“I’ve started to believe in myself a little more.”
14 year old Anjali’s early childhood was spent in a rural part of Bihar in eastern India. Village life was simple, but far from easy. Her father had already migrated to Delhi in search of work, while her mother remained in Bihar, working as a cook at a student hostel. When Anjali's mother became seriously unwell and was unable to work, everything changed.
“My mother developed a cyst in her uterus, and because of that, I had to drop out of school.” Anjali explains.
While her older brother managed to continue his studies with support from extended family, Anjali’s own education came to a standstill. At the time, she was too young to fully understand the long-term impact of missing school. Anjali shares; “I didn’t really understand what was happening because I was very young. As I got older and saw other children going to school, I really wanted to go back too.”
In 2018, Anjali and her mother moved to Delhi so her mother could access medical treatment. “My mother came to Delhi to get treatment,” she recalls. After recovering, the family stayed in Delhi and her mother began running a small roadside stall, selling snacks and basic items. To help make ends meet, she also took on piecework* at home, assembling tiny bulb components.
Anjali held onto her desire to return to her education. The opportunity finally came in 2022, when the family met a representative from Toybox's local partner, CHETNA, and heard about the educational support they offer. Anjali enrolled at the project's education centre and for the first time in years, was able to reconnect with her studies. She shares;
“After joining this project, I got to participate in new things like painting, drawing, dance and I was able to resume the studies I had left behind.”
Rejoining formal education wasn’t easy at first. Anjali found English and Maths particularly difficult, but with regular support and encouragement from the project staff, she began to improve. In the 2024–25 academic year, Anaji completed Grade 9. She is now in Grade 10 and has already begun preparing for her exams.
Pictured below: Anjai studying at the education centre.
Anjali shares, “Sir helped me get admission in 7th grade. Now I’ve developed the habit of learning something new every day. Earlier, I was scared to speak in front of others, but now I’ve started to believe in myself a little more.”
With her confidence growing, Anjali started taking part in leadership training at the project and now regularly helps support younger children. She also began exploring co-curricular activities, something she’d never had the chance to do before and became a child reporter for Balaknama, a newspaper run by children.
“I am a reporter with Balaknama. We go on the ground, find news ourselves, and write about it. Through this, I’ve come to understand what’s happening around me, and I’ve also learned how to recognise what’s wrong. Now I feel like I, too, can bring about change.”
Through the project, Anjali has also learned vital life skills, she shares; “I learned how to speak respectfully to elders and how to treat others. I also came to know about child rights. I learned how to protect myself if I ever face a difficult or unsafe situation.”
As she reflects on her journey, Anjali shares one of her happiest memories; “When we were in the village, I used to play kabaddi. Everything changed after coming to Delhi. Back there, we played and had fun.”
Anjali’s story is not just about overcoming hardship —it’s about growing into someone who cares deeply for her community. She shares; “Now I feel like I can understand my surroundings better and also help others."
Today, Anjali supports her mother with her stall and home-based work whenever she can, while also remaining dedicated to her schooling. She shares;
“I want to join the Army. For that, I’m focusing on my studies and getting myself ready for the future.”
From a childhood marked by disruption, illness, and migration, Anjali's future is looking brighter now that she has been able to restart her studies. Through the support of the project, Anajali has not only found a path back to education, but also a belief in her own ability to shape her future.
*Piecework: A system where workers are paid based on the number of items they produce rather than the hours they work.
Pictured below: Anjai studying at the education centre.
