Social workers are at the heart of child protection, bringing not only professional knowledge but also the experiences, empathy and perspectives that shape how they understand a child’s needs. For Sandhiya, an Accountant-cum-Social Worker at Child Haven International, a Child Care Institution (CCI) in Tamil Nadu, that understanding is deeply personal. Her journey has taken her from being a child who once needed support to becoming someone who now supports others.
After losing her mother, Sandhiya and her siblings entered institutional care, where they received education, care and stability. But that also taught her what institutional care could not replace: the presence of family, someone to listen to her, talk to her and help her cope during a difficult time.
Sandhiya once dreamed of becoming a Chartered Accountant. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she began asking herself, “What am I going to do for society?” In 2023, that question brought her to Child Haven International. Her work with children showed her that care cannot stop at food, education and a safe place to stay. She began supporting children with emotional well-being, confidence and life skills, while pursuing a Master’s in Social Work alongside her professional responsibilities.
Her family strengthening work is rooted in direct engagement with families. She has worked with around 50 families to understand their circumstances and explain government schemes and entitlements that could ease some of the challenges they face, while using these conversations to understand their needs firsthand and connect them with relevant support. This work allows her to address the challenges affecting a family’s ability to care for their child, rather than focusing only on the child’s immediate needs.
Sandhiya hopes to continue serving children in greater capacities, including one day as a government officer working in child welfare and protection. Her journey from receiving care to becoming someone who provides it shows how support received at one stage of life can become a purpose in another. As she puts it, “Every child deserves more than survival. They deserve a family, a future, and someone who believes in them.”