Change is Possible
"Whenever I think of UDAAN, I become all smiles. It has
helped me become who I am today, and has given me that strength to dream of a
better future.” Sunita shared with a big smile on her face. Sunita Harijan, a
19-year-old girl, currently leads the Girls’ Right Forum in Rupandehi. But
things were a lot different for her just a few years ago.
Sunita comes from a poor family in Mujhana, Lumbini
Sanskritik Municipality, Rupandehi. When she was in fifth grade, her family
experienced financial difficulties. Her mother also felt sick at the same time.
As it became difficult to manage finances and household chores, Sunita had to
drop out of school. She would sit back at her house and see other children
walking to school. She shared, "I wanted to go to school and study. When I
saw other kids going to school wearing uniforms, I wished it were me. But it
was just like a daydream."
It was during that time that CARE Nepal's UDAAN program
reached her community, and she got enrolled in UDAAN. With a bright face,
Sunita shared, “They convinced my parents and I was able to study again.
Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if UDAAN had not created the
opportunity for me. I doubt I would have a good future. I would probably be
married at an early age, and I might have suffered domestic violence too."
The participatory and focused teaching methodologies of
UDAAN helped Sunita to transition back to her “mother school.” She also
expressed, "UDAAN helped us become expressive, and made us aware of our
rights too. When we transitioned to mother school, I did well in my studies.
But, I was also very vocal to ask for what I needed in the learning process. I
felt loved by teachers, and people in my community too."
Other parents also notice the transformation in girls like
Sunita, and have started sending their girls to schools, supporting their
greater decision making, and allowing more freedom of movement within the
community. Like Sunita, more girls now have their birth registered, and have
started receiving citizenship certificates. Today, Sunita’s family motivates
her to do things that impact social change. Sunita wants to become a nurse, and
her parents and brothers are very supportive.
Sunita is passionate to work on social change, which led her
to the GRF. Recently, Sunita was elected chairperson of the girls' rights forum
(GRF) and now leads it. The GRF is currently advocating on issues affecting
adolescent girls, through frequent meetings, discussion on the issue and
initiatives to assure the issues are heard and addressed. The local GRF, led by
Suinta, is working to address the pertinent issues in the community such as
child marriage, the dowry system, girls dropping out of school at an early age,
and birth registration and citizenship of girls in the community.
Sunita is hopeful of change and staying focused on solutions
that work: "A lot of problems continue. A lot of girls are still dropping
out of school like I did once. I wish all such girls could get a second chance
like I did, because they also deserve a better future. I want all of them to
have a program like UDAAN in their lives."
Sunita, 16, was supported with a bicycle by World Vision International (WVI) Nepal, which has helped her reach school on time and improve her studies.
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