Standing Up for Yourself and Your Children

— an interview by Ruchi Khanna

Nidhi* lives with domestic violence. She has been part of Sambhali Trust for several years, but her husband always opposed her going to the Fatima Empowerment Center, so she had stopped going for a while. Nidhi recently defied all the odds and decided to stand up for herself and her children by re-enrolling in the sewing center and education classes at Fatima.

Ruchi: Why are you associated with Sambhali?

Nidhi: I come here to learn so that I can graduate from here and have the necessary skills and education to have a job and earn my livelihood.

Ruchi: Why did you come back to the Fatima Center despite the fact your husband is against it?

Nidhi: Coming to the center is like therapy for me. The chit chats with my fellow classmates and inspiration from my teachers keeps me positive. When I am here I forget all the hardship I have to face at home.

Ruchi: What is proud moment for you at the Center?

Nidhi: Learning to sew is a blessing for me. The dress I am wearing was sewn by me and now I get to save all that money that I used to pay to my tailor. Not only this, I can sew dresses for my daughter.

Ruchi: What is the biggest hurdle you faced in life that you would not want your kids to face?

Nidhi: I was married off at a very young age even before I had a chance to go to high school. Being illiterate is the biggest hurdle of my life. I have put my kids, an eleven-year-old girl and and eight-year-old boy, in school. They continue get educated and hope I can support them financially with my earnings from sewing.

Ruchi: What is your goal that you want to achieve at the end of the program?

Nidhi: The goal I want to achieve is to be able to be financially independent and not have to beg my abusive husband to support education expenses for my children. 

*Nidhi’s name has been changed because of the sensitivities of her situation.