The Girls of Happy Home….Then & NOW
Many of the girls who came to Happy Home as young children are now graduates, professionals, teachers, and independent young women.
Through education, safety, love, and the support of generous donors, their lives have transformed in beautiful ways.
Here are a few of their journeys.
Swetha arrived at Happy Home as a young child from Nutamadugu village in Anantapur district which is 90 km from Puttaparthi Happy Home, Because her father condones gender-based violence, her parents attempted to drown her in a nearby lake before abandoning her.
Her aunt recommended her to Happy Home, and she has since excelled in her studies. She is ranked fourth in her 4th semester class. She completed her Bachelor of Business in Aviation program this year with excellent grades and hopes to work in airport ground staff.
Swetha and her brother Vishnu came from an uneducated family that struggled financially and could not afford to send their children to school. They lived in a village where opportunities and safety for girls were limited, and their mother faced ongoing health challenges, making life even more difficult for the family.
Because of their circumstances, Swetha and Vishnu were expected to work in the fields to help support the family’s daily needs instead of receiving an education. When one of the Happy Home aunties discovered them working in the fields, she brought them to Happy Home so they could have the opportunity to study, grow, and build independent futures.
Today, Swetha has successfully completed her graduation and will be pursuing her MBA this year — a remarkable milestone in her journey of strength, perseverance, and hope.