Sonia's Story
Today, we introduce you to Sonia Saha.
Sonia was one of the first 16 girls that moved into the Girls Dream Home in 2016. If you’ve visited Kolkata in the last few years, you probably recognize Sonia’s face and you’ve probably met her. Our quiet, but sweet 20-year-old is studying in 10 Standard and just finished her board exams. What this means is that she is essentially finishing her sophomore year of high school and will be testing to go into her junior year before she can be admitted to university.
Her dream is to be a teacher. Math is not her favorite subject but she is working hard to overcome that. She’s working hard to overcome it all.
What a lot of people may not know is that we almost didn’t get to meet Sonia. Her story is one of true recovery and is a true testament to the importance of SEED’s support in the lives of these children.
Sonia’s mother, Sabitri, was a domestic helper who endured terrible abuse from Sonia’s father. When Sonia was 8, Sabitri left the home for Mumbai to work and to escape the abuse. She didn’t take Sonia with her, she left her with her father in the Khalpar Slum. Her father was a hardcore alcoholic and started to inflict physical, emotional and sexual abuse onto his daughter. The same daughter that had assumed the duties of cooking and cleaning and taking care of her father in the absence of her mother. She did this in addition to trying to be a child and continue her education by going to school.
In August of 2015, at the very tender age of 14, Sonia was struggling with depression and unable to handle a minute more of the trauma and abuse from her father. Early one morning, Sonia went outside and tried to commit suicide. Thankfully, her story didn’t end there and thankfully, a neighbor in the slum found her before it was too late.
In January of 2016, the Girls Dream Home was completed and Sonia moved in. In the Dream Home she’s found the safety, stability and love that she has always needed and deserved. She doesn’t have a relationship with her mother and when there is a break from school, she spends those breaks staying with Jaiashree and Piyas. She smiles, she hugs, and she has a hope for her future.
Sonia is already a success, but we are excited to watch her grow even more and some day, fulfill her dream to become a teacher.
Her story is heavy. She had to endure more than a young girl should, but her story is also full of hope. Because of the work of SEED, safety of the Dream Home and your generosity, the trajectory of Sonia’s life has completely changed.