AVANI “Sunanda Gandhi Residential Girls School” is the location where our founder entered into his eternal sleep as his daughter Archana Prasad puts it. He left his body one month ago, we all miss him dearly. Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute will continue to partner with and support the work of AVANI-Sunanda Gandhi Residential Girls School that was so near and dear to Arun’s heart. AVANI-Sunanda Gandhi Residential Girls School is led by Anuradha Bhosale, a true champion and hero for children. The above video is from 2014 and at the end features an old website-email domain we lost. The telephone contact details remain the same. Updated contact details for AVANI are at the end of our blog post.
AVANI CHILD LABOR RESCUE PROGRAM
From Darkness to Triumph: The Journey of Nikita and Krishna with the Avani Organization
The Challenge This story highlights the immense challenges faced by two children, who were rescued from a tragic past by the Avani organization. These siblings had endured the loss of their mother and were forced into labor at a young age, disrupting their education. Avani had to overcome their disinterest in schooling, forgotten knowledge, and the desire to work for survival.
However, through relentless support, counseling, and encouragement, Avani managed to guide them back to education and witness their remarkable success.
Their Story Nikita and her brother Krishna’s journey with the Avani organization began just a year and a half ago (January 2022), and the impact it has had on their lives is immeasurable. The depths of their tragic past still haunt them, as they lost their mother at the tender ages of five and six. A horrifying act of cruelty stole their mother from them, their father setting her ablaze.
Anuradha Bhosale pleaded with their uncle to send them to Avani’s home for children, where they could find solace and a chance at a brighter future. However, their uncle callously denied the request, shouldering the responsibility of raising them himself. But as they grew older, reaching the ages of thirteen and fifteen, their dreams of education were dashed aside, and they were thrust into the laborious world of brickyards.
Education became a distant dream for Nikita, who was forced to abandon her regular schooling in the seventh grade due to overwhelming work pressure. Both Nikita and Krishna were ensnared in the clutches of the brickyards, as their uncle accepted an advance of two lakhs rupees (US$2,400) from the owner, binding the siblings in perpetual labor.
News of their plight reached the ears of Anuradha Bhosale, and without delay, she dispatched Avani’s dedicated team to the Beed district. With the Child Welfare Committee’s (CWC) approval, Nikita found sanctuary in Avani’s home for girls, while Krishna was admitted to a government-run boys’ home. Their education had suffered a three-to-four-year hiatus, and the idea of returning to school seemed unappealing to them. Yet, through counseling and firm encouragement, we encouraged them to resume their studies.
Avani faced an arduous task, especially with Nikita, who had lost all interest in schooling and even forgotten her earlier lessons. Despite missing out on the eighth and ninth grades, she was thrust into the tenth grade, a startling revelation for her. The Avani team left no stone unturned, supporting her tirelessly, giving her ample time to study, and providing constant affirmation and motivation.
Today, the results of their tenth-grade exams were announced, and both Nikita and Krishna have passed their finals. The journey to this achievement was a grueling one, as we had to coax them into returning to school when all they wanted was to toil as laborers for mere survival.
Avani Organization has not only given Nikita and Krishna their childhoods back but has also reignited their dreams of pursuing higher education. This day is a triumph, not only for them but also for the Avani family that rescued these child laborers and empowered them to achieve astounding success. We are filled with immense pride and joy for the transformative work that has been accomplished.
AVANI protects women, children, provides education, while improving lives.
AVANI Registered under the Bombay Public Trust Act of 1950, No. 4359 and the Society Registration Act of 1860, No. 4394
80G Tax Exemption Certificate
Registered under the Foreign Contribution Registration Act (FCRA)
Keep functioning, remarkable work!