Only the toughest beat the odds - poverty or providence, like Sangeeta Yadav, a school teacher. She had lost her father when she was just six. Coming up the hard way, she vowed to help others like her and empower them with education.
Sangeeta Yadav, now 41, a resident of Malibu Towne residential towers in Gurgaon, is an inspiration and the guiding light for many girls from neighbouring villages. She holds their hands, guides them and gives they assistance to enable them to achieve their goals and make their dreams real.
Born in Gurgaon, Yadav had to struggle as a child after losing her father when she was just in first standard. Her father was an inspector in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and lost his life fighting for the country.
Since then, her life was an uphill challenge. But her mother and brother ensured she was unaffected by it all and allowed her to pursue the dream her father had for her.
“My father left behind his dream not only to see me succeed in life, and today all I have done is followed his dream,” she told City Spidey.
She saw her mother struggle to make ends meet, with the small pension she received as the widow of a CRPF officer.
“My mother faced financial hardships to bring us up. I remember we used to never have the money to take tuitions. I used to study on my own,” she said, adding it could only happen due to her mother and brother.
It was this stretch in life that she realised the importance of education. She completed her bachelor's in Commerce and was soon married. It was her husband who supported her and her further education. Within no time, she became a lecturer of Commerce at St Crispins’s School. She has been teaching there for the past 14 years without a break.
Realising the value of k nowledge, she has decided to make a difference. For this she formed an NGO - LS Foundation - LS standing for "Learn to Serve".
Under the banner of LS Foundation, Yadav visited villages and selected two girls from Khandsa - Ritu Jaiswal and Mamta Nayak – and helped them with money and guidance. Today, Jaiswal is studying at Government Girls' College in Sector 14, Gurgaon, and Nayak in Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi.
“We had never imagined that life would bring such beautiful surprises. This is one of the most valuable experiences in life that I could have ever dreamt of,” said Nayak. Concurred Ritu Jaiswal, “our lives have been transformed.”
Yadav has been trying to give back to society.
Talking about a huge challenge, she said, “If one does not have finance, the only thing that can make you successful in life is education. Opportunities in life do not happen, they have to be created.”
Today, through LS Foundation, she is reaching out to various schools in rural areas, where she offers counselling, motivation and career guidance to children to show them the path ahead.
Striking a perfect balance in her personal life – her husband and two children – and professional and social responsibilities, she said she felt even more motivated now than before, to achieve more.
“My husband has been my greatest motivation, and without his help, I would have been unable to fulfil my father's dream,” Yadav said.
“I hope I am able to make a difference,” she said, signing off.
