Bahula’s story

Bahula was only eight when she came to our partner’s home—small, frail, and living with HIV. A cruel inheritance from her mother’s time in sexual slavery.

Found in the brothels of Southern Asia, Bahula’s early childhood was shaped by danger, fear, and circumstances no child should encounter. Her mother wanted a better life for her daughter, so when the opportunity arose for Bahula to leave, her mother let her go.

The scars of her past ran deep. She had never set foot in a classroom before. Bahula had no idea how to read or count.

At the Academy run by our local partners, Bahula struggled to even hold a pencil correctly. Learning was overwhelming at first, but her teachers were filled with patience, cheered for her smallest victories, and celebrated her steady growth.

Her first term exam became turning point. Every child in the class finished early, but Bahula sat at her desk for two and a half hours, determined to finish. When results came in, her teacher wept—with joy. Bahula had scored 80%.

Years passed. With each new subject, each new test, Bahula rose. She graduated, then earned her Bachelor’s degree. Today, she walks into a classroom not as a student, but as a teacher—guiding others with the same celebration, grace, and patience she once received.

Bahula is no longer a child hidden or lost in the shadows. Instead, she is a woman filled with purpose and grace. Leading others into the light, but God has yet to finish writing her story.