Her hands were meant to hold books — not bricks.

Rukhsar was 13 when we met her at a construction site.
She wasn’t working officially — just “helping” her mother carry gravel and mix cement, barefoot, under the scorching sun. She smiled shyly when spoken to but avoided eye contact whenever we mentioned school.

She had studied till Class 3. Then her father fell ill. Her younger siblings needed care. One thing led to another — and education became a memory.

“School?” she said. “That’s for others now.”

Rukhsar had accepted her reality — that children from labour families don’t get second chances.
She didn’t complain. But in that silence, we heard something deeper than words. A longing. A pause when we asked, “Do you remember how to write your name?”

That’s where our Educate the Forgotten campaign stepped in.

It started with one notebook.

We brought her a simple learning kit: a schoolbag, a set of notebooks, pencils, and colouring crayons. It wasn’t flashy — but to Rukhsar, it was magic. She clutched the bag tightly, like something she was afraid to lose again.

Our volunteers began visiting her regularly, teaching her under a shaded corner of the site during her free hours. She picked up quickly. Her handwriting returned. Her eyes started lighting up when she learned something new.

Then came the second chance.

After three months of consistent learning and gentle encouragement, we connected her to a local bridge school. Rukhsar was nervous. But we stood with her through enrollment, helped her get a uniform, and spoke to the teachers.

Today, Rukhsar is back in school. She carries her schoolbag proudly, walks with confidence, and even helps her younger siblings with their letters.

She wants to become a teacher one day — “so other girls like me don’t have to forget their names.”

This is why we educate — not just to teach, but to restore belief.

There are thousands of children like Rukhsar — bright, capable, and stuck in cycles they didn’t choose. A small donation, a simple school kit, a few hours of tutoring can open doors they thought were forever closed.