RAPID's Success Stories

Profile of Meenakshi, a Nursery School Teacher

Meenakshi got married at the age of 14. After marriage her husband's family began physically abusing and mistreating her. Not knowing how to change her situation she stayed in the marriage and gave birth to her first son. Eventually she gained the courage to leave her abusive marriage and fled with her son to Palikoppa, where her father stayed.

Upon arrival in Palikoppa she was unemployment and faced with a difficult financial situation. Her father is an agricultural labor with 6 acres of dry land, but despite his desire to help Meenakshi, could not afford to do so. Meenakshi's lack of education made it even more difficult to find a job that would adequately provide for her and her son. Although she completed 10th standard, she could never afford to continue her education and as a result was limited by her current skill set.

To earn some income she worked with the Chinmaya Mission in Palokoppa and started a Gurukula model school for 20 students to teach them bhagavadgeeta and slokas. Yet her meager monthly income of Rs. 375/- was not enough to cover basic expenses.

When she came to RAPID six years ago she wanted to sell clothes in surrounding villages. RAPID supported this ambition and gave her the initial investment needed to start her business. Yet with time she discovered that selling clothes did not increase her income by a sufficient amount. She then transition to stitching clothes, but even then was still only earning Rs. 30/- per day.

Recognizing the need to develop new skills, Meenakshi returned to RAPID to request funding to for an NTC course. RAPID supported Meenakshi in the amount of
Rs. 5000/- to attend a professional Pragati NTC training course. During the training program she was actively involved in both curricular and extracurricular activities and won many prizes in her hobbies of devotional and folk songs singing.

Meenakshi has now accepted a job with Gunadhara Nandi Nursery School in Varur where she will earn Rs. 2000/- per month. RAPID's guidance and financial support has greatly contributed to her renewed self-confidence and self-determination. She is now leading an independent and stable life and is able to provide for herself and her son.