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Sakshi has dreamed from age 9 of being a police officer after learning about India’s first female policewoman. Despite her parents support, she was unable to continue her education in the village due to financial constraints and her parents made the decision to send her to a government residential school for girls. Joining the school in class 6th, she topped her class. She has never looked back since. Performing well in academics, she also participates in every single school function doing street plays, dances, speeches, and has won multiple awards for her performances, going as far as being appreciated by the District Magistrate who is the highest ranking administrative officer in a district. She is also passionate about girls’ education and organizes events to stop gender discrimination.
School Year 2016
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JOIN HEREPriya has long been a shining star in her community nestled deep in Sitapur District of the state of Uttar Pradesh. Growing up in rural India, Priya has taken advantage of every opportunity in her school. From acting in plays to practicing the locally prized art of Rangoli. Priya transferred from the government school which provided a bare education when Swarachna School first came to her community. Even being in her small community, she has faced problems with her parents allowing her to leave the house. She dreams of leaving the village and becoming a doctor.
School Year 2016
Ritu Yadav is always bubbling with answers. Her hands gesture wildly as she explains her interest in making speeches. Ritu uses her voice to speak out against caste discrimination and the gender inequality she sees all around her. Growing up in Uttar Pradesh, India Ritu has constantly been bombarded by things she can't do as a girl. She's determined to change that. Inspired by her mentor, Mr. Mithai Lal, she plans to become a math professor and continue to speak out for gender equality. She is completely determined for girls' to be recognized for their capability and ability to do the same things boys do.
School Year 2016
Vandana is one of seven siblings, 4 sisters and 3 brothers, who live in a small house in a tiny village in Uttar Pradesh, India. Both of her elder sisters have never been to school, the eldest being married before the age of 18. She is the first girl in her family to stand up for her right to be educated. Told that her education would not benefit the family, Vandana chose to fight to go to school anyway. For a 16-year-old, Vandana is a highly opinionated girl. If you dig deep enough, she says, the root cause of any act of violence against girls and women, in her community, is the lack of education. Because of this girls are not aware of their human rights and do not know how to raise their voices when they face violence or discrimination. Sometimes she says they do not know they can even attempt such a thing. She feels that child marriage is the biggest issue faced by her community caused by a combination of illiteracy, poverty, and a discriminatory attitude towards girls. She recalls that when she wanted to do something to stop her own elder sister’s marriage before 18, her father locked her in a room and ordered her not to speak a word.
School Year 2016
A talkative and alert girl, at only the age of 9, Khushboo first experienced teasing by men in her community or 'eve-teasing.' Although Khushboo has been supported by her family in her efforts to fight back and mobilize other girls in her community, she is passionate about creating a more aware community in which girls feel safe. In addition to engaging frequently with her community, this extroverted 14-year-old practices karate. She is determined to fight for the rights of girls to safely walk the streets in India.
School Year 2016
As a celebrated 100 meters sprinter, representing Uttar Pradesh, India 13 year old Akshara audaciously overcomes the challenge of being a female athlete in the male-dominated field of sports in India. As an under 14 sports representative from U.P., Akshara stood 3rd in the North Zone Athletics competition. Her opponents were state representatives of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan. However, she did not get any financial support from the government for these competitions. Her belief is that regardless of gender, every athlete representing the state or district should receive every form of support from the legal authorities. She has been actively involved in encouraging girls in her neighborhood to pick up and excel in sports that they enjoy. Alternatively, inspired by her father and a popular television series, Adalat, she wants to study law and become a judge so she can improve the state of justice in our society and propagate fairness by example.
School Year 2016
Chhavi is an energetic and outgoing girl old who is eager to speak and practice her English. Although her family has been supportive of her education, her grandmother has fought her in attending school. Chhavi is eager to learn how to use technology and dreams of becoming a female pilot. Chhavi fights within her community to get separate toilets built for girls so that they feel comfortable going to school, even while menstruating.
School Year 2016
Gazala's nimble feet have led her to find joy in dancing, and her flexible attitude has led her to become a star actor among her friends. Passionate about maintaining cleanliness, the 8th grader has noticed with distaste the trend of taking girls out of school to participate in household chores instead of boys. Nurturing of other girls in her community, the 14-year-old hopes to stand as an example of gender equality and continue to break barriers for girls in society.
School Year 2016