Neha Mallick, 21, lives in the New Market locality and belongs to the Harijan community, traditionally engaged in sanitation work. Her father is employed by the Municipal Corporation and is the sole earner in the family. The area they reside in has long struggled with unhygienic conditions.  Open garbage, poor drainage, and cramped, poorly ventilated housing is a common sight. In such an environment, education was not a priority, and most families were illiterate, with children rarely attending school.

That reality began to change when Emmanuel Ministries Calcutta introduced a community-based education and development project in the area. With a focus on improving literacy and addressing long-standing social challenges, the project gradually reshaped the mindset of the community. Education started to gain importance, and young people were encouraged to dream beyond their circumstances.

Neha joined the New Market project when she was just seven years old, becoming part of the Non-Formal Education (NFE) program. She actively participated in its social and developmental activities and was soon enrolled in a regular school. However, she found the academic environment overwhelming and began to fall behind. Discouraged and close to giving up, Neha began to lose hope.

It was during this critical time that the community teachers stepped in. They offered her consistent encouragement and emotional support. With their motivation, Neha chose not to give up. She enrolled in the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) program, which offered her a more flexible and supportive learning structure. Since then, she has made remarkable academic progress. She passed her Class 10 exams and is now preparing for her Class 12 board examinations.

Beyond academics, Neha has also been recognised for her leadership and community service. She received the Bronze Award under the IAYP (International Award for Young People) program and is currently working towards her Silver Award, with aspirations to complete the Gold level in the future.

Today, Neha is a confident and inspiring young woman. She leads evening coaching classes for younger children in her community and organises extracurricular activities to keep them engaged and motivated. 

Once unsure of her abilities, Neha is now a confident young woman whose journey reflects the impact of sustained mentorship and inclusive education.

As she puts it, “If I have confidence, I can overcome any difficult situation.”