Yashoda: It Takes a Village to Raise a Child
Yashoda's journey began in the quiet village of Welvandipada, nestled in a remote part of Nashik.
The family rejoiced at the birth of a girl, but their hearts sank when they saw her. She had a cleft — a condition unfamiliar to her parents, Pandurang and Jeejabai, and community.
But in their village, no child is ever raised alone, and Yashoda was no exception. When feeding became difficult, someone suggested using cotton swabs. Jeejabai tried it, patiently dabbing milk-soaked swabs on her tongue. It worked, but a tiny cotton swab couldn’t meet all of her baby’s nutritional needs. The family worried how she would mingle with the outer world.
Finally, hope came — from a local legislator, who told them about Smile Train, an NGO that works with local medical centers to help children like Yashoda receive free surgeries and other vital cleft treatment. With his support, they reached Vedant Hospital in Nashik, their local Smile Train partner.
“When we first met the doctor and learned about cleft treatment at zero cost, that day was truly a blessing for us. It restored our faith in humanity,” said Jeejabai.
From there, Yashoda’s journey unfolded not just in operating rooms, but in waiting rooms, classrooms, and playgrounds — spaces filled with people who cared. Hospital staff patiently guided her family through the treatment process; the doctor took all the required care for the best surgery outcome. Orthodontists continued working on her smile. And villagers and friends in the locality kept cheering her on.
Today, Yashoda is nine. She has undergone two surgeries and continues treatment for dental alignment. Her speech is clearer, her confidence bolder, and her dreams even fiercer. She wants to become a teacher so she can stand before a blackboard and teach children the lesson the world has taught her: compassion.
From a mother’s gentle hands to the community’s care, from a leader’s guidance to the doctor's healing touch, Yashoda’s journey proves one timeless truth: ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’
And sometimes, it takes a village to bring a smile, too.
