Life story

Divya Mane, 5 years old

Divya is a bright little girl with a heart full of dreams. She is 5 years old and is learning to read at St. Katherine’s School, part of Rayon of Aasha in Pune.

Her story

Divya's Story

Divya’s journey has not been easy. She lost her mother at a very young age and is now being raised by her father, who works as a street sweeper. Despite difficult living conditions and long workdays, he ensures every day that Divya can attend school. When he is unable to do so, her uncle or grandfather steps in, as all these men share the same hope: to provide her with an education capable of transforming her life.

A True Family at Rayon of Aasha

At Rayon of Aasha, Divya isn’t just another studen, she’s part of a true family that cares for her education, her mental well-being, and her self-confidence. Our teachers work closely with her to ensure she can learn with joy and continue to grow. Every day, we see her love of learning grow—she loves drawing, stories, and colors so much.

A father's strength, a child's gentleness

With her young age, her smile, and her little backpack on her back, we sometimes forget the weight of the hardships she’s already carrying. Despite her mother’s absence and the challenges of daily life, she continues to move forward with gentleness and determination. Her father, exhausted from grueling hours of work on the streets, still finds the energy to believe in his daughter’s future. This simple act of walking her to school becomes an act of immense, silent love.

1st

Grade Level

365

CHF per school year

3ème

Child receiving assistance

The Plight of the Working Poor

In India, the Dalits, formerly known as “Untouchables”, often hold the most precarious jobs. Many work in the manual cleaning of sewers and toilets, jobs that pose health risks (gas fumes, tetanus, etc.) and are still carried out despite being officially banned. Others are farm laborers, garbage collectors, street sweepers, or day laborers on construction sites. These jobs are often physically demanding, with no stable contracts or social protection.

Wages remain very low: a Dalit farm laborer may earn between 200 and 400 rupees per day (about 2 to 5 francs). Sanitation workers often earn even less. Dalit women are even more severely affected by poverty and discrimination. Many also face violence and exclusion from access to education and skilled jobs. Despite protective laws and quota policies, social inequalities remain significant. However, more and more Dalits are now gaining access to education and are organizing to defend their rights and improve their living conditions.

School: A Place of Hope and Light

For Divya, school is much more than just a classroom: it’s a place of safety, hope, and light. Every notebook she opens, every word she learns, and every drawing she colors is a step toward a different life. She deserves to grow up with dignity, to dream without fear, and to discover all the possibilities the world has to offer her.

Supporting Divya means giving a vulnerable child the chance to build her future with confidence. It also means supporting a family that, despite poverty, has never stopped believing in the value of education. Behind every child lies a story of resilience, sacrifice, and hope.

Thanks to you, Divya has the chance to break the cycle of hardship and build a better future for herself and her family. Together, we can transform her story into a true path to success and empowerment.

Aider Divya Mane