From a quiet village in Nawada, Bihar, comes the story of Jyoti Kumari—a young woman who chose to lead when it was easier to stay silent.
Born into a family of daily wage workers, Jyoti grew up facing the everyday challenges that many girls in rural India know too well—limited access to education, taboos around menstruation, and pressure to conform to expectations that left little room for dreams. But she dared to imagine a different path—not just for herself, but for every girl in her community.
With the support of the Population Foundation of India, Jyoti began forming girls’ groups, speaking openly about menstrual health, launching a sanitary pad bank, and even setting up free computer literacy classes. Today, at just 19, she is training for the Bihar Police, all while continuing to inspire dozens of young girls to believe in their right to dream.
TheCSRUniverse had the privilege of speaking with Jyoti to learn more about her journey, her motivations, and the change she hopes to create. Read along to hear, in her own words, how courage, clarity, and community are shaping a better future.
Q&A
Q. Jyoti, can you take us back to the moment you decided to become a changemaker? What was the first issue you felt needed urgent attention in your village—and how did that moment shape the journey you've taken to become a role model for so many young girls today?
A. I’m currently undergoing training for Bihar Police in the Katihar district after clearing the final screening test—a big achievement for both me and my family. I come from a small village in Akbarpur Block of Nawada and a financially weak background. My father is a daily wage laborer, and growing up, we faced many struggles. Even basic needs like education, clean water, and menstrual hygiene were hard to access. Still, I always dreamt of doing something meaningful—not just for myself but for other girls like me.
The turning point came when I joined a girls’ group formed by the Population Foundation of India. Initially, my family didn’t allow me to attend the meetings. But once I explained to my mother what we were learning—about menstrual health, girls’ rights, and empowerment—she began to support me. In 2021, I was selected as a Youth Champion. I formed two adolescent girls’ groups with 55 members. Together, we started a sanitary pad bank, ran awareness campaigns on menstrual hygiene, and worked to solve local issues like the lack of clean drinking water.
As I got more involved, I grew confident. I began participating in webinars, sharing our work, and preparing for the Bihar Police exam. After I qualified, many girls in my community felt inspired. They approached me to ask how they too could work toward their dreams. Our Kishori Club meetings became a space where girls talked about their life goals—one wanted to join the Army, another to become a nurse, others aimed to be teachers or government officers. Around 16 girls are now working relentlessly toward their aspirations.
Now that I’ve joined Bihar Police, I’ve become a role model for many in my village—especially those who once felt afraid to even dream. And that’s what motivates me most: showing them that change is possible, and it starts with believing in yourself.
Q. From forming girls’ groups to launching menstrual hygiene drives and computer literacy classes, how did you overcome the social barriers that often silence young women?
A. In my village, one of the biggest problems was that girls never spoke for themselves. Many of us faced eve-teasing and harassment and found it very hard to continue going to school and tuition. When all the adolescent girls used to sit together in Kishori Club meetings, we discussed this issue as well. We realized that speaking up against such harmful practices was important for bringing change. We also discussed this with community members and elders. Initially we were hesitant and scared to share this issue. . I realized that staying quiet was part of the problem. That’s when we all decided to raise our voices and also encourage other girls in the group to speak up and object to such practices.
There was also a lot of silence around menstruation. Talking about it was seen as shameful. Many girls weren’t allowed to go out or express their needs. Kishori Club became a safe space to challenge these taboos. We discussed menstrual health and debunked common myths—like not touching pickles or wearing new clothes during periods. With support from Sheela Didi from the Population Foundation of India, we held regular discussions and encouraged open dialogue.
Eventually, we started a sanitary pad bank. Each member contributed Rs. 30 monthly to buy pads in bulk. Initially, the community resisted. But as they saw the impact, their views changed. Even newly married women, whose mobility was restricted, started coming to us for pads. Parents began sending their daughters to learn about menstrual health.
We also engaged with parents and elders without fear or shame. Slowly, more girls began attending the sessions, speaking confidently, and even returning to school.
Q. What has been the most challenging part of your journey, and what kept you going even during moments of doubt or fear?
A. I faced several challenges. The biggest challenge was dealing with criticism from community members and restrictions from my relatives. They constantly pressured my parents to stop me and even scared them by saying it could affect fixing my marriage.
Many people did not believe that girls should be leaders. Especially for girls nearing 18, they believed we should focus on household chores and stay indoors. The idea of adolescent girls openly discussing their issues was not socially acceptable. In the beginning, even the girls were hesitant to speak. Most didn’t say anything beyond their names. It took months to get them to open up and express themselves.
