Success Story- Firdaus

Firdaus is a 14 years old girl of Gulpada village of Nagar block who belongs to Meo- Muslim community. Firdaus study in Class VIII at Upper Primary School, Gulpada and is one of the target girls since July 2009 under Girls Education Program supported by Room to Read India Trust. She is the 2nd number out of 4 siblings and her father Ishe Khan earn their livelihood by doing agriculture work and sometime goes outside the village seeking labour work since agriculture work could not fulfill their daily needs.

During the initial interaction with her parents regarding the linking of girls under GEP we have learnt that Firdaus got married with her elder sister because it cost less expenditure if both the sisters were married at one time and also shared that Firdaus Gauna will do after 2 years so hardly could study a year.

After linking with GEP Firdaus regularly present in the school classes and in remedial classes from organization side under GEP. She also take part in all the activities of the GEP like Life Skills Education training, Exposure visit, health camp, Bal Manch meeting etc. Her parents also participate regularly in quarterly parents meeting where focus and discussions were made on importance of Girl’s education, Gender based discrimination and ill effects of child marriages. During the regular interaction with her parents discussions were made on performance and progress in study and other activities, and at every interaction, efforts were made to make her parents understand that Firdaus is good in studies and keen to study further education hence delaying the gauna of Firdaus is very important. In one of the interactions her parents told us that now they understand from the meetings that will delay her Gauna and atleast make her study till 12th class. Now both Firdaus and her parents were very happy with this decision and continue her study.