Gayathri, Mysore, Karnataka
I have a dream that every child in Karnataka should go to school and that child labour should end completely. This dream comes from my own life. I lost my father when I was young and my mother had to beg on the streets to feed her four children. My sisters and I often went along with her to collect food and clothes. Because of poverty, my siblings could never attend school. I was enrolled once, but I couldn’t go regularly due to our financial struggles.
Things changed when RLHP, with the support of TDH, enrolled me in their supplementary education centre. They also helped my mother access social security schemes which improved our situation. She stopped begging and started working as a house help. Once again, my sister and I began attending school.
As I grew, I joined child rights groups and took part in sessions on education, protection, and child development. My confidence and leadership skills grew. I began raising my voice for children’s rights at both the local and district levels. Later, I became the President of the Vidhyodhaya Children Federation. With RLHP’s coaching, I passed my board exams and went on to complete an M.A. in History and a Master’s in Education.
I work as a teacher in a private school and also conduct child rights sessions for students. My dream is to work with the government so that every child’s right to education becomes a reality, not just a dream.
(TERRE DES HOMMES works to protect the health, hygiene, education, safety, justice, and dignity of children. Through its initiatives, the organisation has improved the lives of many children. As it marks 50 years of supporting children’s rights in India, the above case story reflects the meaningful change its work has created.)
