“My childhood was not about balloons, toy cars or kites. In the last days of every month, we usually had no money. My father works as a helper in a factory and his struggle to feed five stomachs in the family was always tough. We slept on a bed that was prepared by arranging bricks in a row. My parents always fed us rice from their portion, so that our stomachs stay full. We live in a slum where people do not get enough food to eat and enough place to sleep. But our sleep was always peaceful in the limited space, and we never felt hungry after eating from a shared bowl. The saddest day in my life was when I had to drop out from school because of lack of money. Seeing me crying, my mother said, “Put your trust in God, and when God destines something to happen, it will.” Today, I have a job through which I am supporting my family. We are not defeated when we lose. We are defeated when we quit.”

Geeta
(Geeta was identified and trained on employability skills under Smile Foundation’s livelihood programme STeP and has been placed in a Multi-Specialty Hospital in New Delhi.)

“I am sure many can relate to this feeling! Seeing the pride in my father’s eyes and tears of joy in my mother’s eyes touched my heart like never before. This happened when I gifted my mother a new saree and a kurta to my father with my first salary. I knew in my heart how much my father struggled to provide for our family, including my education. I was determined to help him.

I started looking for employment opportunities and came across the Smile Twin e-Learning Programme that provided me with the required skill training. With their help, I was able to secure a placement at Arphen- non-profit organisation in Navi Mumbai.

Laxmi was trained under Smile Foundation’s Livelihood initiative- Smile Twin e-Learning Programme (STeP).

“Poverty has been a constant in my life. Despite all obstacles, my parents never stopped me from studying. Financial reasons never hampered my school life. Life has come to a full circle. I am now working as a teacher in an NGO and helping to shape the future of tomorrow’s children. Teaching gives me a lot of satisfaction as it allows me to make a difference in the lives of these children. In the future, I want to educate more underprivileged children and give them a chance at a better life.”

Afreen was trained in Core Employability under Smile Foundation’s livelihood initiative- Smile Twin e-Learning Programme (STeP). She is now working as a teacher in a school for underprivileged children in Mumbai

“My childhood taught me that I must work extraordinarily hard or have some luck to escape this vicious cycle of poverty. Despite my desire to study further, my family’s financial situation prevented me from doing so.

Amid the pandemic, my father lost his job. Suddenly our worlds collapsed. But I did not give up. I got my first job during those hard times. When people ask about my extraordinary achievement, I confidently say that I contribute to the family’s income. I am on my way to change my family’s fate. I want to be there for them all my life.”

Ritu was trained on Core Employability under Smile Foundation’s livelihood initiative- Smile Twin e-Learning Programme (STeP). She is now working at a retail clothing chain in Delhi that specialises in fast fashion and sells clothing, accessories, shoes and beauty products.

“Knowing that my care, touch, voice, and time can help a patient make it through the night is one of the most rewarding feelings. Being with people at what is sometimes the worst moments of their lives is a privilege I take very seriously. One of the most profound moments in my nursing career was caring for a woman post-stroke. She was left side flaccid, very depressed, and not adjusting to her new normal. She would not participate in therapies.

I sat, held her hand, and spoke with her as she remained silent. I told her gently that she couldn’t go back, and she had a choice to stay stuck where she was, mind and spirit, or move with intention forward and learn how to use her new body in new and different ways.

She and her husband apparently sought me out for weeks after she finished rehab—and they finally showed up one day again when I was working.

“Watch this,” her husband said.

She was so incredibly proud to show me that she could move her left hand’s fingers, something she could not do when I was caring for her right after the stroke.

They both thanked me for my love, care, and words; it was the spark of love and life out of the depths of darkness that they both were searching for. Everyone, including me, was in tears. Joy.”

-Dipti

Dipti was trained on employability skills and patient care under Smile Foundation’s Smile Twin e-learning Programme (STeP). She is now a GDA healthcare worker at a Super Speciality Hospital in Kolkata.

“When I was young, I often went to markets with my mother. We would see different shops every time. My mother liked the sarees in one shop, but it was too expensive to buy. We would refer to it as the ‘rich people shop’. My father was the sole breadwinner of the family. My father is a driver, and his earnings are not always enough to fulfil our needs.

He struggled to make ends meet and seeing his struggles, I was encouraged to work hard and raise my family out of poverty. I recently got my first salary and spent it on a gift for my parents. I bought my mother a saree that she had been dreaming of for years. I bought my father a new car seat cover. Happiness is when I see my family happy.”

