Last year, I met Maya ( changed Name), a young girl whose spirit shone brighter than her circumstances. In a picture, she sits in the middle, her wheelchair a silent testament to the challenges she faced. Maya used to spend her days collecting garbage, never imagining that one day she would walk through the doors of a school. But what set her apart was her deep love for books. She would gather them from wherever she could find them, carefully flipping through the pages, even though she couldn’t read a word.
One day, I asked her, “Do you want to go to school?” Her answer was simple, yet it carried the weight of unspoken dreams: “Abba won’t allow it.” I then asked, “What if I convince your Abba? Would you come to school?” With that, a journey began. After speaking with her parents, Maya was finally enrolled at Basta Foundation’s school. It was there that her true potential started to shine. She excelled in her studies, surprising everyone with her determination and passion for learning.
But fate had more challenges in store. Last week , just before her final exams, Maya was on her way to school with her sister. A truck tragically hit her, running over her foot and leaving it crushed beyond recognition. Doctors were ready to amputate her leg, but we refused to let her dreams slip away like that. We moved from one hospital to the next, hoping for a miracle. After three major surgeries, Maya’s foot was saved, and throughout the ordeal, her concern was never for herself, but for her exams. Each time she regained consciousness, she asked with a quiet determination, “Can I still go to write my exam?”
Through sheer will and the support of those around her, Maya fought on. Today, she is not just a survivor but a symbol of strength and resilience. She celebrated Holi with the Basta Foundation, surrounded by people who believe in her. As she continues on her path to recovery, she needs our blessings to fuel her future. Maya’s story is one of unimaginable courage, where a little girl, more concerned about her education than her injuries, showed us all what it truly means to never give up on our dreams.
