In the narrow, dusty lanes of a slum in Ferozepur, Punjab, lives a bright-eyed nine-year-old girl named Aarti. She comes from a struggling family of seven. Her father, Gopi, works as a daily wage laborer (earning no more than $2 a day), and her mother, Mala, supports the family by doing household chores and cleaning in others' homes. With four siblings and limited resources, education was never a priority in their home, survival always came first.
From a young age, Aarti developed a deep fear of school. She once witnessed a teacher beating a child, and the incident left a lasting impression on her. Since then, she resisted the idea of going to school. Her parents, overwhelmed by their daily hardships and unaware of the value of education, never encouraged her to attend school. They didn’t even have her Aadhaar card* made, which is an essential identification document in India that is usually required for school admission and access to basic services.
But Aarti's life began to change when she started attending a free learning centre run by Project Help India. Under the compassionate care and guidance of her teacher, Blessy, Aarti found a safe and welcoming place where learning was joyful and encouraging. Her natural intelligence quickly became evident, and she began taking great interest in her studies.
Seeing her potential, Blessy took the initiative to go beyond the classroom. She helped Aarti’s family apply for and obtain her Aadhaar card - something they had never managed to do before. Blessy then reached out to local government schools to secure Aarti’s admission. Initially, the school authorities were hesitant. They were very reluctant to enrol a nine-year-old girl who had never attended formal education before. But Blessy did not give up. After many conversations and follow-ups, her persistence paid off. The school finally agreed to admit Aarti in the upcoming academic session.
Today, Aarti continues to attend the Project Help India centre with enthusiasm and is preparing to step into formal schooling for the first time in her life. Her parents, once indifferent to her education, are now supportive and hopeful. They are amazed at the progress Aarti has made and are thankful for the second chance their daughter has been given.
Aarti’s story is not just about her, - it is about the power of compassion, commitment, and community. It shows how a caring teacher from Project Help India centre supported by the generosity of our many donors and supporters, can transform the life of a child, giving her not just education, but dignity, identity, and hope for a brighter future.
Help Us Reach More Children Like Aarti
There are hundreds of children in the slums of Punjab with the same potential, but without the opportunity. Your support can help us bring education, care, and hope to them.
With your donation, we can provide school supplies, basic documentation like Aadhaar cards, nutritious meals, and a safe place to learn. It costs approximately $50AUD a month to educate a child at one of our 13 centres across Northern India. All up we have approximately 600 students attending.
Be the reason a child like Aarti gets her first chance at school.
Together, we can break the cycle of poverty—one child at a time.
Partner with Project Help India today. Every contribution counts. You can make a life-changing donation by clicking the DONATE button at the top of this page.
An Aadhaar card is a 12-digit unique identity number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to residents of India. It serves as proof of identity and address and is essential for accessing various government services and financial transactions. The Aadhaar system aims to provide a universal identity for all residents, facilitating social and financial inclusion.
