“I am currently a high school senior. Just like any other 17-year-old, I love binge-watching and I tend to term myself “annoyingly optimistic”. I remember the first time I started volunteering towards a social cause when I was in 6th standard. I used to go around selling cookies and cupcakes in the apartment area. The funds that were collected were donated to the Nanhikali programme and I was able to educate a girl child for an entire year – something that I will always be proud of.

After a few years, I reached out to the foundation again when I was in my 9th standard. Through an initiative in which they were focusing on various life skill programs for their students, I was able to educate 55 girls from low-income strata. This programme motivated me to start ProjectWE. I can say that the exposure my parents have given me has impacted what I do today.

I have always wanted to give the girls a resource through which they can lead an independent life. Classes at ProjectWE aim at providing good communication, public speaking, and setting life goals for girls who are deprived of such opportunities.

I remember the time when I applied for an education permit in July 2019 so that I can take my classes in junior colleges. After four long months, they denied my permit only because they thought I was too young to head such an initiative. Honestly, it was disheartening. Well, I had prepared myself for such challenges. So, I rented an apartment right near the junior college where I began to take my classes. I recently approached the board again with all the progress that we made over the years and wanted to go big with our initiative. Believe me, the same commissioner who denied our permit saw the progress I made and helped me implement all the life skills videos as part of the high school and junior college curriculum.

Well, the pandemic changed my plans just like how it has for the rest of the world. When the pandemic struck, it was an unfortunate time because I had just begun my new session with 85 new girls and that was my largest batch to date. The level of uncertainty was quite high in their lives. Few of them were considering going back to their village and some were considering getting married.

Tough situations like these pushed me to create online content that had lessons on public speaking for the girls so that their learning never stops. Some girls had difficulty in handling phones but I think the constant interaction I tried having with them and bending a few plans here and there helped them.

I did have to deal with a lot of bitter-sweet stories but when I get a call from one of the students over the weekend reminding me that there is a class on Monday, that is what makes me realise that I am on the right path with my mission.”