Elders With Dignity – The Story of Shantaben
Bhavnagar, Gujarat
Shantaben, an 82-year-old widow, lived alone in a dilapidated home, relying on neighbors for meals. When our volunteers visited her village for a senior health screening, they were moved by her isolation. She was enrolled in our “Elders with Dignity” program, which provides home care, ration kits, and regular medical check-ups to the elderly.
Over the months, she regained her health, participated in senior storytelling circles, and even began teaching children local folk songs. Today, she is seen as a community grandmother — a respected elder whose life now ends each day with companionship and care.
“I had forgotten what it meant to laugh or be heard. Now, every day brings warmth,” she smiles.
Pooja – Building Sustainable Futures Through Eco-Leadership
Sundarbans, West Bengal
In a region battling rising sea levels and cyclones, Pooja, a college student and climate enthusiast, took charge of her island’s resilience. After attending an environmental leadership camp we organized in 2022, she began mobilizing local youth for a mangrove restoration drive.
Under her leadership, over 5,000 mangrove saplings were planted, creating a natural buffer against storm surges. She also introduced eco-clubs in two local schools, promoting sustainable practices like plastic-free campaigns and rainwater harvesting.
Today, Pooja represents her district in the National Youth Climate Forum and works closely with NGOs and scientists to build community-driven climate action models.
“Change doesn’t need to start from the top. It starts with one person, one step, one tree,” Pooja says.
Mohammed Irfan – From School Dropout to Health Ambassador
Barmer, Rajasthan
Living in a drought-prone district, Irfan grew up with limited access to education or healthcare. Dropping out in Class 7 due to financial strain, he worked odd jobs to support his family. His turning point came when he volunteered at one of our mobile health van camps in 2019.
Impressed by his dedication and compassion, our team encouraged him to join our Community Health Worker (CHW) training program. Irfan completed modules on hygiene, maternal health, basic diagnostics, and referral services. Soon, he was running awareness sessions, distributing sanitary kits, and helping pregnant women access healthcare facilities.
Now a full-time health ambassador in his block, Irfan has helped register over 1,200 rural families under government health schemes and played a key role in increasing vaccination rates. His dedication has earned him praise from government officers and community leaders alike.
“I left school, but I never stopped learning. Today I teach others how to live healthier, safer lives,” says Irfan.
Anjali’s Self-Help Group is Uplifting an Entire Hamlet
Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh
Anjali, 28, formed a Self-Help Group (SHG) in her village after attending a community session on micro-entrepreneurship. Inspired by the idea of collective savings and shared risk, she convinced 11 other women to contribute ₹100 each per month to a common fund.
With some training and seed money from our program, the group started making papads and spice mixes, products they had traditionally prepared at home. They branded the products, used cloth packaging stitched by another SHG, and started selling door-to-door in nearby towns. Within 6 months, the group saw profits, paid back their initial seed capital, and began supporting their children's education.
Today, Anjali’s SHG supports 3 other SHGs in surrounding villages. They share resources, bulk purchase raw materials, and host joint exhibitions during festivals. This grassroots network has fostered not only financial independence but also unity and leadership among rural women.
“I may not have gone to college, but today I manage finances, lead meetings, and plan strategies. We are not just homemakers — we are businesswomen,” Anjali says with confidence.
Rahul – A Teen Coder Building for Farmers
Gadchiroli, Maharashtra
Rahul was only 16 when he first saw a computer during our Digital Literacy Drive in Gadchiroli. Until then, the only technology he had access to was a basic keypad phone shared by his family. Fascinated by coding, he began attending every session, often staying back late to ask questions and practice on the single computer at the training center.
Recognizing his potential, our mentors provided Rahul with access to online coding platforms, tutorials, and additional training. Within a year, he could write basic web and mobile apps. More importantly, he identified a real-world problem that technology could solve: helping farmers in his village get real-time updates on crop prices.
With guidance from his mentor, Rahul built a simple Android app called “Kisaan Sathi.” It provided market prices, weather updates, and farming tips in Marathi. Today, it has over 1,000 users in his district and continues to expand. Rahul’s journey not only changed his life but made him a young changemaker in his community.
“Earlier, people told me I was wasting time on the computer. Now they say my work helps feed their families,” Rahul beams.
Meena Devi – From Housewife to Rural Entrepreneur
Sitamarhi, Bihar
For most of her life, Meena Devi, a 35-year-old mother of three from a small village in Sitamarhi, lived a routine existence. Her days revolved around household chores, raising her children, and managing the little they had from her husband’s earnings as a daily wage laborer. Though spirited and smart, opportunities for her growth were scarce in her rural setting.
In early 2021, Meena attended a Women’s Entrepreneurship Workshop conducted by our NGO. There, she learned the basics of business management, pricing, marketing, and financial literacy. Inspired by the stories of other women who had started businesses with minimal investment, Meena decided to pursue her long-standing dream of making and selling homemade pickles.
With an initial microloan of ₹10,000 and the mentorship provided by our field team, she started “Meena’s Masala.” Her pickles — made from traditional recipes passed down from her grandmother — were an instant hit in the village. Within months, she expanded her customer base to nearby towns, tied up with a local grocery chain, and began earning consistent profits. She now employs four women from her community, creating a ripple effect of economic empowerment.
“Before this, I never imagined that I could contribute financially to my family or be seen as a leader in my village,” Meena says with pride. “Now, people come to me for guidance. I feel respected, independent, and hopeful.”
