HYDERABAD: Tragedy struck them early in life, but these children have managed to weather the storm to forge ahead in life. R Poojitha is only 14 and has been in an orphanage for the past four years. But that did not stop her from embarking on her entrepreneurial journey. Her venture, ‘ RMP Flowers ’, sells bouquets made from exotic flowers and herbs.
The class 9 student and her sister, who is in class 8, were sent to the orphanage in 2020 after their father allegedly killed their mother and a disabled sister. She said she was sad and angry all the time. “Now, I am happy and confident that I can stand on my own feet,” Poojitha said. A Vinay Kumar, founder and executive director of Touch Foundation, said, “Poojitha was moody and did not talk to anyone back then. From that, to starting her own venture now is a big leap.”
While shadows from the past do sometimes hang heavy, the teen is elated to start her own business along with her friends. “We make bouquets using flowers and herbs from the orphanage’s garden,” she told TOI, adding that she wants to be a doctor.
Like Poojitha, there are other children at Touch Foundation orphanage who have started their own businesses. These children are provided with a seed amount of Rs 1,000 by Young Tinker Foundation to execute their ideas and create the initial product. The foundation also started Young Tinker Space at the orphanage to support their ventures.
“I sold five handmade photo frames at International Startup Festival 2024, held in Hyderabad a few months back. The number is small, but it gave a big boost to my confidence,” said S Yashaswi, who along with other children makes frames with reused materials such as paper, cardboard and stones for their firm‘RDY Framers Company’. The class 10 student, along with her brother and sister, was sent to the orphanage by relatives over three years ago after their parents succumbed to Covid-19.
“I used to think that we are forced to live in an orphanage as we do not have anyone. Now, I want to do well in life and take care of my brother and sister,” she said. Yashaswi and her team watches videos and consults their teachers during spare time to learn about designing different types of frames for their firm, ‘RDY Framers Company’.
Md Mahabub, who has been at the orphanage since his father died 10 years ago, is pursuing a vocational course and plans to sell eco-friendly shampoo from the soap nut trees near the hostel.He said they plan to tie up with local shops to sell the product.
The class 9 student and her sister, who is in class 8, were sent to the orphanage in 2020 after their father allegedly killed their mother and a disabled sister. She said she was sad and angry all the time. “Now, I am happy and confident that I can stand on my own feet,” Poojitha said. A Vinay Kumar, founder and executive director of Touch Foundation, said, “Poojitha was moody and did not talk to anyone back then. From that, to starting her own venture now is a big leap.”
While shadows from the past do sometimes hang heavy, the teen is elated to start her own business along with her friends. “We make bouquets using flowers and herbs from the orphanage’s garden,” she told TOI, adding that she wants to be a doctor.
Like Poojitha, there are other children at Touch Foundation orphanage who have started their own businesses. These children are provided with a seed amount of Rs 1,000 by Young Tinker Foundation to execute their ideas and create the initial product. The foundation also started Young Tinker Space at the orphanage to support their ventures.
“I sold five handmade photo frames at International Startup Festival 2024, held in Hyderabad a few months back. The number is small, but it gave a big boost to my confidence,” said S Yashaswi, who along with other children makes frames with reused materials such as paper, cardboard and stones for their firm‘RDY Framers Company’. The class 10 student, along with her brother and sister, was sent to the orphanage by relatives over three years ago after their parents succumbed to Covid-19.
“I used to think that we are forced to live in an orphanage as we do not have anyone. Now, I want to do well in life and take care of my brother and sister,” she said. Yashaswi and her team watches videos and consults their teachers during spare time to learn about designing different types of frames for their firm, ‘RDY Framers Company’.
Md Mahabub, who has been at the orphanage since his father died 10 years ago, is pursuing a vocational course and plans to sell eco-friendly shampoo from the soap nut trees near the hostel.He said they plan to tie up with local shops to sell the product.
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