While every day is an opportunity to advocate for girls' education, we are thrilled to have the occasion of International Women’s Day and Women’s History month in March to properly celebrate and spotlight some of the C2C learners of today who will become our leaders of tomorrow. We invite you to read three recent stories from at-risk girls, who inspire us by demonstrating how they have overcome barriers and are empowered by C2C and education.
Swathi
Swathi was only 9 months old when her father passed away. For all of her childhood, her mother has been a migrant worker. She travels to different farms--some five kilometers away--to help with vegetable crops. Her work hours start at 9am and end at 6pm. Because her mother is very tired, Swathi usually only sees her in the evenings.
Swathi came to one of C2C’s partner centers, CSS, in 2011. There, she has received a free education and an abundance of sisters. She has excelled in her studies. Recently, she competed in an essay competition about freedom and she won 2nd place. She also participated in Journaling from C2C and won 1st place. She is in 10th grade and in 3rd rank in her class. She is interested in drawing and dreams of becoming an engineer one day.
When Swathi is older, she plans to give back. She plans not only to become an engineer, but to allocate funds to help with the food and education at CSS. She says, “If a girl has an education, then she can rule the world.” According to Swathi, a girl with an education can stand on her own two feet and lead her family. If only the man works in the family, it can be difficult, but if the woman can work, she can educate her children.
Supraja
Supraja’s father works as an auto-rickshaw taxi driver. He rents an auto-rickshaw and takes it around town carting people from place to place. He works ten hours a day, everyday, sometimes late at night or early in the morning. Supraja’s mother walks the three to four-kilometer journey to the center of the city where she washes dishes at a small eatery. She works around eight to ten hours a day.
When Supraja was younger, her parents worked in agriculture, sowing seeds in the fields. They had to travel in order for her parents to get work, and since they were frequently in small villages, Supraja wasn’t able to attend school regularly.
Through C2C Supraja gained stable housing and education. She is a top athlete, winning the national level in discus and shot put. Along with athletics, Supraja has won first prizes for essay writing. She devotes time to helping other students with their studies.
She decided she wanted to one day work in Indian Administrative Services, a government posting, so that she can help girls get access to education.
During this pandemic, her parents continue to work, but they wear masks to protect themselves. Supraja stays focused on her studies. She says that in society, so much crime can happen and it is difficult for a girl to live on her own. But with an education, a girl can stand on her own two feet; she can stand up for herself and for her community.
Bindu
Bindu’s father and mother work in a thermocol factory for 10 hours a day. Since the pandemic, many factories have shut down, and her parents have been unable to work. Her family has relied on donations of rations to help during this difficult time.
Bindu has been at one of C2C’s partner centers for nine years, having come on the advice of her father’s friend. Thanks to her studies and her work with her teachers, she has gained confidence to be able to speak and explain her story in English for this interview. She is grateful to C2C for the support and the TechLab, where she is able to practice her computer skills. A first ranker in her 9th grade class, Bindu has won first prize for her elocutions and learned karate and self-dense, She also devotes time to helping slower learners.
Bindu does not want her parents to continue to work as laborers when she grows up. With dreams of being a software engineer, Bindu has plans to settle her parents in a nice house one day.
Bindu believes that girls are capable of achieving whatever they wish in this world. She believes that if girls are educated, society can change.