Archives: Achievers

When we complain about things like not having the latest iPad or PC, do we ever imagine the world as it is for a person who has never seen ANY computer at all! Lack of sight does not hinder Manju, a budding artist, from dreaming of a life of fame and riches. Initially, she struggled to make ends meet, but she never gave up. She now works as an online consultant using a-voice enabled laptop gifted by ACT.

Indians have idolized many successful and powerful female leaders, yet we are a nation riddled with woeful cases of violence against women. A basic tool provided to women at ACT centres everywhere is self-confidence and independence. Sumitra underwent this transformation and is now an avatar of Goddess Shakti, as she earns a living as a tailor-cum-designer and is a doting wife and mother.

Pooja, chief caretaker of the household while her parents go to work, and her younger brother Balram discovered a love for science and maths at ACT‘s after-school learning centre. Now, they aspire to become tomorrow’s geniuses like Shakuntala Devi and Narayan Murthy.

Gangabai earns her living as a domestic servant but nurtures dreams of a better life for her family. At ACT’s tailoring classes, she got just this opportunity to learn a new skill and earn respectably. She has transformed into a confident woman, unafraid to launch her own business from home.

Hailing from a small village near Nagpur, Swapnali moved to the big city of Mumbai and struggled to land a job. She started work at a Customer Service Centre after she received coaching at ACT’s vocational guidance cell, and she never looked back! She quickly became a role model and showed the way for other aspirants.

At Project Saksham, we get to learn new and advanced tailoring methods. We also get to earn by stitching different items. It is convenient because it is close to home and we train and practice on an automatic white machine for four hours daily. I am thankful to Animedh Charitable Trust and IDFC First Bank for giving me this opportunity.

Samiksha, 36, did her 3 months catering course organized by Animedh Charitable Trust. Samiksha was from a very low income background, had only studied till SSC and lacked any work skills. Her husband Santosh worked for a measly salary of Rs. 9000 per month and they were barely able to make ends meet, let alone provide for their daughter Swara’s education.

Samiksha’s dream was to ensure that her daughter got educated and escaped from the poverty and misery that were the constant companions in her parents’ lives. Her mother-in-law would hurl insults at her for not bearing a male child. She did not care for her grand-daughter, a very timid and malnourished, but ever smiling Swara. Fed up with her situation and also of the ill treatment of herself and her daughter by the mother in law, she decided to stand on her own feet. So, she enrolled into ACT’s Aahaar catering services course, near her home.

Gradually, Samiksha learnt about the market outlay, the costs and margins, the nutritional and hygiene values, marketing and promotion and drew the courage to start her own tiffin services. Her husband was supportive and seeing Samiksha’s early success, decided to chuck his job and join her to help with grocery purchases and tiffin deliveries to nearby offices. Today, Samiksha is a proud owner of a self-made business which earns them enough to have a comfortable lifestyle, send her daughter to school and save for a brighter future. She has taken charge of her destiny and is fulfilling her dream of education and brighter tomorrow for Swara.

Samiksha has fought many challenges but she took charge of her life and turned it around, against all challenges. She was awarded the ACT Super Deeva Award for Vocational Excellence at ACT’s Women’s Day Celebration in March 2018.

Samiksha has taken two powerful messages from her life and success:
“Girls are a blessing. Educate our girls as they can go far ahead in life with the help of education and be of great support to their family and society.”
“No dream is too big, and you can start small but work at fulfilling your dream every single day with determination and confidence, using the skills that you have gained at Animedh.”

Ms. Paru Laxman Shanwar hails from a tribal village – Udhwa in Maharashtra’s Palghar District in Taluka – Talasari. She has two brothers and two sisters. She is the only one among their family to have pursued higher education.

At the tender age of 10, Paru lost her father and was brought up by her mother, who raised her and her family of five, amidst immense economic hardship and poverty, by working as a domestic maid. Paru was always academically inclined. She studied at a local school in Talasari. After finishing her 12th standard, she went on to complete her BA followed by ITI and ultimately took up studies in her dream career of Nursing. She was also unable to pay her second year nursing fees, due to which she was almost being expelled and as a result, she became depressed, and had it not been for the timely help of fee sponsorship by Animedh, she would have ended up losing her nursing college seat and her mind. ACT identified her as a potential beneficiary due to our objective of supporting girl child education with emphasis on higher education. Her academic performance has been outstanding throughout at Wadia Nursing College. She has passed with flying colours and was the only one from her entire batch to be recruited as a full time nurse at the prestigious Parsee General Hospital, Mumbai.

Paru was awarded the ACT Super Deeva award for Educational Excellence in March 2018, on the occasion of ACT Women’s Day Celebration. Paru is a great role model for her Adivasi community and she is determined to help her family and other needy girls from her tribal village, who aspire to study but have no financial means or support.