Ravinder’s courageous journey: a voice against substance abuse

20/08/26

Success Stories

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“Change begins the moment you decide to fight your own battles — not with others, but within yourself.” – Ravinder

In the quiet lanes of Rampur village, Shravasti district, Uttar Pradesh, India, a young boy named Ravinder , 16 years, is leading a quiet revolution — one of hope, recovery and resilience. He gathered this courage from his elder brother, Ram, who was once trapped in the vicious cycle of addiction, Ravinder’s transformation from a dependent young boy to a community leader has become a beacon of inspiration for hundreds in his village.

Born into a modest family, Ravinder’s early life was marked by limited opportunities and social influences that offered little guidance. With uneducated parents and minimal awareness around health, he found his elder brother, slowly, fell into the habit of consuming tobacco, and other addictive substances at a young age.

His health deteriorated, relationships strained, and his family suffered silently as addiction tightened its grip. “There was a time,” he recalls, “when I felt completely lost — and emotionally drained, as we had to struggle with my elder brother. My family had almost given up hope on him.”

A few months ago, Bal Raksha Bharat initiated the “Dream Accelerator Project” in Rampur village — a program aimed at building awareness on child rights, protection, and well-being. During community meetings and counseling sessions under this initiative, Ram was selected as a Child Champion.

As he attended workshops on the harmful effects of addiction and engaged in discussions on self-awareness and positive habits, something began to shift within him. Motivated by the facilitators’ guidance, he took a personal pledge to make his brother quit addiction — embracing meditation, mindfulness, and positive thinking as tools of change.

“It wasn’t easy,” he shares. “But I realized addiction wasn’t just harming him— it was breaking our family and hurting my community.”

Slowly with support from younger brother Ravinder and family members, Ram could free himself from addiction. Ravinder decided that his brother’s recovery should not end with him. Determined to protect others from the same trap, young Ravinder launched an anti-addiction campaign across Rampur and nearby villages.

Through the Dream Accelerator initiative, he received an opportunity to lead a Micro Project to raise awareness against substance abuse. He began conducting awareness sessions in schools, organizing community meetings, and engaging youth groups to talk openly about the dangers of tobacco and substance use. He collaborated with local influencers, teachers, and shopkeepers, convincing many to stop selling gutka and tobacco in front of schools, especially during school hours.

His passion soon turned into a movement — and people began to listen.

Within months, Ravinder’s efforts began to bear fruit. Many young people in Rampur started giving up their addictions, inspired by his story. Families that had once been broken by substance abuse found a new sense of hope.

Teachers reported improved attendance and discipline among students, while community elders began supporting Ravinder’s initiatives with pride.

Today, Ravinder is recognized as a leader of change — someone who has turned his pain into purpose.

An Inspiration for All

Ravinder’s story is a reminder that real change begins with courage and conviction. His journey shows how one individual’s decision to rise above challenges can ignite transformation across an entire community.

He now dreams of expanding his awareness of work to nearby villages — ensuring that every child and youth in Shravasti has the chance to live free from addiction and full of possibilities.

Help us empower more children to stand up for their rights and create safer communities:

Gaurav Sharma

Content Reviewer

“I am an editor and technical specialist at Bal Raksha Bharat, responsible for publishing articles and posts. My role involves evaluating content for consistency, and ensuring a positive user experience across the website."