My Journey: Empowerment and Hope Through ARUDECS NGO
Growing up in my small village, deep in the hills, I never imagined life could be different. I am Lakshmi, and I belong to a tribal community. For generations, we lived the same way—cut off from the rest of the world. We farmed what we could, weaved what we wore, and shared what little we had. But for us women, life was especially hard. We didn’t have the opportunity to dream or hope for anything more.
The Struggle for Education
When I was a child, education was a luxury. My family couldn’t afford to send me to school. My days were spent helping my mother at home, collecting firewood, and looking after my younger siblings. I always wondered what life would be like if I could read or write. But in our village, girls didn’t go to school. That was just the way it was.
Then, ARUDECS NGO came into our lives. They started an awareness program in our village, talking about how education for girls could change not just individual lives but entire communities. The people from ARUDECS spoke with such passion that my father, who had always been against girls going to school, began to change his mind.
With the help of ARUDECS, I received a scholarship, and for the first time, I stepped into a classroom. I remember the first day I held a pencil in my hand—I felt powerful. That was the beginning of my journey.
Fighting for Health with ARUDECS NGO
Healthcare was another battle. My mother died when I was young because there were no doctors to help her. When I became a mother myself, I feared the same fate. But thanks to ARUDECS, our village no longer had to rely on distant hospitals. They started bringing mobile health clinics as part of their health awareness program. I received prenatal care and my children were vaccinated.
I’ve seen women in my village lose their lives because there were no healthcare services available nearby. But now, with ARUDECS’ help, we don’t have to travel far to get the medical attention we need. The mobile health clinics visit regularly, offering checkups, vaccinations, and maternal care. We no longer feel neglected; we know that someone cares for our health.
A New Path: Financial Freedom
Before ARUDECS came into our lives, the idea of financial independence seemed like a distant dream. How could a woman like me, who had never held money in her hands, ever think about managing finances? But through ARUDECS’ economic empowerment programs, things started to change.
ARUDECS taught us about financial literacy and provided us with microloans to start small businesses. I took a loan to buy a goat, and soon, I was selling milk in the local market. For the first time in my life, I earned my own money. I felt like I was finally in control of my future. Many other women in our village also started small businesses—selling vegetables, weaving baskets, and running shops. We no longer depended on our husbands for everything. We were building something of our own.
Standing Together as Women
We tribal women are strong, but for so long, we were told we were weak. That we were only good for housework and taking care of children. But now I see that this was never true. Through ARUDECS’ awareness programs, we realized that we are capable of so much more.
Today, I am proud of what I’ve accomplished, but I know this is just the beginning. ARUDECS NGO has shown us that when women come together and have the right support, we can achieve incredible things. Whether it’s through education, healthcare, or financial independence, we are breaking down the barriers that once held us back.
Conclusion: Hope for the Future
I am not just Lakshmi, a woman from a forgotten village. I am a mother, a businesswoman, and a leader in my community. My journey has not been easy, but with the help of ARUDECS NGO, I found hope. Through their awareness programs, we tribal women are now empowered to take control of our lives. Education, healthcare, and financial independence are no longer distant dreams—they are realities we are living today.
Thanks to ARUDECS, I now see a brighter future for my children, and I know that one day, no tribal woman will have to live without hope.