“The first time I stitched a perfect piece, I felt unstoppable.”

I never imagined the Day Care Program would change my life. Before joining, my world was small; confined to home and my mother’s fear for my safety.

I am Meena. I want to become a fashion designer.

Trapped by Fear

After my father passed away, my mother worked as a maid to raise me and my three younger sisters. Despite our struggles—sometimes surviving on just boiled rice—she never let us miss school. But after I completed my 10th grade, she refused to let me step outside.

Living in a slum behind an industrial zone in Thane, nights were dark and dangerous. A girl in our neighbourhood had been assaulted, and my mother couldn’t risk the same happening to me.

Threads of Change

My mother believed education was our only way out. Desperate for a way forward, she turned to Priya Didi, a volunteer at Kshamata. That’s how I joined the Day Care Program.

At first, even simple things felt overwhelming—like travelling alone. I had never taken a bus before and didn’t know how to buy a ticket. The first time I missed my stop, I panicked—until I saw my mother quietly following me from a distance. That moment gave me courage. Slowly, I gained confidence and independence.

One Stitch at a Time

The biggest transformation happened at Kshamata Unlimited (KULT), Kshamata’s in-house enterprise. Every morning, I attended sessions at the Transformation Centre, and in the afternoons, I learned tailoring. Struggling at first but determined to improve, I started observing the skilled women create beautiful products.

My first few products were rejected, but with my trainer’s guidance, I kept going. Stitch by stitch, I got better.

Weaving a Dream

More than just a skill, KULT gave me belief in myself.

When people ask me what I want to be, my answer is always the same: “I want to be a fashion designer. I love this profession.”

I just finished my 11th-grade exams, and the next day, I was back at KULT—learning, growing, shaping my future.

“The Day Care Program isn’t just a place. It’s where I found the courage to dream.”