When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, 12-year-old Susma’s eyes sparkled. “I want to be a teacher,” she said with enthusiasm. Perhaps it’s because of the inspiring relationship she has with Tulsi Miss, the school’s science teacher, and Susma’s personal favourite.
Susma’s smile and eagerness to learn are welcome gifts for her parents Buddhi and Arjun, who work tirelessly to provide for her and her 10-year-old brother Sundar. Despite their hard work — Buddhi washes dishes by hand in a hotel and Arjun works as a construction labourer — they did not make enough money for fees to send Susma and her brother to school. Hearing about the Asha Vidhyashram School, with its free, high-quality education, was such a lifeline for the family.
“We wanted to send them to a private school,” Buddhi shared, “but it was impossible because of our financial condition. Without the free school fees, it would be hard for Susma and Sundar to have an education.”
A typical day for the family begins early. Buddhi wakes up no later than 5 a.m., has a quick cup of black tea and a biscuit for breakfast, and is off to work a morning shift from 5:15 a.m. to 8 a.m., while Arjun is off to work at 5:30 a.m. Buddhi then heads home to elp Susma and her brother don their blue school uniforms before taking the 10-minute walk to school.
Her mother beams with pride as she describes the impact of the school on her aughter. “She has gained so much knowledge and enjoys learning every day.” Susma was excited to share that she passed her recent end-of-year science exam, even though she thought she wouldn’t. A fan of football and drawing, Susma looks forward to sharing time with her family, especially when her mother makes potato curry — her favourite.
Susma recently graduated from the school in April 2025 and made her parents even more proud by gaining a scholarship to secondary school, an honour reserved for students who perform well in their studies and whose parents make less than £3 per day.
