Nausin Banu, one of five children of Aminoddin and Rehana Banu, is a native of Naribol village, Jewargi taluk, Kalaburagi. The family lives in abject poverty due to their insufficient income and irregular jobs. After attending the local Anganwadi (government early childcare centre), Nausin became irregular at school and eventually dropped out.
On 16 September 2014, the Anganwadi supervisor informed CHILDLINE that Nausin had dropped out of school because of her home situation. During their verification visit to Nausin’s house, CHILDLINE and the Don Bosco staff found that she was left in charge of her 3 younger siblings, the house chores, and was often made to assist her parents on the farm. Responding to the counselling of the CHILDLINE staff about educating their children for their holistic development, Nausin’s parents consented to her joining the Don Bosco Rehabilitation Centre at Bablad, Kalaburagi. Nausin went through a one-year bridge course education and was then admitted to Don Bosco School, Bablad, where she completed grade 5. An enthusiastic student, she kept up her studies through various schools, finally completing her SSLC (10 th grade) examination amidst the COVID 19 pandemic in 2020 with a score of 89.12%.
Nausin expresses her joy at the privilege of her education, which many children in similar situations have lost. The timely intervention of the Anganwadi supervisor, CHILDLINE and the bridge school education have contributed to her success. She is grateful to all who played a key role in her life and the Don Bosco institutions which helped her develop into a self-reliant girl. She remembers gratefully how the emotional support of the Don Bosco staff and teachers helped her adjust to the new environment, lifestyle and learning at the institution. Though Nausin faced a lot of criticism and discouragement, her parents believe in her potential more than ever, which has built the confidence to pursue her higher education in the Sciences. She desires to become an officer in the Indian Police Service (IPS) and has an intense passion for cricket. She feels that her dreams have wings and she can fly.
