"Anywhere but school" - Kanchan

Kanchan with her new sewing machine

Social worker Shalini, visited Kanchan (rescued when she was 14 from a brothel in Uttar Pradesh in April 2023). Shalini also met with Kanchan's sister, her sister's children, and Kanchan's aunt. A few days earlier, Kanchan received a sewing machine from us, and she was thrilled and grateful. But when Shalini inquired about school, Kanchan's expression changed, and she became irritable. She said he was open to being tutored, but she was adamant against attending school. Kanchan said she wants to get married in a few years. Shalini suggested she focus on learning for now and asked if Kanchan wanted to attend sewing or cosmetology classes; Kanchan said she was open to sewing but not cosmetology.

Kanchan's aunt joined the conversation and shared that Kanchan is often irritable, goes days without talking to them, and refuses to eat when they bring up the topic of school.

When we first rescued her, Kanchan was very eager to attend school, so this seems out of character for her. Shalini will visit her again in a few days to further inquire what is bothering Kanchan and why she is apprehensive about attending school.