given me, I’d say that would be happiness. An everlasting happiness.
Hi, I’m Deepika. I’m 19 years old and have been at the Sambhali project for the past two and a half years. Before coming to Sambhali, I used to work at home. I had to drop out from school after seventh class. I had no clue as to what my future held. After coming to Sambhali, I gained a lot of self confidence. I now know that my future aim is to open a sewing centre. Thanks to Sambhali, my sister Monica now goes to school. At least one of us will be educated now. Sambhali has opened an illuminated pathway for my otherwise disillusioned life.
Hi, I’m Meera. I’m 35 years old and have been at the Sambhali project for the past two and a half years. My life has changed a lot after coming to Sambhali. My husband had deserted me. He was an alcoholic and had no means of livelihood. I had to work in a coal mine which was miles away from my house. I had to work till late and sometimes it was tough to even get a bus back home. After a lot of effort, I got a job at a hospital for a meagre Rs. 700 per month. In the evening, I used to make brooms. I used to work around the clock but it wasn’t enough to make both ends meet. Then I come to Sambhali. Here I learnt to stitch, paint and embroider. For the first time ever, I got an opportunity to do something that would make my life better. Sambhali has helped me a lot. It got me a job. Apart from helping me to gain independence, Sambhali also helps me to take care of my family. Sambhali bears all expenses of my children, Rohit and Aman right from admission to school fees.
Hi, I’m Saraswati. I’m 34 years old and have been at the Sambhali project for the past two and a half years. Before coming to Sambhali, I never thought that I would be able to earn a living. My life had been confined to the four walls of my house. Sambhali helped me to be independent. Sambhali has also sponsored my kids, Deeksha and Atish to go to school.
Hi, I’m Lajwanti. I’m 18 years old and have been at the Sambhali project for the past two and a half years. My father married some other woman and he deserted us all. Because of financial constraints, I had to drop out of school. I used to work in my house all day. After coming to Sambhali, I started my studies again. Through the volunteers at the centre, I now know how to speak and write English. Sambhali has been a home for me. I can speak from my heart here. There are some things about which one can’t talk about at home, but for me there is no such barrier at Sambhali.
Hi, I’m Sandhya. I’m 21 years old and have been at the Sambhali project for the past two and a half years. Before coming to Sambhali, I was illiterate. Now I can even write my name in English let alone writing it in Hindi. Sambhali has taught me so much that I don’t need to beg in front of anyone, not even my father or my brother. Today, because of Sambhali I can stand on my own two feet. Sambhali has also got my sister, Vandana in school. I have the confidence to earn a living for myself. Sambhali is also helping us to establish a sewing centre through which we’ll be able to earn a living from the skills we have learnt here. More girls like me should come over here. There is much more to life beyond being trapped within your own house.
Hi, I’m Pooja. I’m 18 years old and have been at the Sambhali project for the past two and a half years. I always had a desire to be independent. I used to work at my home. My parents were jobless. The only source of income was the erratic job of my father. It was not always that he managed to get work daily. We had to face a lot of hardship. My mother had broken down after my father’s second marriage. Sambhali gave wings to my desire. At Sambhali I learnt to study, sew and paint. I wish to better my future by opening my own sewing centre. Thanks to Sambhali, even that could be realised soon.
Hi, I’m Usha. I’m 17 years old and have been at the Sambhali project for the past two and a half years. My father is an alcoholic and because of that we had to face periods of financial insecurity. The loan which was taken for my sister’s marriage has not been returned. My desire is to ensure financial security for my family. When I graduate in June, my desire shall not remain unfulfilled. All this has been possible because of Sambhali. At Sambhali I have made a new life. Now I know where my future belongs and how I’ll achieve it. I wish to take up a career in sewing and embroidery. Sambhali is also helping me to open a sewing centre, where I could earn a living for myself.
Hi, I’m Soniya. I’m 18 years old and have been at the Sambhali project for the past two and a half years. I left studies after my father passed away. My family consists of my mother and five sisters. All we had was a single room as a house. It was extremely difficult to manage. My mother was the only earning member of the family. I was completely wretched until I came to Sambhali. Today I can read and write both English and Hindi. Asha, my eldest sister, is also sponsored by Sambhali for her computer education. I want to support my family from the work I have learnt at Sambhali. I want to be like a son of the family. Sambhali is helping me to realise this dream by establishing a sewing centre in my area.
Hi, I’m Sunita. I’m 18 years old and have been at the Sambhali project for the past two and a half years. Before coming to Sambhali, I used to take care of my sister Anita, who is physically challenged. I have four siblings. Whatever my father used to earn was not enough for the sustenance of our family. After coming to Sambhali, I have found the means to support my family. I wish to employ the things we have learnt over here to ensure that my other siblings and my future generations should not face the conditions in which I have lived my childhood. With Sambhali supporting us, I’m sure that I’ll be able to fulfill my dream.
My name is Savita and I am participant of Sambhali. Before coming to Sambhali I used to do my household work. I am 16 years old and I have been coming to Sambhali since day one of the Jodhpur project. My father got married again after his first wife died, I am daughter of his second wife. I used to go to school but then my father got married for the third time to my mother's sister, we are very poor and now my father could not afford to send me to school anymore. My step brother and sisters are handicaped and I had to look after them. My own mother goes out working in houses of people, my mother doesnt want to take me with her for work because I am unmarried and I can get harresed by men. Thanks to Sambhali for putting my step sister from my father's marriage back to school. I am happy, what i could not do, she is doing.
