Pushpa – A Success
Story from the unsung hutment of Lucknow
Pushpa Kashyap,
all of 17 from Indra Nagar in Lucknow , is an example
of sheer will power and optimism. She is like any other
girl who has dreams to achieve. But her economic condition,
and disability, raises a question mark whenever she
makes the first stride in life.
Pushpa has dreams
like any other girls. But she is not like a normal person
that obstacles would make her accept the way life is.
She has never learned to surrender in life. This shy
yet confident girl aspires to be a teacher and wants
to serve the underprivileged children. That is her way
of paying the gratitude to support she has just started
receiving through Smile Foundation. Quite early!
Pushpa's father
is a rickshaw puller and her mother a house maid. She
has two younger brothers, one working in a shop and
other working in a coaching centre as a peon. Her only
younger sister works as a maid servant. This helps make
out her financial picture. But the dreams and the determination
to overcome mundane challenges of life always remain
hidden behind the shy but dignified face.
Pushpa loves moving
ahead in life, in small steps, to fulfill those twinkling
dreams. She wants to study and become a successful person,
and to ensure her family leaves the struggle to make
both ends meet.
Pushpa has completed
her middle level education and is now preparing for
her high school exams. This computer savvy girl loves
listening music and watching movies. She loves to speak
English and is now learning typing in Hindi. Pushpa
has been taking remedial classes at one of the education
centres run by Smile Foundation through its Lucknow
partner Jupiter Academy . The interest in learning made
Pushpa get enrolled in the free Computer Education Centre
under the project too. Pushpa has now joined the free
vocational training classes conducted at the same project.
Pushpa's optimism
and pristine ambition has now made her a role model
in her locality in Lucknow .
Smile Foundation
compliments such individual grit amidst difficult
milieu and gives such children a chance to fulfill
their dreams by lending a helping hand under its Individual
Support Programme [ISP]. Smile's support and their
genuine determination make children like Pushpa get
the opportunity to set an example for the rest of
us.
Pushpa is a winner.
Smile wishes her best of success!
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Pushpa during her visit to Smile's New Delhi office