Shilpa’s story

Shilpa’s journey is one of resilience and determination, born from the challenges she faced in her early years. Hailing from the Howrah district of West Bengal, her life took a turn when, at the tender age of 7, she was struck by Tuberculous meningitis, a condition caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the same bacterium responsible for tuberculosis (TB). Unfortunately, the aftermath of this illness led to a decline in her vision, eventually resulting in partial blindness. With the loss of her father and her mother being a homemaker, the responsibility of providing for the family fell upon her elder brother, the sole breadwinner.

In 2019, Shilpa’s path intersected with Sightsavers India’s Inclusive Education (IE) team, marking the beginning of a transformative journey. She received Information and Communications Technology training and other resources to aid her education. A pivotal moment came when she was given a laptop containing class-appropriate content in accessible formats just before her Board Exams. With support from her school, teachers, special educators, and most notably, her family, especially her mother, Shilpa passed her class X board exams with flying colours and secured admission into Class XI.

Her academic prowess continued to shine as she achieved remarkable results in her Higher Secondary board exams. Today, she is a First-Year student pursuing her education. Remaining closely connected with the project team, Shilpa’s eagerness to learn Microsoft Office has enabled her to proficiently navigate MS Word and MS Excel.

Shilpa’s enthusiasm for education knows no bounds, which is evident in her consistent participation in various educational programs. She wants to become a teacher.