Miracle Foundation India’s Youth Ambassadors, drawn from Child Care Institutions (CCIs) and local communities, play a vital role in raising awareness about the importance of a family for every child and driving meaningful impact. This month, we celebrate Merlin Sofiya from Tamil Nadu, who became a Youth Ambassador in 2022. 

Born into financial hardship and with a mother battling chronic illness, Merlin was placed in multiple CCIs before finding stability at an institution in Erode. There, she began to thrive, excelling in academics, participating in co-curricular activities, and growing into a confident young woman. With consistent support from her CCI and Miracle Foundation India, Merlin actively participated in Life Skills Education, which helped her build emotional resilience and develop essential decision-making, communication, and relationship skills. After completing Grade 12, she followed her dream of pursuing justice and was admitted to a Government Law College, Katpadi. She is now enrolled in a five-year BA LLB (Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Legislative Law) program, and regularly visits courts with her seniors to gain hands-on legal exposure.

But Merlin’s impact goes beyond the classroom. As a proud Youth Ambassador with Miracle Foundation India, she now supports other young people transitioning out of care and often speaks at youth group meetings. She shares her journey to inspire hope, facilitates life skills sessions, and provides peer support to children during their reintegration into families or independent living. She was also one of the panel members at a national seminar held in Kochi, Kerala, in October 2024, organized by Don Bosco National Forum for the Young at Risk.

Living near her college with friends and supported by a guardian, Merlin’s journey reflects how the right support, care, and determination can help a child rise above adversity and build a brighter future.