Four Young Women, One Transformative Journey of Hope

Education builds a child’s courage to dream beyond circumstance. The Caritas India’s Khushaal Bachpan program strengthens that courage for girls standing at the edge of dropping out, slipping into child labour, or abandoning their aspirations under the weight of poverty. Supported by Caritas Australia, the program works alongside communities to create meaningful change and ensures that every girl is able to participate in building a better future. The journeys of four young women show how powerful this support becomes when a community chooses to uplift its daughters.

Neha from Chilkaguda once believed her average class 12 marks defined her destiny. Financial stress at home deepened her fear that she had disappointed her family beyond repair. The Khushaal Bachpan team stepped in and rebuilt her confidence through steady counselling. They encouraged her to join a youth skilling program, and she pushed through her self doubt until she completed it. Her selection at JMJ hospital in Raigarh became a turning point. She now saves for her nursing studies with a sense of pride she once thought impossible. She says she finally feels capable of building her own life.

In Rajamma village, Arti watched her peers go to college while she worked in the fields to help her family survive. her talent and aspirations were real, but poverty kept them out of reach. Khushaal Bachpan opened a new path for her. Training in English, computer skills, and patient care prepared her for employment as a general duty assistant. Arti now funds her paramedical studies and supports her younger brother’s education. Villagers call her an inspiration. She accepts that title with confidence because she knows she earned it.

For Sanjita from Amapali, life was shaped by responsibility. as the eldest of four sisters, she faced the pressure of holding her family together after her father’s accident. Failing class 12 felt like a collapse she could not recover from. the program refused to let her remain in despair. With emotional support, career guidance, and practical help, she returned to her studies in Jharsuguda. her determination carried her forward until she completed her training. Today she works at JMJ hospital. Her income brings stability to her family, and her success fills her home with pride. she says she walks with confidence because she earned this life.

Jyoti from Rajamma village came dangerously close to child labour. long distances to school, pressure to contribute at home, and the appeal of early income pushed her toward dropping out. timely intervention by the Khushaal Bachpan team shifted her path. through counselling and academic support, she stayed in school and later enrolled in the GDA course. She now works at JMJ hospital and supports her family with dignity. She wants every girl to know that education can change a destiny.

These stories show the deeper impact of Khushaal Bachpan’s work. it prevents dropouts, protects girls from labour, strengthens learning, and builds pathways to secure livelihoods. The support from Caritas Australia reinforces this mission, ensuring communities can participate in creating lasting change.

When a girl stays in school, the change does not end with her. It echoes across her family, her village, and the future she steps into with confidence.