By Tina Kapoor | Head of Communications
“People in my community don’t value education. They look at girls as a burden and never encourage them to study in life. I wanted to change this mentality around me that is holding girls back from building their future” - Girl Leader Damini
Determined to change the mindset of her community, Damini joined the Girl Icon Program; a girl-led and girl-driven leadership development program. Deep-rooted cultural norms like child marriage are widely practised in Damini’s community. She recognises this as one of the key barriers to girls' education and has dedicated her efforts to overcome it.
21-year-old Damini is currently pursuing her first year of graduation and has been working as a girl leader for the last four years.
Trained on design thinking principles through the program, Damini designed and implemented a street play (Nukkad Natak) with her peers to engage her community through social action projects.
“The play had a great impact, and the message was loud and clear to the community. With my efforts, I have enrolled four girls back in school. Today, these girls are pursuing their secondary education; two are studying in 9th grade while the other two will be completing 12th grade” shares Damini.
During the pandemic, Damini actively worked with government officials to fight the rise in child marriages and prevented four child marriages.
An advocate for promoting girls’ education and ending child marriage, Damini became a part of the government's National Task Force by Niti Ayog Forum, representing the youth voices of North India on child marriage.
Damini brought to the fore the lack of livelihood and upskilling opportunities and vocational centres for girls and women in rural areas. Her continuous efforts working with officials led to the opening of several Self Help Groups and vocational centres in her village. She further mobilised 40 women in her community to participate.
“Milaan has given me the opportunity and identity as a Girl Icon to make a difference and stand for the rights of girls and women.” Says Damini
Along with pursuing her graduation, Damini has recently applied for the position of Anganwadi Supervisor at an Integrated Child Development Centre. She is confident that her knowledge and skills acquired from the program’s comprehensive life skills education will assist her in fulfilling her aspirations and continuing to work at the grassroots.
When girls from within the communities evolve as leaders, they become role models, playing a critical role in shaping the aspirations and beliefs about the potential of girls and a gender-positive social narrative.
Investing in building their leadership, and capacity with knowledge and skills increases their agency, participation, and inclusion within their communities.
Local role models like Damini also provide more easily imaginable visions of success and can make the success experienced by the role models attainable and replicable in the minds of girls, their families and communities.
With your support, we are nurturing a network of girl leaders to be community leaders, role models and ambassadors for a more gender-equal world.
We hope you continue supporting us and create a cadre of empowered young women in India!
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