Ambition empowers Rizia to dream big

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2. Ambition empowers Rizia to dream big

21 year old RiziaKhatun is an emblem of courage, determination and ambition in Methopara slum under the RajarhatGopalpur Municipality. Rizia knows well what it calls for to be the eldest amongst six other siblings. Her two younger sisters are married, two brothers work in a shop as helper and the youngest two brothers are studying in classes V and III respectively. Rizia’s education came to a jolting halt when she was in class VIII, another her rickshaw puller father found it difficult to continue her education. With it her ambition of being a graduate and becoming a teacher was nipped in the bud. She was determined not to let her ambition of becoming a teacher die a natural death, hence she started teaching young children in the neighborhood. It was during this time she caught the attention of the LWSIT staff in Methopara, who could not but help notice the high level of motivation and dedication of Rizia. Rizia became actively involved in various community development initiatives of LWSIT. With the guidance of LWSIT, Rizia convinced a group of 10 women to form a Self Help Group for their empowerment. Rizia also took the Pre-Primary Instructor Training from LWSIT and joined as a Pre-Primary Teacher at Methoparacentre which was initiated by LWSIT. She could foresee her ambition being fulfilled. She was keen on finishing her education but her father was reluctant to give the permission to do so. She sought the help of the LWSIT staff who convinced her father for Rizia’s further education. Rizia got admission in BishnupurRabindra Open School and appeared for her school leaving examination. She has also taken training on tailoring initiated by LWSIT. With a loan from the self help group, she has bought a sewing machine, with which she stitches new clothes for the young girls in and around her slum. Now she juggles her time between her education, work as a teacher and tailoring. Rizia cannot abstain from thanking and praising LWSIT for helping her shape her future and giving a meaning to her life. She prays and hopes that LWSIT would continue to bring hope to many more lives like hers.