My name is Sivasankari, I am19 years old. I live together with my parents and my younger sister in the small village called Thiruchitrambalam. My parents are very poor. My father was working as a security person before he became sick. He is deaf in one ear. Now he is running a small teashop.
I went to government school until 12th grade. Government school is for free. I failed in the 12th grade exams and was very much in despair. I lost my self-confidence and just wanted to stay at home. My father tried to encourage me: “There is a school not far from here where you can learn computer skills.” He had seen the advertisements. “Computers are the future” he said. Then he convinced me to come with him to AIS. First I didn’t want to, but then I agreed. My parents didn’t know how they would be able to pay the school, nevertheless they urged me to go there. And – I was lucky! I got a scholarship for 1 year which was financed by the school. So I started my training in accounting, computer applications and secretaryship. First the training was very hard for me because most of it was held in English and I didn’t understand everything. I also didn’t like the courses because my interest was more in science, I thought I wouldn’t manage. So I was close to giving up, I was not enjoying the training.
One day Lavkamad Chandra, the principal, called me into his office and talked with me about my problems in a very empathic way. I can’t really say what happened, but somehow my whole attitude towards learning changed. I enjoyed the courses, I picked up very well and my English improved. At the end of the one year training I got a price as the best student in Tamil Nadu in the computer course. Parallel to the education at AIS, I prepared for the second attempt of the 12th standard exams, and I passed! My parents are very proud of me and I am very happy that I had this chance to learn.

Your one year training is over, what are you doing now?
I am going to college to study economics (B.Com). I received another scholarship for this college. The Manager of the company my mother was working for is financing my studies. My mother asked him for help and he agreed. I am really lucky, because my parents could not afford to finance the college. When I have finished college, I will work to save money so that I can go to university afterwards. My dream is to become Master of Commerce (M.Com) and earn a lot of money. Then I can support my parents.

Do you want to marry and have a family?
No, I don’t want to marry. If  I have a family, I will have to spend all my time for the family, I don’t want that. I want to be free and independent and go my own way.

What do your parents say to this?
They gave me the possibility to study because they hope that I would have a better future. If they insist that I marry, then I will follow their wish and accept the partner they will choose for me. But only if they really want.

My name is Samlthy, I am 42 years old and Sivasankari’s mother. I am a housewife and have two daughters. Both of them are going to school or college because my husband and I wish that they will have a better life and will stand on their own two feet in future. Despite the fact that we are very poor and my husband is sick, we do everything to give them a proper education. We don’t want that the girls sit at home and wait until they are married. They should stand on their own two feet. That is our deepest wish. We are not saving for gold jewelleries, we are not saving for the marriage or the dowry. A good education is the best “insurance”, so that they will also find a good husband one day. With a good education they can raise their standard of living. That is our wish.

It is unusual to invest so much in the education of your daughters, one day they will have their place in a family and will have to take care of it. What does your family and your neighbours say?
They are shocked! They don’t understand and say: „ How can you waste your money on the education of your daughters! A woman’s place is in the family. That’s how everybody in the village lives and that’s what the society wants.” As my husband is sick , they absolutely don’t understand why we don’t spend our money on medical treatment. But we have decided for the future of our daughters against all odds. Now our relatives don’t contact us anymore.

What do you feel?
My husband and I, we don’t care. Because we know that we are doing the right thing, we are proud and will not surrender. We want to give our children the best chances for the future and don’t think it is good to have them married so young. That is not a good future.

Your daughter says she doesn’t want to get married. What do you think of your daughters will to freedom?
She is still young and she will change her mind later. She also didn’t want to finish the training and then she changed her mind as well. When she gets older, she will see that a family is important for her. We will then look for a good husband for her.