Poonam rose above personal challenges to become an advocate for girls’ education

Poonam Singh lives in a remote village in the Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh. Poonam’s life was similar to that of any other family in her neighbourhood. Her husband took on small jobs while she raised their three children—a daughter and two sons. However, her life took a tragic turn in 2014 when her husband suddenly passed away from an underlying illness.

Poonam’s world changed overnight. She worried about the future of her three young children, especially as she received little support from her ageing in-laws. Concerned about their education, she decided to move back to her maternal home. In the safety of her parents’ house, she could finally think of ways to support her family. She began teaching young children in her community to earn a living.

At that time, Poonam’s daughter was in Grade 9, her elder son in Grade 7, and her younger son in Grade 3. During a door-to-door campaign to identify out-of-school children, Poonam met an Educate Girls’ Field Coordinator, who told her about the organisation’s work. Always a strong believer in girls’ education, Poonam was excited to learn that she, too, could help facilitate positive change.

Poonam received intensive training to prepare for her role as a Team Balika volunteer with Educate Girls. Being part of a community of like-minded individuals, sharing ideas with them, and devising strategies to approach families boosted her confidence tremendously. As a result, Poonam helped enrol several girls in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV), a free, government-run residential school for vulnerable girls whose parents often migrate in search of work.

In addition to her role as a Team Balika volunteer, Poonam is now pursuing her BA degree. After being away from formal education for ten years, she has resumed her studies. Today, everyone in the village respects Poonam and seeks her guidance when they want to send their daughters to school. None of this would have been possible without her courage and dedication as a single mother. Despite facing tremendous adversity, Poonam has created a better future for herself and many other young girls in her village.