Pavithra will receive six months of nutritious meals!

Twenty-two year old, Pavithra, was born blind to a very poor family, in Darjeeling. Her father is a daily wage labourer in the tea gardens and her mother is a house wife. She also has three younger siblings: one brother and two sisters. Her father barely earns enough to meet their basic needs.

Being visually impaired, Pavithra studied in a boarding school for the blind till the 12th grade, in her home-town Darjeeling. After completing her basic education, with no viable options for the visually challenged in Darjeeling, she decided to migrate to Mumbai – hoping to pursue her higher studies. Coming from a poor economic background, she knew it would be difficult for her parents to afford to send her away, but they were very supportive of her decision and collected just enough money to cover her travel costs.

Pavithra, thus came to Mumbai in 2006 in search of opportunities but had no place to stay. She was allowed to reside in the Government hostel for blind women (Andheri) free of cost, where she received free food and accommodation. With the support of a relative, she got enrolled for Bachelor of Arts and is currently studying in the second year. After four years of living in the hostel, her worst fears came true when she was asked to vacate the place. She found herself stranded and was visibly weak , destitute and needed much counseling when the Sahaara staff met her and offered to take care of her.

Pavithra has been staying at the Jyoti Home, a residential home run by Sahaara for vulnerable and blind women, since November 2010. She is well looked after by a house parent and a maid who takes care of her needs, in an environment where she receives love and personal care.

Pavithra, who was almost on the verge of discontinuing her studies because of not finding readers, was motivated to continue her studies with the support of the Sahaara staff, and is now doing well.  She will, however, continue to need financial support till she is able to establish herself in her chosen field of interest.

Your generous donations, David, Mike and Suzanne, Ray and Lael, Paris and Laurent (x2) will enable Sahaara to give Pavithra three meals a day, for six months.

Thank you so much, for gifting safety and security to Pavithra.