Sonali’s Story

 Despite many hardships in her family, Sonali Bin continues her education with strong determination to build a bright future. She is a regular member of the Brahmaputra Kishor Kishori Manabadhikar Cendra in Katakhali, Mymensingh, and currently a first-year student at Mymensingh Commerce College.

Sonali’s family consists of six members and her parents, one brother, and three sisters. Her mother is a housewife, and her father is a farmer who cultivates land on lease from others to meet the family’s needs. However, with such a limited income, it becomes difficult to fulfill everyone's needs, especially the educational expenses. Sonali often struggles to meet these academic requirements, which poses a barrier to her dream of moving forward in life.

Support from the project brought new hope and energy into her stagnant life and became a beacon of light on her path. Her family found a place of trust. Along with financial aid, the project also provided her with knowledge through workshops on moral values and human rights. These sessions made her more focused on her studies and helped her achieve better academic results.

She says, The knowledge I gained from the workshops made me aware of my rights and taught me how to become a person with human values. Participating in the workshops led her to discover a new version of herself. The activities run by the PERM project made her more confident and courageous in pursuing her dreams. It also inspired her to do something for underprivileged people.

Sonali expresses, This year, not receiving the stipend and frequently falling ill had a huge financial impact on our already struggling family. As a result, I couldn’t pay my college tuition and the year-end exam fees. A decision was made to stop my education and arrange my marriage instead.

This sudden interruption in her studies and the shattering of her dreams left her deeply depressed. She shared her problem with a support worker from the project. The worker spoke to her family and arranged emergency educational support. With this help, her outstanding tuition and exam fees were paid, allowing her to return to her studies. She says this support encouraged her to become even more dedicated to her education.

Sonali is known not only as a good student but also as a talented dancer. She often performs in events held in her area and at her college, winning the hearts of audiences. She also teaches dance to children in her community with sincerity and without any fee.

Speaking about her dreams and future plans, Sonali says, I want to become an ideal teacher and a social worker, working for the rights of neglected and deprived children so they can grow up in a joyful and safe environment.

She expresses her gratitude for the selfless support from the PARM project, saying, No one is truly weak. Every person has dreams and desires. They just need courage and a little opportunity to fulfill them. I believe if the PARM project continues to stand beside underprivileged people like this, they will have a real chance to build a hopeful future.