Seeds Of change
After father’s death, 5 children find new hope through Kashmir’s support network
In south Kashmir’s Shopian district, the story of 11-year-old Nyla Ahad and her family speaks volumes about resilience and community support.
Left vulnerable by the untimely death of their father and breadwinner, the family’s transformation through coordinated intervention efforts is an example of the profound impact of integrated child protection systems.
“Every child deserves a chance at education and a stable home life,” says an HWVO representative, the implementing agency of the initiative of UNICEF toward building mechanisms of community-based care for children vulnerable in Jammu and Kashmir.
The challenges began six years ago when Nyla’s father passed away, leaving her mother—originally from Azadpora in PoK—to shoulder the responsibility of raising five children alone. Despite securing employment at a medical shop through community support, the mother’s deteriorating mental health and heart conditions made sustaining the family increasingly difficult.
The turning point came when the Child Protection Group (CPG) Alamgunj identified the vulnerability of the family. Working through UNICEF’s supported project, HWVO implemented a comprehensive case management approach, carefully tailored to address both immediate needs and long-term stability.
Knowing that education could be the route out of this cycle of poverty, CPG Alamgunj started a regular contribution of Rs 1000 toward Asiya’s sister, Nyla’s, education. And so, starting with this regular contribution, various institutions began providing support. Thorough documentation and advocacy helped ensure that Nyla’s story reached multiple networks, which further produced outstanding benefits.
The impact has been transformative. The monthly scholarship given to Nyla is now Rs 4000 by Mission Vatsalya. “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” scheme gave Rs 15,000 towards her academic year 2023. More contributions from “Orphans in Need” brought Rs 7600 as the first four-monthly payment. The organisation sponsored Nyla’s brothers as well and paid them monthly scholarships of Rs 1900 each.
Today, four family members—Nyla along with three of her siblings—have regular sponsorship support, ensuring a stable platform for their future. The children’s academic growth and overall wellbeing are monitored at regular intervals by the HWVO team.
This success story shines light on the power of coordinated community intervention. This started from a critical situation that went on to become one vital model for effective child protection and family support. Nyla’s changed family serves as one transformative example of how targeted interventions can actually create long-term, positive change in vulnerable communities if properly planned, implemented, and monitored.
According to a representative of UNICEF, “The secret of sustainable change lies in thorough support systems, concentrating on both short-term needs and sustainability in the long term.” When we empower families, we empower entire communities. As Nyla and her siblings pursue their education with renewed hope, it is the victorious story that testifies to the efficiency of community-based child protection mechanisms and the power of cumulative support systems.
