When Nisha* visits Anandalay Girls’ Hostel today, she does not enter as the little girl who once needed care and protection.
She now returns as an elder sister figure.
The younger girls see someone who has walked the same corridors, lived the same routines, and grown through the same care. As she spends time with them, encourages them, and supports them, Nisha is slowly becoming the kind of person she once needed in her own childhood — someone steady, caring, and hopeful.
Nisha’s early life was shaped by difficult circumstances. Her mother was living in a red-light area and was engaged in sex work, but she deeply wanted her daughter to have a life of safety and dignity. With counselling and support from Sahaara’s Project Parivartan team, her mother agreed to admit Nisha into Anandalay Girls’ Hostel.
After this, her mother returned to her native place. Because of family circumstances, she was unable to take Nisha along. As a result, Nisha grew up away from her mother, remaining connected mainly through phone calls. This distance was not easy for her, especially in her early years.
In December 2010, Nisha was admitted to Anandalay Girls’ Hostel. This became a turning point in her life. Anandalay gave her safety, continuous care, education, and emotional support. It gave her a place where she could grow, study, and begin to build stability after an uncertain start in life.
Over the years, Sahaara continued to invest in Nisha’s development through mentoring, counselling, education, and life skills support. Slowly, she adjusted to hostel life. She began to focus on her growth, make use of the opportunities given to her, and build resilience.
When Nisha turned 18, she transitioned to Udaan Aftercare Hostel. This ensured that the care she had received as a child did not suddenly stop when she became a young adult. At Udaan, she continues to receive structured support in education, skill development, and independent living as she prepares for adulthood and future responsibilities.
Today, Nisha has completed her Grade 12 through NIOS and is pursuing her Bachelor of Arts. Alongside her studies, she has completed professional training at Lakmé Academy in skincare, basic hair cutting, and advanced cosmetology, strengthening her employability and opening new possibilities for her future.
But Nisha’s dream goes beyond building a career for herself.
She dreams of becoming a social worker.
Perhaps this dream has grown from her own journey — from being a child who received care, to becoming a young woman who now wants to care for others. Through regular volunteering at Anandalay, she supports younger girls as an elder sister, while also strengthening her own leadership and sense of responsibility.
The change in Nisha is visible. She is steadily growing into a young woman who is more independent, confident, and emotionally resilient. Through mentoring, counselling, and life skills training, she has developed emotional maturity and a clearer sense of direction for her life.
Her progress also brings reassurance to her mother, who has long hoped for a better future for her daughter. Though their journey has not been easy, Nisha’s growth gives her mother hope that her daughter will continue moving towards independence and stability.
Nisha says, “Sahaara is like my family. Without it, I can’t imagine what my life would have been. I am who I am today because of it.”
Her mother shares, “Thank you for caring for my daughter and supporting her to become independent. I can see her growing stronger and more confident, and it gives me great hope for her future.”
Today, Nisha continues her education, builds employable skills, and volunteers with younger girls who look up to her. Her story reflects the importance of long-term care — from protection in childhood, to guidance in adolescence, to aftercare support in young adulthood.
Nisha’s journey reminds us that when a young person receives safety, education, emotional care, and continued guidance, she can grow not only into independence, but also into purpose.
*Name changed to protect identity