Help Bring 121,000 Girl Children Back to School

Julie was studying in Class IX when her parents decided to marry her off and this was the norm in the village. But she was busy dreaming of becoming a doctor, and nothing else could come in the way. Such resistance was unheard of in this extremely poor and backward village of Bihar. And Julie knew, it would be difficult for her to fight the battle alone.

CRY supported project Disha Vihar, had, in the meanwhile, initiated a children’s group in the village called the Munna - Munni Manch. They extended support by getting the staff of Disha Vihar involved. A series of discussions followed, and the wedding was finally called off.

Julie was not prepared for what followed. All her relatives and the entire village demanded answers from her parents as to why they went against the tide. The person who single handedly answered every question, and faced every hindrance was Julie’s mother. Herself an ASHA worker today, Julie’s mother had studied till class X before she was married off. Through the capacity building sessions with Disha Vihar – Julie’s mother had also gained the confidence to fight for daughter. She stood like a pillar for Julie and ensured that Julie not only completed her Higher Secondary but also went to college.

The family with help from the project staff also found solutions to the challenges Julie faced to travel to college and her brother today accompanies her to college every day because it’s a long way from her house, he is helping her move closer to her dream of becoming a doctor. Because she had dared to dream, today her two other sisters are also continuing with their studies. While one of them is in class IX, the other is in class VII.

Julie has a list of firsts against her name today. It all started because she dared to dream.