Esha is a bright and active 9-year-old girl who lives with her family in a small home. She lost her mother during the COVID pandemic, just as her younger sister was born. This loss deeply affected her. Without her mother, she often felt lonely and unsupported. Her father tries his best to care for the family, but life at home is difficult. Her grandmother sometimes scolds or hits her when she misbehaves, which made Esha feel unsafe and sad. These feelings showed up in her behaviour—she would often get angry, fight with other children, and had trouble reading and writing at school.
Esha first joined Sahaara’s education centre in 2022. The staff noticed she had a lot of potential, but she had to leave after a year because her grandmother enrolled her in another NGO. In 2024, she rejoined Sahaara and was welcomed into Level 2. When she returned, the team saw that she was struggling again—especially with reading, handwriting, and handling her emotions. The staff began helping her through extra reading and writing lessons, using fun activities like phonics games, picture reading, and letter-tracing worksheets. Her teacher also gave her daily handwriting practice and encouraged her with praise and small rewards. Slowly, Esha started improving in her studies and became more confident.
At the same time, Sahaara helped her understand and manage her feelings. She attended life skills sessions and listened to stories about emotions. In role-play activities, she learned how to solve problems by talking instead of fighting. Esha became calmer and began expressing herself better. She formed a strong bond with her teacher and felt safe at the centre, something she did not always feel at home. Her father continues to do what he can, but her home environment remains emotionally tough, with limited support from her family.
Now, Esha is doing well in school. She enjoys learning and works hard. She no longer fights and tells others, “I will talk instead of arguing.” She wants to become an Army Soldier when she grows up so she can protect her country and help others. Esha said, “Earlier I used to get angry and fight. Now I have learned to talk calmly. I like coming to Sahaara because my teacher understands me and helps me learn better.”
Her family has also noticed the changes. They said, “We have seen a good change in Esha. She is calmer and more focused now. We are thankful to Sahaara for supporting her in studies and helping her become stronger.” Esha’s growth shows how emotional care and consistent support can help a child move towards a better future.
(Names changed to protect identities.)