Educate Her, Make Her Independent

Shreya*, an 11-year-old girl from a village in the Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh, faced many challenges on her path to education. Due to financial constraints, Shreya’s parents sent her to live with her aunt in Indore in 2019, where she attended school. Initially, it was intended for a year, but due to the pandemic, Shreya stayed with her until 2022, reaching the third grade. In 2022, her parents, emotional after a 3-year separation, brought her back to their village. However, their financial struggles forced Shreya to migrate to Gujarat with her parents, a few months later for better opportunities. 

With three younger siblings to care for, Shreya reluctantly joined the migration, resulting in her dropping out of school in the 3rd grade. She assumed responsibilities at home while her parents worked in a factory.

In 2023, Shreya’s family returned to their village for the Holi festival, and this was also the time when Educate Girls was conducting a door-to-door survey to identify out-of-school girls. Educate Girls’ Field Coordinator, Premlata learned of Shreya’s situation and tirelessly advocated for her return to education. However, her parents did not agree.

Premlata kept visiting her house, sometimes bringing Educate Girls’ district team members along and sometimes bringing in local village influencers to speak to her parents. She spent a month persuading Shreya’s family, emphasising the importance of education, and highlighting Shreya’s prior schooling in Indore. Finally, they agreed and Shreya was enrolled in school!

However, after just two months, Shreya dropped out again because students teased her in the class. Undeterred, Premlata continued her efforts and eventually convinced Shreya to return to school. This time, she attended another government residential school. The teacher at this school observed that Shreya’s academic abilities had significantly declined due to the disruptions caused by the pandemic and her subsequent withdrawal from school. The teacher assured that if Shreya excelled, she would be promoted to the fourth grade next year.

Shreya embraced this opportunity with determination, focusing on her studies. Her goal is to excel in the year-end exams and secure a promotion to the 4th grade. 

Despite the challenges she faced, Shreya is on a promising educational journey, demonstrating the resilience and dedication of a young girl determined to learn.

*Name changed to protect the identity of the minor.

Megha's transformation through Life Skills

Megha* lives in a remote village in Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh, with her mother and elder brother. Her father, Vinod lives in a city far away, for work. Quiet and shy, Megha used to travel alone to a neighbouring village to attend school, enduring a difficult journey. Children from her village would mock her because of her quietness, teasing her along the way, but she kept her head down, determined to continue. Once home, she often cried but wouldn’t reveal the reason for her sadness, even when her mother and brother tried to comfort her.

One day, Educate Girls introduced Life Skills Education (LSE) games during Bal Sabha (Girls’ Council), in Megha’s school. The Life Skills program at Educate Girls aims to build confidence in young girls in rural communities. It provides a safe space and a support system for these girls to build critical skills that will empower them to make decisions to improve their lives further. The content uses the WHO life skills framework (Major 8 of WHO & 2 of Unicef) which includes five skills - Self-awareness, Resilience, Empathy, Interpersonal Skills, and Decision-making skills.

Megha was initially uninterested but eventually agreed, persuaded by her friends and teacher, to run for the position of Bal Adhyaksha (Student Leader). Although she didn’t win, Megha was selected as a member of the Bal Sabha which marked the beginning of a transformative journey for her.

As a member, Megha participated in every committee event. Although her reserved nature initially made it challenging to assert herself, Megha did not let this hold her back. She prepared thoroughly, researching each topic discussed in the Bal Sabha sessions. Through these experiences, Megha gradually gained confidence, learning to voice her opinions and engage actively. When the LSE sessions concluded, she felt bittersweet—proud of her growth but sad to see it end.

Today, Megha is no longer the quiet girl she once was. At home, she speaks up confidently, and among her friends in the village, she has become a vocal advocate for education, inspiring others to attend school. Megha credits Educate Girls for her transformation, saying that her time in the Bal Sabha has made her fearless and self-reliant. With newfound aspirations, she is determined to complete her education and build a future on her terms.

*Name changed to protect the minor’s identity.