As I entered Laxmi’s house, she opened the door with a warm smile and an embracing personality. The 14-year-old is nothing like most adolescent girls her age, she is brimming with confidence and warmth as she sat next to me on a bed in her home to share her experience about the program.
Born and raised in Bihar, Laxmi’s family migrated to Manipur for better livelihood opportunities; but they were not able to make ends meet and came back to Bihar a year ago. They are a family of eight people, while two of her elder brothers are working in Chennai and Manipur, Laxmi and her sister are studying with the unflinching support of their family. When the family had shifted to Manipur for two years, Laxmi had to drop out of school and she missed two years of schooling. After coming back to Bihar, they did not instantly admit her to the school but Laxmi joined the Adolescent girls empowerment program. After the initial orientation, it was her trainer Chandani who left an impression on her about the importance of education in the lives of girls. This marked a major shift in Laxmi’s approach towards education, she did not just get enrolled in a school herself but has become an advocate for girls’ education within her neighborhood.
She talks about girls’ education with the passion and determination of an activist, who is convinced that the only alternative to a better life is ‘education’. She says with much emphasis, “I want everyone around me to get an education. Whenever I hear of any girl who is not being educated, I talk to their parents and convince them about the importance of education. Several mothers have started sending their children to school”.
The young girl is a powerhouse of energy & change, with inbuilt qualities of leadership, activism and warmth. When I asked her about all that she learnt from the program, she did not shy away from talking about the sessions on ‘sexual & reproductive rights’ and stated – Women are often held responsible for the sex of the child, when the XY chromosome of the man determines the sex of the child.
She enthusiastically explained how she learnt about ‘period blood’, and how it is not dirty and unhygienic but meant to provide nutrition and care to the child in the womb. How it supports life when a child is being nurtured inside the womb, as opposed to the myths around it being ‘filthy’. She explained how things have changed in her neighborhood – Before I knew this, I would often hear women in our neighborhood reiterate how period blood is bad, and I would listen to them at the time. But now, I know better, and anytime I hear anyone in my vicinity comment on period blood – I immediately inform them about facts. Laxmi is an advocate and a leader, and her belief system provides her confidence and energy to learn and disseminate the knowledge and information that she learns in her sessions. She explained how information should be accessible to all, which is why she shared her learnings with everyone in the neighborhood.
Laxmi is a committed young girl with a dream, a dream to become a doctor and open a hospital in her village. A few years ago, Laxmi’s close relative lost her life due to the unavailability of a hospital within the village. She felt grief and loss, and more importantly she felt that this could have been avoided if they had access to a doctor or a hospital. She did not want anyone in her village to suffer from the lack of a doctor and hospital, and this sowed the seeds of a dream in Laxmi. She decided that she would study, become a doctor and open her own hospital in her village to provide access to healthcare to everyone. Laxmi is an extroverted young girl who wants to help people in her community, and she is willing to work hard to accomplish her dreams. She wakes up at 4am everyday to attend coaching classes in addition to her school work, the AGEP classes, and a second coaching class – she is leaving no stone unturned to accomplish her dreams!
Here are some additional insights from Laxmi’s life and lifestyle:
| Questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Activities and Sessions that Laxmi could recall? | How to use your money? |
| Her thoughts about the trainers | She felt that the trainer is approachable and smart. She learned a lot from Chandani Ma’am. |
| Do you feel safe in your neighborhood? | While returning back from the school, she feels uncomfortable because a few boys loiter around the same area. In the morning, she often feels unsafe while walking alone, therefore she walks with a group of friends. She walks to school which takes her 20-30 minutes. |