The Story of Divya

Divya grew up with her parents and two siblings. Her parents did not have steady jobs and could not afford to send their children to school. Instead, they sent them out to beg on the streets each day. The family had no permanent home and moved constantly from place to place. At the age of 10, Divya became separated from her family. We do not know exactly what happened to her during that time. Two years later, when she was 12 years old, she was brought to the police, and we were asked to help locate her family and determine whether returning home would be safe.

When we first spoke with Divya, she was excited about the possibility of seeing her family again. She was able to provide enough information that, after considerable effort, we were able to locate them. However, when we brought Divya to meet her parents, they showed little interest in seeing her. They asked no questions about her well-being and made it clear that they did not want her to return to the family. Her mother immediately began scolding her, and Divya became visibly saddened by the encounter. Based on the family's reaction, we suspected that Divya may have been sold to someone years earlier and had eventually escaped, surviving on the streets until she was found and taken to the police station. We spoke with several neighbors, who expressed concern for Divya's safety and welfare. They believed that her family would not care for her properly and urged us to place her in a girls' home where she could receive care and attend school.

Afterwards, we took Divya to the Women's and Children's Welfare Department to share her story and seek assistance in securing placement in a girls' home and enrollment in school. There, we met with the school's Superintendent, who assured Divya that all of her needs would be provided for. She promised that Divya would have a safe place to live, access to education, and counseling to help her heal from her experiences.

Overwhelmed with happiness, Divya responded, “Oh, please send me to school.” For the first time in a long while, Divya had hope for a brighter future.

We encounter many heartbreaking stories, but when we are able to help bring about a positive outcome, it reminds us why this work matters. Seeing Divya receive the opportunity for safety, education, and care made all the challenges worthwhile.