Deepalaya - Enabling Self-Reliance

Chandni hails from a very poor family. Her father is self employed who sells export surplus clothes and earns a meager income of Rs.25, 000/- per annum. The mother is a housewife. They have nine children to support. One brother and three of her sisters are married and one sister and one brother have completed their 12th and are on the look out for a job. One younger brother is studying in Deepalaya School, Kalkaji. The penurious family condition has not deterred Chandni from pursuing big dreams in life. She has had her entire schooling from the Deepalaya School at Kalkaji extension.

This girl with guts of steel and determination has always been in the top slot during her schooling years. Chandni always stood out displaying her self confidence and leadership qualities. Not one to shy away from facing the audience, she took part in various competitions on her own and excelled in her performance. Further she has always been clear headed and articulate, and has always been meticulous in her work.

She was chosen to join the Ancillary Nursing & Midwife course at the SOS Nursing School in September, 2006 through the support of Dewan Foundation. Since then she has continued to excel, standing first in the Semester I with a score of 94.6 per cent. She also won the first prize trophy in the poster making competition. She is to get the green uniform and will start having clinical training shortly. She is already a role model for the other children who come from a deprived background.

She considers meeting and interviewing the Chief Minister of Delhi, Mrs. Sheila Dikshit and receiving a prize from the hands of the President of India for winning the drawing competition as high points in her life. Her ambition in life is to make a mark in whatever she does.

Her message for children who find themselves deprived as she herself had been is: Grab opportunities as they come. Learn to be on your own and strive. Do not expect someone to come and help you.

Here is wishing her the very best.