Meena Kumari, was born into a socio-economically lower-class family in Lodhma village, Jharkhand. Meena’s childhood was extremely difficult. Her parents were both HIV positive. Her father worked as a driver in Mumbai, earning a monthly income of Rs. 7000/-. However, his health suddenly deteriorated, forcing him to return home. Regular medication and a good diet gradually improved his health. The joint family, having learnt of his HIV status, began to neglect them, leaving Meena’s immediate family to fend for themselves.

Sr. Britto, a Holy Cross sister, from Snehadeep, Jharkhand, one of the implementing partners of CHAI, noticed their difficult situation and promptly took action. Meena and her sister Rani were allowed to attend one of the income generation trainings. Simultaneously, Meena pursued her intermediate education. The bag-making training proved to be a boon for their family, becoming their primary source of income. This hard-earned money allowed Meena to complete her education and support her younger siblings. Influenced by the care of the sisters, Meena wanted to become a nurse. With help of Sr. Britto, she completed ANM Nursing course from FCC sisters’ hospital, Koderma and is currently employed at Holy Cross Hospital, Tarwa. With the support from Sr Britto and team, Meena’s younger siblings were helped to avail scholarship scheme by government, which has improved their access to education and care.

Meena Kumari’s story is a classic example of resilience in the midst of hopeless situations. Her journey stands as a testament to the power of education, vocational training, and community support in transforming lives.

Most of us are fortunate not to go through such difficult situations. How resilient are we, in the midst of our day-today challenges? When was the last time we assisted someone to be resilient and discover hope. Look around for opportunities; be part of the journey in building a resilient society.