"Before my final exam in grade 10, I decided to stop studying and look for work. But I couldn't, or rather, they wouldn't let me," said Ashfaque with a beaming smile on her face.
Just before his final exams in class 10, Ashfaque's life fell apart at the seams. His family's financial difficulties, in which his father's earnings as a rickshaw driver were barely enough to keep the family afloat, weighed heavily on his shoulders.
For 18-year-old Ashfaque, who lives with his parents and four siblings in a slum near Tala Park, education seemed like a distant dream. His father, the only breadwinner in the family, struggled to make ends meet.
As the eldest of five siblings, Ashfaque felt the burden of responsibility. Desperate, he decided to drop out of school and look for work. "I thought that was the only way I could help."
But against all odds, Ashfaque's success story was only just beginning, because the teachers at Calcutta Rescue Education Projects are extremely hard-working, motivating and even persistent when it comes to supporting their students.
Since Ashfaque and his siblings were four years old, Calcutta Rescue has been there for them, providing access to education, nutrition and healthcare. Our organization played a crucial role in his life and ensured that he received the support he needed to continue his education, even when he was ready to give up.
"Ashfaque is a good student and we knew we couldn't give up on him," said Subhajit, the principal of the Tala Park Education Project.
Encouraged by his teachers, Ashfaque reconsidered his decision to leave school. He decided to challenge himself even more by opting for the science stream after Year 10. "It wasn't easy, but with the support of my teachers and my own love of learning, I knew I had to keep going," Ashfaque says.
With hard work and perseverance, Ashfaque scored an impressive 72% in his Grade 12 final exams. Alongside his school studies, he began preparing for the Joint Entrance Examination to realize his dream of becoming an engineer. "I know the road ahead won't be easy, but I'm ready for it. I've come this far and I'm not stopping now."
His dedication and achievements have not gone unnoticed. Ashfaque was awarded a scholarship from the Telegraph School Awards for his outstanding academic achievements. "I couldn't have done this without my teachers at Calcutta Rescue. I am so grateful for everything they did," he says, thinking back to the support that carried him through his most difficult moments.