MEET OUR SECOND COHORT: 2023
Stories of Resilience From Our Second Cohort
Saksham Nari ka Saksham Safar: Sarita as Youth Advocate
Sarita joined the fellowship as a commerce student, knowing that she wanted to flourish in the field. She took active initiative in all employability enhancement training, becoming an avid user of LinkedIn, too!
She is presently working as a Finance Executive at a renowned company. Recently, she seized the incredible opportunity to speak at the National Consultation on Enhancing Participation of Young Women in the Labor Force with YuWaah India at UNICEF. Championing gender equity and the impact of financial independence as a migrant woman working through patriarchal norms, she spoke for the strengthening of women around her as she shared her ‘Saksham Naari Ka Safar’.
“मंज़िल उन्हीं को मिलती है, जिनके सपनों में जान होती है; पंख से कुछ नहीं होता, हौंसलों में ही उड़ान होती है!” Sarita says as she stands tall, self-reliant, an active citizen in her community.
Dreaming Beyond Distance: Empowering Girls in Higher Education
For most girls in our community, pursuing higher education is a dream, and many are only allowed to pursue it through distance learning. Attending regular college and classes remains a dream for many girls in our community.
But as they say, ‘it only takes one person to make a change.’ In our case, we knew that it would only take one girl and her family to break this cycle.
Prerna enrolled in our fellowship program in 2023, knowing with clarity and determination that she wanted to pursue higher education. Her mother, an Anganwadi helper, was supportive and encouraging of her ambitions. She applied to Azim Premji University to study BA History full-time and received a 100% scholarship! She is presently in Bhopal, the first girl in her community to pursue higher education in a prestigious university outside Delhi.
“मैं अपने समुदाय की पहली लड़की बनी हूँ जो पढ़ाई करने के लिए दिल्ली से बाहर आई है। मैंने अपने साथ-साथ, अपने परिवार के सदस्यों की सोच में भी परिवर्तन लाया है। अब और लड़कियाँ भी दिल्ली के बाहर अपने सपनों को पूरा करने जा पाएंगी।” – Prerna, currently a student at Azim Premji University, Bhopal
We are hopeful that her success has opened doors for the higher education of other girls in the community as well. Now, more girls are willing to apply for regular courses inside and outside Delhi.