Transforming lives

Another story from our helpdesk which shows the power of social inclusion and integration in transforming lives for the better is the story of Priyanka (name changed), whose story we had shared with you in the previous issue of Scoreboard. At that time, Priyanka’s visual impairment caused her a lot of mental distress. She was anxious in social situations and rarely left the four walls of her home to go outside. Our counsellors were always there to listen to her concerns, provide her practical advice and emotional support. With our encouragement, Priyanka enrolled in the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) and completed a course on primary school teacher training. We recently followed-up with her regarding her experiences. She shared with us that she started speaking with people more freely and confidently. She made a lot of friends during student life. She successfully completed the course, now a transformed person. The icing on the cake is that Priyanka has now got a permanent government job as a teacher with the Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya in Nangloi (West Delhi). The young woman, who previously couldn’t talk to one person without getting nervous will now lead a classroom and inspire a generation of young people. Now that is one incredible transformation.  We would like to thank our Helpdesk Operations Manager, Binni Kumari for sharing this story.