July 2006. J*, a 12 year old tribal boy left his studies in 2004 from 4th standard due to poverty and parental pressure to supplement family income. He crushes stones in a quarry, on a hillside and in a forest. He does hard work without any safety measures for 7-8 hours a day. He barely makes 15-20 rupees (0.35 US$). He crushes stones, stores it and waits for a contractor who only pays Jaga in full sometimes, other times partly.

His father, an illiterate, landless casual laborer only has a 2 small room/wild straw thatched house without a cow, goat, hen or other assets. Jaga's mother is also illiterate as is her daughter of 17 years. She works in trucks, forestry and other agriculture fields. They live in a small treeless hill side village called Bhaluchua, Redhakhol, Sambalpur, Orissa, India.

ASHA, through the WI CIRCLE Project, built an enabling environment and motivated the children towards education. As a result, J was interested to resume his education by enrolling himself in his village based non-formal school on 5th July 2006. He had decided to continue his studies, and at the same time work less hours. Doing so will help him enroll in a nearby formal school in future. His effort, parents' motivation, and project initiative will reopen the blocked path once again for building his bright future.

Funding provided by the United States Department of Labor under cooperative agreements E-9-K-2-0048 and E-9-K-4-0005.
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