Sun shines in life of ‘Suraj’ in Pavi Jetpur

18 years old Suraj from Pavi Jetpur was a very bright student. She passed 7th standard examination with 1st rank. Her mother needed help at home so Suraj was forced to give up her studies. She started spending her time doing household chores which she did not enjoy doing. By the end of the day she used to be exhausted but she had no choice but to do them. This went on for two years.

During that time Laxmanbhai, animator trained by SFT under Enhancement of Tribal Development Outcome project, also known as Samrath, visited her house. He tried to convince Suraj’s mother to readmit her to school. Her mother gave an excuse on behalf of her father who works in State Reserve Police in Vadodara. Laxmanbhai talked to her father on the phone. In fact her father said “If you will help in getting my daughter readmitted to the school, her life will be transformed.” Suraj was also very happy and excited at the prospect of going to school again and to get rid of the household chores.

Laxmanbhai also encouraged other girls from the surrounding villages to join the school. He filled up the admission forms for about seven-eight girls. At the time of admission he took all the girls to school and got them admitted. When he was returning home all the girls too wanted to go home. He just told them, “Stay in the school for one night. If you don’t like it, I will come tomorrow and take you back home” The next day when he reached the school, none of the girls wanted to go back home.

Thus the sun started to shine in the lives of all the girls, especially Suraj. She passed 8th and 9th standard with 2nd rank and was appointed a monitor of the class. Her mother also respects Suraj and has realized her mistake. Suraj tells her father, “ Don’t be in a hurry to look for a boy for me and marry me off. I want to study further and I also want to work.” How such intervention by SFT changed her life.