Padmavathi is a 7th grader at Melpattampakkam Boarding Home. She is a young girl with a spirit as strong as her dreams.

Born to Kalaiselvi, a hardworking hospital sanitary worker, Padmavathi’s life began amidst violence and abuse. Her father, Kaliyamoorthy, burned Kalaiselvi while she was pregnant with Padmavathi, leaving her mother with burns over a quarter of her body. Since then, Kalaiselvi has raised her children alone, and the family has no contact with Kaliyamoorthy. 

Padmavathi has two older brothers, Dhivakar, a 12th grader, and Rajith, a 10th grader, who are currently studying at St. Joseph School. Despite the challenges, Kalaiselvi has always dreamed of seeing Padmavathi become a nurse.

But Padmavathi has her own dream. She wants to become a police officer, driven by a desire to serve and protect. She is also passionate about sports, especially kabaddi, and has even competed at the district level.

However, her journey hasn’t been easy. In 6th standard, she left the boarding home midway through the year. The experience taught her the value of education and the importance of the nutritious food and safe environment she receives at the boarding home. She rejoined in 7th standard with a renewed commitment and now promises to stay until she completes her 12th standard. 

Padmavathi is deeply grateful to her sponsor, Jeff, for his unwavering support. She also thanks LPGM for building the bridge between her and her sponsor, making it possible for her to pursue her dreams. 

Her Future Goals 

Padmavathi is determined to become a police officer. She believes that wearing the uniform will give her the strength to stand up for others and bring justice to those in need.

Her love for kabaddi reflects her courage and team spirit, which are qualities she hopes to carry into her future career. 

While her mother dreams of seeing her in a nurse’s uniform, Padmavathi respectfully holds on to her own vision, hoping one day to make her mother proud in her own way. 

With continued support and her own unwavering determination, Padmavathi is on a path to transform her life and inspire others around her. 

After teaching yoga for eight years and karate for five years, Keerthiga M. decided to pursue her long-time dream of becoming a social worker. After earning a master's degree in social work, she joined the LPGM staff in 2022 and is working at Melpattambakkam boarding home. She loves working with children and hearing the love and care that sponsors have for these students.