STORY OF NISHA

My name is Nisha Khandagale. I study in Std 8 in a Municipal School in Borivali, Mumbai. My father is unemployed, making my mother the only breadwinner in the house. I also have 2 elder sisters. Regardless of the paucity of funds, my parents always wanted me to receive a good education to ensure I could stand on my own feet and so they enrolled me into school.

But it is Project Nanhi Kali and their Community Associates (CAs) that I am thankful to, as they are the main reason for making studying not just a reality for me, but one of the highlights of my life. At school, my favourite subjects are science and art, and in my free time, I enjoy playing Cricket and Kabaddi.

I love drawing too, and I have always loved decorating the house during family functions, and making small gifts. My CA Ma’am at the Nanhi Kali Academic Centre encouraged me to pursue art seriously as a result of which it has considerably improved.

She also encouraged me to appear for a photography exam. I was so nervous, the first time I held a DSLR camera. But I was also very excited! In the photography competition, I won the third prize. It not only made me, but my entire family and even the CA Ma’ams, very happy. My dream is to become an interior or fashion designer, and I am sure that I can get closer to this goal with help of my Nanhi Kali CA Ma’am. I hope to make my family and Project Nanhi Kali proud of me through my art.

Project Nanhi Kali has not only transformed my life since I first became part of it, but has also given me some of the most memorable experiences of my life. One of them is the Jet Flight of Fancy, when I got to be on a plane. I absolutely loved the airhostesses, they were so cute! I literally felt above the world. That experience made me so thankful that I will never forget what Project Nanhi Kali has done for me and my friends.