Julekha Shaikh was found by the police in an accident on the Shukrapur-Nagar highway when she was about 8-9 years old. Having injured her leg in the accident, she was admitted by the police to a government-run hospital in the city of Shirur. After treating her injuries she was sent to a local Child Reformation Center. There on, she was shifted to various orphanages for being special and facing shortcomings to get along with other normal girls at the orphanage.
In 2011, the Mahila Seva Mandal of Kothrud, Pune sent Julekha to Kalpana Tai Varpe and considering the fact that Julekha was an orphan, Tai decided to support her. Due to the unfamiliarity of her new environment at Aniket and her past experiences, Julekha was hyper and restless until Kalpana Tai recognised her interest -- Sports. Kalpana Tai persuaded Julekha to take part in various sports competitions like running, throwball, and long jump along with cultural activities like dance; this made Julekha more passionate about her sport.
Her excellence in sports was recognised by Bal Kalyan’s Nangare Sir who channelled her volleyball interest by making her participate in various competitions along with giving her the needed guidance. Following that she was sent to attend various volleyball camps in Jharkhand, Gujarat, Calcutta, and Punjab which primarily led to her selection in India’s team that presented the country for the Abu Dhabi 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games; she was the only girl to be selected from the whole of Maharashtra!
While Julekha opportuned her selection, what followed was an ordeal of an orphaned child with no identification. The process took about six months, however, eventually, everything fell in alignment with the efforts of Apala Ghar’s (Home for Destitute Children/Elders at Donje) administrator Falnikar Sir and Delhi’s Passport Officer Burude Sir who contacted Pune Passport Office’s Takawale Sir. All said and done, everyone breathed a sigh of relief as Julekha’s passport was nevertheless issued at the eleventh hour, the only way she could get to Abu Dhabi!
Kalpana Tai, herself went to drop Julekha to Mumbai for her departure to Abu Dhabi. En route, in the train, Julekha spotted a girl begging for money on which she insisted Kalpana Tai give her some money recalling her past. In her childhood, Julekha too has begged for money and with whatever little she gathered, she would treat herself to a vada pav before finding a spot on some pavement to call it a day!
The same Julekha today has not only represented the country for Volleyball at the Abu Dhabi 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games but also won the country a Bronze Medal! As she speaks about her experience there, she particularly mentions the joy of flying in an aeroplane among all the fun she has had with her teammates there! Back with a sweet disappointment of winning the Bronze and not the Gold, Julekha is certain she will play again and win the gold medal! Kalpana Tai only hopes to support this new dream of hers while she seeks the needed help.
Support and help in terms of better sports gear, efficient sources to bridge the gap between the needed practice and her will to do it, optimum nutrition and a flexible budget to accommodate any unforeseen expenditure is what Juelkha stands in need of today. She is thrilled to have been felicitated today on several occasions for her remarkable victory but also hopes that her story reaches a wider mass -- one that can possibly help her in any way possible.
You can help Julekha fulfil her dream and contribute to her journey now on! We reach out to you to please consider donating towards Julekha’s future. Every bit goes a long way! To contribute towards Julekha’s future, please click on the Donate Now button.