I was born and brought up in the quiet, rugged hills where life was simple but full of limitations. Education was scarce, opportunities were few, and our living conditions were just enough to fill our stomachs — often with food that carried very little nutritive value. Growing up in such an environment, dreaming beyond survival felt impossible. But even in the most remote corners, hope sometimes arrives in unexpected forms. For me, that hope came through Sunbird Trust.
I still remember those early teenage days when we received nutrition at school every alternate day. For many, it was just an egg. But for me and my siblings, it was precious — so precious that we would save a little and take it home so our parents could enjoy something nutritious at least once a month. Those moments taught me the meaning of love, sacrifice, and how even the smallest blessings can feel like miracles.
School life slowly began to change with the arrival of teachers from other parts of India. They came with patience, kindness, and a determination to help us understand even the simplest lines in our textbooks. Bit by bit, I began to see the world differently. Watching them taught me that life outside our hills was wider and filled with possibilities. Their dedication motivated me to work harder, to dream of a life like theirs — secure, educated, and hopeful.
Beyond nutrition, Sunbird Trust became the foundation of my education. With their sponsorship from my Class 10+1 until my graduation, a world that once felt unreachable suddenly became open to me. Education stopped being just about reading and writing; it became my window into the diverse ways people live across India. I began observing the habits, kindness, discipline, and values of the teachers and mentors I met. I copied the good things they practiced and slowly introduced them into my own life and family.
After graduation, I interned with Sunbird Trust in different verticals, working under various mentors who shaped me in more ways than I expected. I learned leadership, professionalism, and communication. I learned how independent a girl can become when she is empowered. I learned the importance of self-love — something rarely discussed in traditional, gender-based systems in remote communities. The mentors who guided me helped me understand that accepting people for who they are is important, and that it is okay to think differently.
Each experience helped me grow — sometimes slowly, sometimes painfully — but always in the right direction. I became stronger, more aware, more confident. I began to see myself not as a child limited by her circumstances, but as a young woman capable of becoming a better version of herself every single day.
To me, education is not just the ability to read or write. It is the courage to step out of your comfort zone, the willingness to learn and unlearn, and the understanding that life will knock you down — but you can rise again. It is knowing that it is okay not to be okay at times, and it is okay to fall, as long as you rise with a little more strength than before.
From a small hill village with limited resources to becoming who I am today, my journey has been shaped by kindness, opportunity, and resilience. And each day, I continue growing — carrying with me the hope that changed my life, and the desire to share that hope with others.
About the author:
S. Kezia Briamtak hails from Pungmon village and works as a Junior Associate — Sponsorship at Sunbird Trust. She has been associated with the organisation as a sponsored student since her secondary education and holds a B.Sc. in Agriculture from Phonics Group of Institutions, Roorkee, Uttarakhand. Passionate about cooking, gardening, and working close to nature, Kezia aspires to become an agricultural entrepreneur and grow in the field of sustainable livelihoods.
