At 13 years old, Sabera Begum should be worrying about her Class VI exams and the rules of the playground. Instead, she carries a number that haunts her doctors and teachers alike: 21.2 kg.

To put that in perspective, it is the weight of a seven-year-old. Yet, inside this fragile frame lives the mind of a future protector, a girl who dreams of becoming a police officer to uphold justice in the very streets where her father sells popcorn to survive.​

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For Sabera, the greatest barrier to her dream isn't a lack of books, it’s a lack of fuel. Sabera is a victim of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), a condition that doesn’t just shrink her body, it also dims her sharp mind. When a child’s body is in survival mode, it borrows energy from the brain to keep the heart beating.

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“I want to be a police officer,” Sabera says, her voice quiet but firm. “I want to make sure people are safe.”

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Despite battling chronic fatigue and the constant threat of illness, Sabera scored 54 out of 60 in her recent assessments. Imagine what she could achieve if her body wasn't fighting itself just to stay upright.​ Her parents didn't move to Hyderabad to see their daughter struggle but for a better life. Her father’s daily earnings from selling popcorn and her mother’s wages as a helper barely cover the rent, leaving no room for the food she needs. Without help, sickness and fog will steal her future. Sabera is holding on through sheer grit, but grit cannot replace calories.

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Youth Feed India steps in as her savior. Our plan begins with immediate nutritional recovery, daily calorie-dense supplements and iron to treat her anemia and help her gain weight safely. To ensure this works, monthly medical check-ups track her recovery from exhaustion. Finally, a welfare hostel next year guarantees steady meals and safety, finally allowing her to focus fully on her dream of becoming a police officer.

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Sabera has already done the hardest part. She has shown up every day and maintained a 90% average while her body was failing her. She has the discipline required to become a police officer; she just lacks the physical strength to get there.

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Your support provides the food and medical care that will allow her to grow. It turns a girl who is currently at risk statistic back into a student with a future. We aren't just trying to help her survive the week; we are helping her reach the academy. Would you like to contribute to Sabera's monthly nutrition and help her reach a healthy weight for her age?