I am Smritikona Hansda, a 24-year-old B. Sc nursing student from Gonpada Village, West Medinipur District, West Bengal. Currently I am pursuing my 4 years course in Manisha School of Nursing, Shilanagar, Vishakhapatnam. I hail from a tribal family and my parents are migrant workers in Tamil Nadu. My sister and myself, we live at our uncle’s place, and we have no means of sustenance except for the income from daily labor. The economic hardships have compelled us to stay away from our parents. But my desire to do something in life was accomplished when GNWT approached the youth encouraging them to pursue career related courses as well as help the needy youth to enroll in such courses. I willingly expressed to pursue B. Sc nursing in 2018. At present my sister is also pursuing nursing and we are extremely happy that we can make our parents proud, and they don’t have to stay apart to sustain our family. I’m extremely thankful to GNWT for all their support, guidance and encouragement. GNWT has not only extended its moral support but also provided financial support at every moment of our need during the course.

I am Sukumoni Besra, from Bejda village, West Medinipur District, West Bengal. I hail from a tribal background and by occupation I am a tailor as well as a homemaker. Being from a remote and backward region, I was married off at the young age of 14 years. My family lived in great economic hardship, and we migrated to southern states for livelihood. We raised our three daughters with great difficulty; sometimes we didn’t even have enough money to buy a day’s meal. Since I studied up to class 4, and didn’t know how to read and write, so selling my labour was the only source of income. But in 2018, GNWT started with a tailoring awareness programme, and just like any other woman; I too eagerly joined the meeting to learn about the course. Though I was uneducated but my passion for tailoring did not die out. I enrolled and pursued tailoring at GNWT for more than a year, during which the teacher provided me immense support to master the art of measuring and cutting. During the training, I had the privilege to stitch mask and clothes, from which I earned around 2 to 3 thousand rupees per month. Post training, GNWT supported me to start my own business at home and later GNWT Secretary appointed me as a tailoring assistant at a new tailoring centre in Manoharpur. GNWT has pulled me out of my poor socio-economic status as well as helped me be an example to other women in the village. Today I financially contribute to the needs of my family; I can support my child’s education, their necessities as well as support my own medical treatments. Thank you GNWT.

I am Lokhi Das, from Doasti Village, West Medinipur district, West Bengal. From July 2021, I am working at GNWT as a Field Animator. I am the eldest among the 6 siblings and am married to a nearby village after my higher studies. My husband is a vendor, and we hardly had a proper source of income. I was always passionate about pursuing a career or completing post-graduation, which I couldn’t, due to family responsibilities. During a field visit, the animators informed that there is a vacancy for village women at GNWT for the position of Field Animator. Without a second thought I appeared with all many documents at GNWT Office the following day.
The GNWT Secretary then provided me with the opportunity to work with the people. Within two months, I was able to carry out my duty as a Field Animator. The support received from the Trust through trainings, regular field work and interactive sessions, helped me to capacitate myself with all the essential knowledge and skills as a Field Animator. As a rural woman, stepping out of the house and serving the community was a challenge, which I have now overcome with the help and support of GNWT. Today I can reach out to many women and with my skills have motivated many women to form new SHG groups. GNWT has helped me to not only gain become aware and informed, sharpen my social skills, gain self- confidence and practice self- discipline, but also outgrow as a woman. Today, I am not only financially but also socially empowered, for which I’m highly grateful to GNWT.

I am Ajit Mandi working as the social work animator at Gonpada Navjeevan Welfare Trust for last three years and have been volunteering in social work related activities from the last 6 years. I hail from a rural tribal background and belong to an agricultural family. I have studied up to higher secondary, after which I completed my Diploma in Hotel Management and Spoken English Course from Don Bosco, Keshiapada. My life completely changed in 2014 when I lost my father to an electrocution. Being the eldest in a family of 5, I needed a job to fend for my family. During this period, GNWT Secretary asked whether I was interested to join GNWT as a remedial teacher at Gobra unit. Looking at my extreme passion in outreach and social work activities, the Secretary offered me to work as an Field Animator. During the last 3 years, I had the privilege to attend a lot of training programmes on leadership, communication skills, community mobilization, education, government schemes, etc, as well as exposure programmes that helped me gain a lot of knowledge and experience in discharging my duties towards the people. Today as an Field Animator, I utilize all my gained experience and knowledge in uplifting the marginalized and providing them all the necessary information and suggestions whenever required. GNWT has helped me develop a personality of my own and be recognized in the society. I am highly grateful to GNWT for all their support and encouragement as it has helped me reach at this stage.