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"They Were Picking Trash, When They Should’ve Been Picking Up Books"
~ Sushil Kumar Meena, Railway Engineer & Founder, Nirbhed Foundation
Every evening after my job as a railway engineer, I walk into the narrow, broken lanes of a slum. Just beside it lies a massive dumping ground — a place most people avoid. But one day, I saw something there I can never forget.
I met a newborn named Yusuf, who was fighting for his life. Doctors warned that without immediate NICU admission, Yusuf wouldn’t survive — he had a critical organ issue and couldn’t breathe properly. His parents, a daily wager and a homemaker, were too poor to afford treatment. Desperate and helpless, they turned to Nirbhed Foundation and pleaded for help. Sushil didn’t hesitate. He stepped in and ensured Yusuf received the urgent care he needed.
Today, Yusuf is alive — and walks into Nirbhed every day, not as a patient, but as a student.
In these slums, children grow up picking trash just to earn enough for one meal. Some beg, some go hungry. I couldn’t watch in silence. I announced in the entire area: “If any child comes and studies—even for two hours—I will feed them for free.” That one promise brought dozens of children to my doorstep.
Today, I teach over 340 children every day and have opened 23 learning centres across India. We've helped over 10,000 children with food, education, and dignity. But now, we need more—more space, teachers, clothes, stationery, and proper learning tools. I’ve used up all my savings to keep this going.
Help me build a future where no child has to choose between food and school. One meal, one book, one child at a time—we can change lives. I can't do this alone. I need you.
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EIN 20-5139364
