Little Nimeshika*, lived with her parents and siblings in the Wellawaya district. At the age of 16, she was sexually abused by her own father which left her troubled and hopeless with no direction in life and in severe mental distress.
Through counselling sessions twice a month, LEADS noticed a considerable amount of improvement in her conduct. This led to her reaching her highest potential in academia, so much so that she obtained merit awards for 6 subjects in her examination.
With the results she obtained in high school, she was able to pursue higher education. As she was not permitted to reside in her home legally, LEADS officials were requested to refer Nimeshika to a vocational training centre with accommodation facilities. After informing the probation officers, a suitable centre was found in the Badulla district where she wrote the aptitude test for Nursing. Successful in her exam, she was given a spot in the programme. LEADS supported her in providing the referral and full payment including the entrance fee, facility fee, uniforms and residential facilities of the same institution. LEADS continued to support her until the end of her course while also providing her with necessary medical treatments when she fell ill during the period of her course.
Nimeshika walked up to receive her cap in the nurse’s capping ceremony with immense happiness. She is currently receiving practical training after successfully completing her degree. Looking back on her journey, she went from being hopeless about her future to now becoming a beacon of hope by serving her community as a healthcare worker.
*The name of the child has been changed to protect her identity.