Afreen was trained under Smile Foundation’s livelihood initiative- Smile Twin e-Learning Programme (STeP). She is now working at a renowned bank in Mumbai.

“In the community where I live, many parents are worried about their children’s education. Circumstances have forced us to always live in a hand-to-mouth situation. This is the reason that I could not continue my education after senior secondary.

My father is a tailor, and for the last two years, he did not have a stable income owing to the pandemic. He has always struggled to pay rent, school fees, and other expenses for my siblings and me. Now that I’ve received my first pay check, I believe there is a silver lining that we’ve all been waiting for. My parents have provided us with unwavering stability throughout life’s hardships, and now that I am economically independent, I would like to gift them a feeling of financial security.”

Muniba was trained on Core Employability under Smile Foundation’s livelihood initiative- Smile Twin e-Learning Programme (STeP). She now works at a multi-national retail clothing chain in Delhi.

“After my father’s death, my mother faced a world of challenges. We craved for the basic necessities like food, water and clothes. When she was no more able to feed me, I was sent to an orphanage. Even though there were many children in the home, deep inside their hearts, most of them were lonely. Everywhere else they were branded as ‘orphans’ but at the orphanage we all were part of a family. The beds we got to sleep, the food we got to eat and the clothes we got to wear– we all feel blessed to have them.

I lived there for many months and received love, support and education. I shifted from the orphanage to a hostel and my bed was given to a newly rescued child. It has been a month since I started working. With my first salary, I took out all the children in the orphanage for dinner. I also bought notebooks and pens for them.”

Prabhuvardhan was trained on employability skills for 6 months at Smile Foundation’s STeP centre Sparsh and has been now placed.

“If you lost a little weight, you would look so beautiful; for a girl, it’s important – don’t you want to get married to a good boy? These are the things that I have grown up hearing. Ever since I was a child, I saw my mother and father work hard to get me an education. People would often taunt them about my weight. They would make fun of me and say that we were already poor, and now they would also have to worry about extra dowry to marry me off. My parents always ignored all this, and told me to concentrate on my studies. But it started affecting my self confidence.

After Class 10th, I had to drop out of school because of financial difficulties. By then I felt completely dejected. I started believing that even education could not change anything for me. As the years passed, even though mother and father never complained, I realized that I was only becoming an additional burden on my parents. I felt useless and thought that not having completed school; I would never get a job and be able to support my family.

That was a year ago. Today I am working with Ola Taxi Drivers Association and adding to my parents’ income. I have also decided to continue my education through open school. With my first salary, I took out my parents for lunch at a city restaurant – something they had never done before.

I still struggle with my image every day but I know it is work in progress, and I am proud of what I have been able to accomplish.” (Sarita was trained under our livelihood initiative Smile Twin e-Learning Programme STeP last year. We wish her all the best for her future.)

“I am a first-year student at Bharti Vidyapeeth College of Engineering, Kharghar studying engineering in Information Technology. I come from a family of four where my parents work in the private service sector, and my younger sister is studying in school. I started preparing for the engineering entrance exams after my senior secondary school.

I decided to go for the Information Technology stream because we know it has many avenues in the future. I desire to go to abroad for my advanced degree, given an opportunity without any financial pressure on my family. “

Jyoti was trained on Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI), under Smile Foundation’s livelihood initiative- Smile Twin e-Learning Programme (STeP) and successfully placed in a private bank in Mumbai.

“Somehow, I was never bound by my circumstances. But I love my family, and it pained me to see how my father struggled to look after seven members on his meagre salesman’s salary. So as soon as I completed my schooling, I decided to help my father and look for a job. I am so grateful that the Smile Twin e-learning Programme (STeP) made this possible. It not only helped me acquire skills, it also provided me with the much-needed path to empowerment.”

Ruby was trained on Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) under Smile Foundation’s livelihood programme- STeP and placed in an Insurance company in New Delhi.

“As a healthcare worker, I feel pride and purpose for my job. I’m the witness of the beginning and end of life, and I’m blessed to have the opportunity to bring a positive change in someone’s life.

Being able to listen, care, understand, support, and encourage is a gentle mixture of both art and science. Every single person in the hospital fights for life with all of their strength, softness and dedication. It’s not just a job; it’s a work of heart.”