- Thought Leadership
- Zambia
Nisha strikes a Bharatnatyam classical dance pose.
Each school day, 16-year-old Nisha walks nearly a mile through the slums of Kolkata, India, to her high school. On this walk, she traverses several narrow streets and a busy main road crowded with buses, trucks, cabs, cars, bicyclists and people. But, Nisha doesn’t mind. She looks forward to school and is thankful to be able to complete the daily journey on her own — a goal her parents weren’t sure would ever be possible.
A birth defect damaged her spine, which prevented Nisha’s right leg from developing properly. The crooked leg is much shorter than her left. “She could not walk and had to be supported,” says Nisha’s father, Manoj. “As a baby, people commented a lot. When she began growing up, she was stared at and pitied.”
The first few years of childhood were difficult for her, both physically and mentally. Nisha relied on her mother to carry her to and from school. Except for school, Nisha rarely left the house, which made her miss out on many typical childhood experiences. She had no friends and felt like an outcast. But at 7 years old, she received a donated caliper, an apparatus fitted to her body to take weight off her weak limb and that allowed her to walk with support. It was in 2006, however, that Nisha’s life really changed for the better: She began receiving benefits through Children International.
Nisha believes her sponsor came at just the right time in her life. Children International programs and services empowered her and created something new inside her — hope. “When I was taken into the sponsorship program, I found a new friend,” the teen says of her sponsor. “Getting into the program also opened a new door for me at the community center. Once there, I made friends. People began to accept me, and I was thrilled to be among people who cared for me.”
Nisha helps her younger brother, Sumit, with homework.
Through CI, Nisha also gained more freedom. Because of her arched back, she could not stand straight without support, even with the caliper. So, in 2012, doctors placed a steel rod in her right leg, allowing her to finally stand unaided. More importantly, however, Nisha can dance.
A longtime fan of classical Indian dancing, Nisha now emulates her favorite performers. She has been taking Bharatnatyam dance classes for more than a year and never fails to take part in any event involving dance at the CI community center. “I love the grace and the expressions we use — the ability to express a range of emotions,” Nisha explains. “Dancing teaches me equality — that I am not different from others, even though many may proclaim that.”
Watch Nisha perform a classical Indian dance.
Thanks to the self-confidence Nisha has gained through CI’s youth development programs, she is an inspiration to everyone she meets. The teen credits CI’s Youth Health Corps for helping her meet new people and giving her the opportunity to improve her public-speaking skills. Those skills came in handy when she was chosen to speak at the 2011 United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
The only girl from India to present at the Assembly, Nisha highlighted the plight of children with disabilities and urged widespread acceptance and recognition of disabled people. “I am here to say we have beautiful hearts and hopes and want to soar in the sky,” she says during the speech. She believes children everywhere should receive the same opportunities, “whether they are rich or poor, boy or girl, disabled or not.” Nisha also recommends that governments make society more accessible for the disabled — low-floor buses, easy-to-use public toilets, ramps in public places, etc.
Life changed when she returned home after her trip. Nisha had gone from a “nobody” to someone who was known to speak her mind, not only for herself, but for others like her. “I realized that I had to find my place under the sun,” she shares. “I learned to let go of my half-life and believe in myself.”
Today, Nisha continues to focus on her education; she knows the only way to break the cycle of poverty is to get a degree and a good job. She is studying hard for her grade 10 exams. Once Nisha passes the tests, she will be awarded her secondary-school completion certificate and will be able to attend college. She hopes to one day become a teacher and looks forward to changing the lives of young people. “Teachers are our first friends and guides,” she explains. “I want to be able to show young people a new path.”
