Nanditha Bindhu Biju, a 22-year-old disabled university student, is confronting the threat of eviction from her Birmingham accommodation after losing her part-time job at an events company. The redundancy has left her struggling to afford both rent in Birmingham’s Chinatown area and tuition fees at the University of Wolverhampton, where she is studying biomedical sciences.
Originally from Kerala, India, Nanditha uses a wheelchair due to acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), a rare neurological condition. Despite her disability, she has maintained her academic ambitions with dreams of building a hospital in her home region to improve access to healthcare.
“I’m currently facing eviction because I can’t pay my accommodation fees,” Nanditha explained. “I also need to cover my university fees, but having lost my job, it’s been very difficult, especially given how hard it is for disabled people to find employment.”
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Nanditha has set a fundraising target of £5,000 to cover outstanding tuition and accommodation costs. Without these funds, she risks being unable to continue her studies and potentially becoming homeless, with no family support in the UK.
Her journey has been marked by significant challenges. Having endured childhood trauma and severe bullying because of her disability, she faced social prejudice both in India and the UK. “When I became disabled, it was very hard to cope,” she recalled. “People said I shouldn’t pursue further education.”
Despite these obstacles, Nanditha has found support from her community in Kerala, which inspires her mission to give back. “Many kind people helped me and my family during difficult times,” she said. “I feel a strong obligation to help others by building a hospital in India so that more people can access healthcare.”
Since arriving in the UK around a year and a half ago, Nanditha has volunteered with the NHS and progressed into her second year of university. She emphasises the lack of volunteering opportunities for disabled individuals in India, contrasting these with the inclusivity she has experienced in the UK.
Looking forward, she hopes not only to build a hospital but also to establish a charity aimed at creating accessible volunteering roles for disabled people.
Reflecting on her current predicament, Nanditha remains focused and resolute. “I am trying not to panic,” she said. “If I am in the UK, there must be a purpose I need to fulfil. I cannot risk stopping my education.”
Supporters wishing to help Nanditha can donate via her fundraising page.