Sonu’s story

Inclusion Gave Hope a Name: Sonu

In a quiet village tucked away in the heart of Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, ten-year-old Sonu spent his early childhood surrounded not by playgrounds or classrooms. Born with a visual impairment, his world was confined to the four walls of his home. His parents — his father, a daily wage labourer, and his mother, a homemaker — were heartbroken when the doctors declared their newborn son to be blind. With no guidance and limited means, they watched helplessly as their son remained isolated from the world, unaware of the possibilities that lay beyond.

But Sonu’s story was not meant to remain in the dark.

In 2022, a flicker of hope arrived when his parents heard about a low-vision assessment camp being conducted by the Sightsavers India team in Barhi. Hesitant yet hopeful, they brought Sonu to the camp. There, a team of experts carefully assessed his condition and introduced the family to the idea of braille education and inclusive support — the first real step toward unlocking Sonu’s potential.

What followed was a steady transformation. One of Sightsavers India’s Inclusive Education Facilitators began working closely with Sonu, guiding not just him but also his parents, schoolteachers, and the community. It took patience, persistence, and repeated engagement, but eventually, Sonu was enrolled in Class 1 at a nearby regular school.

The road ahead, however, was far from easy.

Sonu struggled to keep pace in a classroom not built for his needs. Teachers, though well-meaning, lacked the training and resources to support a child with blindness. The infrastructure was unaccommodating, and Sonu once again risked slipping into the margins.

Recognising the need for deeper intervention, Sightsavers India stepped in once more — this time with focused skill-building sessions at a local resource centre. Slowly, Sonu began to find his footing. With the support of sensitised teachers, inclusive learning materials, a braille kit, and continued encouragement, he was reintegrated into school — this time with the confidence to thrive. He also participated in a five-day skill development workshop, learning not just academic tools but life skills that helped him navigate the world with dignity and self-belief.

Today, Sonu is a confident Class 3 student, attending school regularly and excelling in his studies. His teachers speak with pride about his progress. His parents no longer carry the weight of uncertainty — they now carry the joy of watching their son blossom.

What was once a story of isolation has become one of courage and transformation. Because when inclusion is more than a promise — when it’s a practice, a commitment — every child can rise, no matter where they begin.