Reena Gandava, A Nanhi Kali Hailing From Pipalipada Village.

Reena Gandava, a Nanhi Kali hailing from Pipalipada village in Bajna Mandal of Madhya Pradesh, is a shy but industrious girl. The challenges she faces in continuing her education are numerous and include crippling financial constraints, burdensome household chores and life in a village that lacks basic amenities. However, in spite of the multitude of hurdles that confront her, she has determinedly continued her education; and has been amply supported by the Project Nanhi Kali in this area.

Reena’s struggle started with the tragic demise of her father, Ramsingh Gandava. Not that her family had been well off when he was alive. Still, he had been bringing home some income with which the family managed. The death of Ramsingh, the only earning member of the family, therefore came as a big blow to the five-member family. Her mother, Meera Gandava, then turned to farming to run the family and this meant that someone was needed to shoulder the burden of household chores. As expected, this burden fell on Reena. Her economic situation and increased responsibilities at home made it difficult for Reena to concentrate on her studies and she was almost ready to drop out of school.

At this critical juncture, Project Nanhi Kali, which is a girl child education project that aims at providing 10 years of quality education to girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds by giving academic, material and moral support, extended its support to Reena. Subsequent to her becoming a Nanhi Kali, there has been a lot of positive change in Reena not just academically but also in her personality. She is no longer as shy as she initially was and she enthusiastically participates in various extracurricular activities be it during the Republic day and Independence day celebration in her school or the Bal mahotsav cultural fest. She is very regular to both her school and her Academic Support Centre.

Her teachers both school as well as the Academic Support Centre are appreciative of this Nanhi Kali. Her teacher Mr. Laxman Bhuria has this to say, “Reena is keenly interested in academics and is regular to school. She is always attentive in class. Thanks to the support she has received from the Nanhi Kali programme, she has shown remarkable improvement especially in Science and English”.
Her mother too is happy for her child and is thankful to the Nanhi Kali team for supporting her daughter, “I will send my daughter to school regularly and will definitely encourage her to study further,” she says. As for Reena herself, her objective is clear, “I will study further, receive higher education and will become a police officer”, she says firmly.

We sure wish her dreams come true and hope that her future is as bright as the sparkle in her eyes.