“I used to think independence was out of reach. But now I know—it’s something you build, step by step, with every small, brave choice.”

My name is Ella (name changed), and for a long time, I stayed quiet—because I didn’t think my voice mattered. But everything began to change the day I arrived at Kshamata.

I lost my parents at a young age. After that, my siblings and I moved in with our uncle, hoping for safety, love—just a chance at a normal life. But what we got was anything but. The people we trusted turned on us. They mistreated me. Eventually, they sold me into a brothel to make money.

There I was surrounded by cruelty and fear, yet something inside me refused to give up. I held on to a dream—not just for myself, but for my younger siblings. “If I could somehow make it out, I would create a better life for them,” I told myself again and again.

Thanks to another NGO, I finally escaped that world. They provided training and even found me work in reflexology. But they couldn’t offer me something I desperately needed—a safe place to live.

That’s when I was referred to Kshamata – where everything changed.

I moved directly into one of their co-living units. It felt different—safe, respectful, quiet. But I was still reserved, withdrawn and carrying the weight of everything I had been through. I didn’t ask for help—even when I had no money to eat. “I just didn’t know how to ask.”

One day, a Didi noticed and gently asked what was wrong. That moment changed everything. She enrolled me in a financial literacy program. That small step gave me something I hadn’t felt in a long time—control.

I was also enrolled in life skills and counselling sessions. Slowly, over nearly two years, I began to trust again—myself, and those around me. I also went back to my studies and completed my 10th grade.

One of the best parts? Canva classes. I loved learning how to design things—social media posts, banners, anything visual. One day, a younger girl asked me, “Didi, how did you add those colours?” and I smiled. That was me once—quiet, curious, watching others. Now, I was the one helping someone else grow.

Today, I work in digital marketing at 36 Skills. I have learned social media tools, Canva, and creative content skills—and I now earn Rs 12,000 per month.

I still look after my sister, who lives at Kshamata’s Transformation Centre (KTC), and once a month I visit my brother to check on him. Managing work, studies, and family isn’t easy—but I’m doing it. On my own. With pride.

Today, I’m a young woman who’s finally found her path—and I’m walking it with courage.