In a small village in Rajasthan, where girls rarely made it past primary school, a young Sarfaraj dreamed of a different life. Born in 1975 into a modest family, she studied up to Grade 8, defying expectations, until the relocation of her school made the long daily walk impossible, forcing her to leave her education behind and putting her dreams on hold.

Life took another turn in 1992, when she was married at just 17. She was still adjusting to this new life when her husband passed away the following year. Grief-stricken and barely an adult herself, Sarfaraj suddenly found herself alone, navigating a future she hadn’t imagined. In the face of loss, she chose courage. She adopted her sister’s son and took up tailoring work to support her new family—quietly putting her own aspirations on hold once again.

Years passed. Then one day in 2012, something unexpected happened for her. A Pratham team member visiting her community spoke about the Second Chance program—a pathway for older girls and women who had left school early to complete their secondary education. The long-lost dream of finishing her studies stirred awake. With hesitant hope, Sarfaraj approached her father-in-law for permission. But his answer was a firm no.

Still, she didn’t give up. For two years, she gently but persistently asked again and again. And finally, in 2014, at the age of 39, her family relented. She enrolled in the program and stepped into a classroom again after decades.

She wasn’t alone on this journey. Her son, her biggest cheerleader, sat by her side as they studied together—he taught her math, she helped him revise. In 2015, Sarfaraj passed her Grade 10 exams with 62%. She then went on to complete Grade 12 with 47%, studying in parallel with her son, who was in the same grade that year. Eventually, she pursued and completed a B.A. degree—step by step rebuilding the future she once thought she had lost.

In her final year of college, Pratham offered her a role as a faculty member with the very program that had reignited her dreams. Encouraged by her family, she said yes. Today, Sarfaraj teaches women whose journeys mirror her own—women who thought their time had passed, only to discover it hadn’t.

“Every time one of my students passes her exam, I feel the same joy I felt the day I cleared Grade 10,” she says, smiling.

Sarfaraj’s classroom is more than just a place of learning—it’s a space of hope. Her story, once shaped by loss and struggle, is now a beacon for others seeking a second chance. She didn’t just rewrite her own story; she’s helping others do the same—with every lesson, every word of encouragement, every shared dream.