A rising star, Rajkumari has emerged as a leader to educate, persuade and inspire her community to act against the lack of education for girls and see their inherent worth.
Rajkumari knows that a good peer educator understands and respects others and encourages girls to make choices with a positive impact. Hailing from the remote rural village of Faridpur in Uttar Pradesh, Rajkumari leads a collective of adolescent girls. During their fortnightly meetings, they discuss the challenges in their lives and ways to make informed choices to overcome them. Through engaged discussion and exposure to new ways of thinking, the girls work on increasing their self-awareness and developing the confidence to take a stand against negative influences as a collective voice.
Girl Icon, Rajkumari also knows that insidious influences are abundant and ingrained in her community, where poverty and patriarchy are widespread. The lives of girls and women in her village are framed by a dearth of opportunities, marginalisation, and vulnerability.
Like most women in her community, Rajkumari was not allowed to travel alone outside her community until she joined the Girl Icon Program.
“I aspire to become a District Magistrate and have my own identity and be known by my name. When I joined the program, I had no self-confidence, but that’s not the case anymore. Being a Girl Icon has given me the strength and confidence to fight for my rights. I can now travel alone because my family has confidence in me, and most importantly because I have confidence in myself.”
After completing her 12th-grade studies, Rajkumari wanted to pursue a graduate degree. Her elder brother opposed the idea and restricted her, but Rajkumari’s father stood by her and encouraged her decision to study. She is now in her final year of higher education and will soon receive her graduate degree.
“Education is the only way we can achieve our dreams and uplift our lives – this is why I am an ardent advocate of educating girls. The program has given me an identity as I continue working with girls in my community to ensure they are educated.”
The training has not only expanded my knowledge of gender, health, and rights but also helped me improve my communication and leadership skills. I was always too shy and hesitant, but the training helped me find my voice and gave me the conviction and courage to convince 18 families to send their daughters to school. I did not give up and continued to visit their homes until their parents agreed.
“I didn’t stop at that, I wanted to ensure they are not left behind, so I raised money for their school fees and enrolled them in a school – Kasturba Gandhi Maha Vidyalaya.”
Today, Rajkumari also works with the Milaan team to conduct residential training to support emerging Girl Icons just like her. She educates and empowers them to use their voice, choice, and power against all forms of inequality.
Investing in adolescent girls is one of the most effective ways to break the pattern of poverty that is inherited from generation to generation. If a girl stays in school, has access to health services and is given an opportunity to earn a dignified wage, she will marry later, have fewer and healthier children and earn an income that she’ll invest back into her family and community. Unreached adolescent girls, mobilised by grassroots girl leaders, create visible, measurable change in their lives and that of their families, communities, and nations.
