Growing up in the bustling heart of Mumbai, she spent days confined with her baby brother in a cramped, locked room. 

While other children played outside and went to school, Meera’s world was limited to four walls and the burden of caretaking at an age when she herself needed care. Every morning, her mother would leave her children behind to work in the city’s red-light districts, desperate to provide but still unable to keep them safe or meet their basic needs. 

As years passed, hunger and loneliness became part of Meera’s routine. The longing to learn and play was pushed aside by the need to protect her brother and wait for her mother’s return. Everything changed the day her brother fell ill. Driven by fear for his health, Meera dared to sneak out in search of medicine, and in doing so, she discovered the stark reality of her mother’s life. The truth was a heavy blow, shattering the  innocence she had left.

Overwhelmed with shame, sorrow, and a fierce desire to put her children first, Meera’s mother made a heart-wrenching decision. She sent Meera and her brother to a safe house, a difficult but life-altering choice that finally broke the cycle of exploitation and poverty, and set them on a new path toward hope.

At the safe house, Meera’s world transformed in ways she had never imagined. She exchanged old, worn clothes for fresh ones that fit, traded her constant hunger for nutritious meals, and swapped fear and confinement for warmth and safety. 

For the first time, Meera had her own bed and a place where she could simply be a child. Surrounded by caring adults and other children with similar stories, she began to feel a sense of belonging and hope. Most importantly, she could finally go to school, an opportunity she had longed for. 

In the classroom, Meera found not just knowledge but also a love for learning that fueled her dreams. Beyond academics, she discovered sports, competing in swimming, soccer, and running; every medal and every new skill brought a wider smile and growing sense of accomplishment. With each passing day, Meera’s confidence grew, revealing how a nurturing environment can help children not only heal but thrive.

Education became Meera’s catalyst for change. It wasn’t just about reading and writing, it was about finding her voice.

In each lesson and classroom experience, Meera gained not only knowledge but a steady sense of confidence. Her teachers encouraged her curiosity and nurtured her ambitions, while friendships with classmates gave her a sense of belonging she’d never known before. Completing the 12th grade opened doors she never dreamed of before, ensuring she’d never have to repeat her mother’s difficult choices and allowing her to set her own course for a brighter tomorrow.

At 18, Meera now lives in an aftercare home, learning the essentials of adulthood: cooking, budgeting, and navigating Mumbai on her own. The support you helped give her is evolving, now empowering her to stand confidently and step into her dreams of becoming a journalist and author.

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