A brave step taken by a 12 years old girl

A brave step taken by a 12 years old girl

Tanya Mondal is 12 years old child staying in the Muraripukur slum area. She studies in our Multipurpose Activity Centre (MAC), Muraripukur. Her mother is a domestic worker (maid servant) in that area at Muraripukur apartments. Tanya used to assist her mother for domestic works and even sometimes her mother was sick she has done the household works in place of mother. The Multi Activity Centre (MAC) teacher identified Tanya on her regular home visit and continuously she was in touch with her for dialogue and conversation and gradually the teacher motivated her to join MAC classes, get educated and lead a better life ahead. As it took long time to convince her and her mother to change the mind set but gradually the decision was made by her family that Tanya will attend the school to break the chain of domestic work of the family.” Even the mother said that my daughter will not continue my profession I want a better future for my daughter not as domestic servant.” From our MAC centre, she got the educational support and became the member of the Child Group. Also she left working with her mother. In 2019, the MAC teachers have mainstreamed her in the Government school named Bidhan Chandra GSP Primary School at Std 3. She is studying in school has done something really commendable and changed her thinking during the pandemic. She is very good in creative activities, games and dance. She is a stage dancer. During the lockdown, and in this pandemic situation, the day-to-day life was full of hurdles. The schools were even closed and she was very concerned regarding the education of her friends and herself. There was no money and it was very difficult to sustain. In this hard time she came across a brilliant idea of helping herself and her friends.
From the school she is studying, midday meal (chana) was provided in abundance and many a times used to get wasted. She discovered that these chanas could be utilized in a different way which will benefit a lot of people. She thought of selling those chanas. She used to collect the chanas, mix it well with all the required ingredients and sell it to the pedestrians. She used to sell a lot of chanas and collected a handsome amount of money. With the money she helped her friends to buy copies and required stationeries, helping them with their education in her locality. Her friends were so much benefitted with this simple act of caring and sharing since they were unable to buy the copies, pencil, eraser, etc. The story doesn’t end here. She also did another brave job. She spotted many girls who used to help their mothers in domestic work and are involved in various other jobs domestic work. MAC teacher then with the help of Tanya, mainstreamed those children into nearby schools, and motivated them to join MAC classes. At such an early age, Tanya has done a brave job by helping her friends with education study opportunities and mainstreaming other children who were into Child Labor from her locality. She not only has realized the importance of Education but has also helped her friends to realize the same and helped them with the required resources with creative ideas. This shows that Tanya is such a Brave soul and very thoughtful at an early age. She has become the role model for other children in her locality. The local club members and the women group have appreciated the initiative of Tanya and have provided the space for children to study in the local club of Muraripukur.