Mona dreams of becoming a doctor!

“I was about seven years old when my father passed away. That’s when our situation became dire – there were days when we’d be able to eat only once a day. We are 4 brothers and 4 sisters and we all had to drop out of school and work as child laborers to keep the family afloat.

Ma would go away for days to work as a daily wage laborer in the city as well. Life was really tough! I was quite good in studies but after having to drop out in the 2nd grade, my dream of becoming a doctor slowly started to fade away. Ma was sad about this but what could we do?

That’s when CRY opened an Anganwadi in our village. The teachers came home and convinced my mother that my siblings and I should learn, not earn. I realized that education is the only way I’d be able to build a better life for myself. Today, I’m back in school and my teachers are helping me bridge the gap that I face due to all the years I lost. I study in the 6th standard and dream of the day I’ll become a doctor and make my mother proud!” – Mona*, Kotra District (Udaipur)

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*name changed to protect the child's identity