In a small home in Mumbai, Sana* now sits at her sewing machine, carefully guiding fabric under the needle. Nearby, her young son continues with his studies. The steady sound of stitching is more than work for Sana. It is the sound of rebuilding.
Every piece of cloth she stitches today carries the hope of a mother who once feared that her son’s education and future would be lost.
Before her imprisonment, Sana worked hard to support her family. Though she had studied only up to Grade 5, she used her tailoring skills to contribute to the household while caring for her husband and son. Life was financially difficult, but Sana remained determined to give her son something she had not fully received — the opportunity to study and build a better future.
An urgent financial need pushed Sana to borrow money from a relative. Later, when repayment was requested, she issued a cheque and asked that it not be deposited immediately because there were insufficient funds in her account. However, the cheque was deposited and returned unpaid. A legal complaint followed, and Sana was put into prison in December 2024.
For Sana, prison was not only a legal crisis. It was a mother’s deepest fear.
Her husband’s work stopped. The family lost income. Her son’s education was interrupted because school expenses could not be managed. Inside prison, Sana carried the weight of worry every day — Who would care for her son? Would he be able to continue school? Would this one crisis affect the rest of his life?
It was during this difficult period that the Sahaara team met Sana through Project Azad. The team began supporting her with legal guidance, regular court follow-up, and financial assistance towards bail. This support helped secure her release and gave her family a chance to begin again.
But release was only the first step.
After Sana returned home, Sahaara continued walking with her. The team paid her son’s school fees so that he could return to his studies. They also encouraged Sana to think about how she could restart her livelihood. When she shared that she could work from home if she had a sewing machine, Sahaara provided one.
That sewing machine became a turning point.
It allowed Sana to restart tailoring from home, earn an income, contribute to household expenses, and care for her son at the same time. With regular follow-up, encouragement, and guidance from the Sahaara team, Sana slowly began to regain confidence.
Her family stood by her through this season, but her son remained her strongest motivation. His education gave her a reason to keep going. His future gave her the courage to rebuild.
Reflecting on her journey, Sana says, “When I went to prison, I was very worried about my son. I feared that his education and future would be affected. Sahaara supported me through my legal process, helped my son continue his education, and provided me with a sewing machine so I could earn an income. Today, my son is studying well, and I am able to support my family through tailoring work.”
Her family shares, “The support for our son’s education and the sewing machine helped our family move forward. We are grateful to Sahaara for standing with us during a difficult time.”
Today, Sana continues to work from home as a tailor. She is supporting her son’s education, contributing to her family’s income, and slowly rebuilding stability. She hopes to expand her tailoring work, become financially independent, improve her family’s living conditions, and one day own a home of her own.
*Name changed to protect identity