Strength Empowers: Girls Shaping the World
Kapilvastu district faces widespread challenges, including child marriage, teen pregnancy, malnutrition, and deep-rooted gender inequality. Many girls are denied their rights to education and opportunities for growth, while harmful practices such as dowry and accusations of witchcraft continue to affect women and girls in the community.
Bandhana, a 15-year-old girl from Kapilvastu, who is determined to change this narrative. Growing up in a male-dominated household with three brothers, she often struggled to make her voice heard. Yet, her passion for education and athletics kept her focused on building a brighter future. She believes education is her pathway “from darkness to light.” She also dreams of joining the army, inspired by her achievements in Karate, where she proudly wears a green belt, has already won a gold medal, and now trains with determination to earn her black belt.
Her journey of transformation began when she joined the Jyoti Adolescent Girls’ Group, supported by ActionAid. Through workshops and training on gender-based violence, substance abuse, and child marriage, she found her confidence and voice. With her peers, she has organized community clean-up campaigns to improve sanitation and is now preparing a street drama to raise awareness on child marriage, a practice still prevalent in her village. While some community members dismiss their efforts, telling them to “mind their own business,” Bandhana and her group remain committed to bringing positive change.
"Joining ActionAid’s Jyoti Adolescent Girls’ Group gave me the voice and confidence to stand up against injustice, balance my education and Karate, and work toward serving my community and country."
Today, she balances her studies, athletics, and activism with courage and determination. Her father and mother, both farmers, now support her ambitions, while she continues to inspire other girls to follow their dreams. From once being silent in her male-dominated household, she now speaks out for justice and community development. Bandhana’s story is a testament to how opportunity, courage, and collective action can empower young girls to break barriers and become leaders of change.
