To celebrate our more than 40 years of service, we are sharing 40 of our beneficiaries’ powerful stories with you — stories of hope, compassion, and determination. We hope these stories inspire you as much as they inspire us.
Pooja Chandu Rathod, a brilliant 8th-grade student with aspirations to become a teacher, lives in a cramped single room with six other family members. Her father is a painter and cannot work during the monsoon season, and Pooja’s mother left when she was very young. Read more
As a child, Varsha Baraiya loved music, painting, henna art, and cooking. She was a fantastic student, and she loved helping her siblings study and succeed in school, too. She aspired to become a doctor, and her hard work in school paid off, earning her a place in the K.J. Mehta General Hospital and College of Medical Sciences in Gujarat. Read more
Prior to completing the Rajkot Cancer Society’s Cancer Awareness Program, Nita Vipulbhai Kakasaniya had not been aware of the importance of pap smear tests for detecting cervical cancer. After receiving this preventative education, she underwent the test. Read more
As one of three children from a poor family in the Walke village in Maharashtra, Sunny Rajendra Sawant had few educational options. His father is a daily wage earner and his income could not support Sunny in his goal to attend college. Read more
Mercy Kom, 58, resides in Kharam Thadoi, a remote village in Manipur. She suffered from diabetes and hypertension, and due to the lack of healthcare infrastructure in her village, she had received no treatment for these issues. Read more
Dipa Ruparel knew from an early age that she wanted to become a doctor. She excelled throughout her school years, and her performance on her 12th grade exams earned her admission to medical school. However, her family’s difficult financial situation presented a barrier to her attendance. Read more
Saroj Gurjar is a 21-year-old woman from a rural area of Rajasthan. Her family of seven is supported only by her father’s farm work, and their financial needs often go unmet. Saroj has been interested in creative activities since childhood, and she learned about the Grameen Vikas Shodh Evam Takniki Kendra (GVSTK) program, supported by Share & Care, in November of 2021. Read more
The SEWA Adolescent Health and Empowerment program, supported by Share & Care, monitors the health of children living in rural areas. One such child is Diveyesh Mahendra Vasava, a 10-year-old tribal boy from Nana Andhra. Read more
Anil Bhai is a Lokmitra serving with ESI, supported by Share & Care, in the village of Waghjipur in Gujarat. Anil is passionate about nutrition, and upon learning about the benefits of natural farming, he decided to engage his community through organic gardening. Read more
When Jayshree Manojbhai Lalkiya went in for her regular mammogram at the Rajkot Cancer Society, supported by Share & Care, she had no symptoms or indications that anything was wrong and was unaware of any family history of cancer. Read more
Ankita Baburao Waghmare is one of four daughters born into a tribal community in the Washim District of Maharashtra. Though her home life was not conducive to education, Ankita was an academically excellent student. With support from Share & Care, LOLT has helped Ankita develop her confidence level, communication skills, and career-oriented mindset. Read more