Ludhiana, July 26 -- They once used to roam the streets of Ludhiana, begging for money. Today, they are role models for street children across the city.

The turning point in their lives came when they were rescued from the streets and put in schools by the Nobel Foundation.

Under the project, which started in 2009, the foundation rescued child beggars and gave them an opportunity to rewrite their future in the classrooms. The efforts bore fruit as many of them are on the cusp of completing their bachelor's degrees or finishing various trade schools and are dreaming of a life they never thought was possible.

Take the case of Vipin, who used to spend his days pleading for alms outside a temple. Currently, he is studying a Bachelor of Med...