The biggest support came from my mother, who kept me going with her motivation and appreciation. My friends who joined me in this initiative also stood by me. During the most challenging times, the support from my mother and the platform and guidance provided by Population Foundation of India kept me going. My belief that I could help change lives gave me strength. What kept me going relentlessly was seeing girls begin to dream again and take steps toward their goals. We all believed that we could bring change to help girls aspire and flourish in their lives.
Q. Have you seen changes in how girls and women perceive themselves since you began your initiatives? Can you share a story that moved you?
A. Yes, I’ve seen significant changes. Earlier, girls were too shy to speak in public. Now, they confidently share their views. In our Kishori Club meetings, we noticed girls starting to report harassment to their parents—something they avoided earlier out of fear their education might be stopped. That fear is fading.
One girl, just 16, was about to be married. After joining our group, she learned about her rights and the value of education. She stopped the marriage—with our group’s support—and convinced her parents. Today, she’s studying in college and is a role model herself.
Another girl delayed marriage to prepare for an Army job. She is now working hard toward that goal.
Earlier, people believed girls should be married by 18. Now, those same parents say, “We want to educate our daughters and make them independent.” Mothers speak more openly about menstruation, health, and other vital topics. These shifts give me hope for a brighter future.
Q. What steps have you taken to ensure that initiatives like the sanitary pad bank and digital classes continue to grow and benefit others, even as you take on new responsibilities or scale your efforts?
A. Even as I undergo Bihar Police training, the two Kishori Clubs I formed remain active. The girls have taken leadership roles and are managing the sanitary pad banks on their own. Ongoing group discussions have helped build confidence and leadership in my absence.
When I recently visited my village, I met the girls and shared my journey to inspire them. I believe that with self-belief and confidence—something I gained through the Population Foundation of India—anything is possible.
I continue to encourage the girls to make use of every opportunity to take the lead, speak up and represent their needs. I believe that if I could inspire even a few then the process of coming together on a platform, discussing concerns and supporting one another will help build leadership that can sustain and be passed on from one girl to another in community.
Q. How has Population Foundation of India supported your journey—not just through training or resources, but also in building your confidence and leadership voice?
A. Population Foundation of India has been like a foundation stone in my journey. It gave me the strength to speak up, understand my potential and become a leader as a Youth Champion. I first joined the adolescent group as a member and after a few months in 2020 I was selected as a Youth Champion.
I got constant support from Population Foundation of India and Sheela Didi was always there to guide and encourage me. Through the program, we received detailed training on important issues for adolescents like menstrual health and hygiene, bodily changes, gender-based violence, and other topics that matter at our age. This gave us both knowledge and the confidence to spread awareness, with the proud identity of being Youth Champions.
Our work wasn’t just limited to adolescent girls or Kishori Club meetings. We also spoke up against myths, handled resistance from families and the community and we took part in community processes like Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Committee (VHSNC) meetings and health days to ensure communities from different sections actively participate. We informed girls about Yuva Clinics and helped them access the services.
Even during COVID, we didn’t stop. We continued our work and made sure girls had access to sanitary pads during the lockdown. Along with other girls from my Kishori Clubs, I also took leadership to raise the issue of water scarcity in our area and helped stop a child marriage in our village.
During my time with the Population Foundation of India, I got so many opportunities to attend trainings, workshops, and learning sessions both online and in person. More than anything, this journey helped me build my confidence and leadership voice, and I feel proud that I was able to inspire many other girls along the way.
Q. Were there any particular workshops, campaigns, or mentorship sessions that sparked a turning point for you as a youth leader?
A. Yes, the workshops and trainings facilitated by Population Foundation of India on adolescent well being, rights and leadership was truly life-changing. It made me realize that I am not alone and that my voice matters. It also helped me plan doable actions to bring change in my village.
When I met other youth champions from Nawada and Darbhanga, I felt a strong sense of unity. We all shared the same dream of creating a better world, one led by young people like us. Our insecurities, strengths and visions were very similar. We all wanted to improve the lives of young girls.
These workshops also gave us the space to discuss and learn different approaches, which helped not just in our community work but also in our academic journey. One thing we all gained was confidence and with that, we began to dream and have aspirations for our futures.
Q. What is your message to young girls across rural India who may feel powerless or unheard today?
A. I want to say this to all girls that you are not weak. You have a voice, and you have the power and ability to shape your own life. Speak up, stay strong and never stop learning. This should be your motto. Don’t let society define your limits.
When you start moving forward, many people may try to create obstacles. But once you achieve your goals, those same people will come forward, praise you and take pride in your name. So keep moving ahead on your own path. I say this from my own experience. As a girl who once felt ordinary to someone who is now unafraid to speak her mind in front of anyone.
Q. If you had the opportunity to address the CSR and development sector, what would you say about the kind of support that truly empowers grassroots youth leaders?
A. Any investment in nurturing a cadre of youth leaders sparks not just vibrant change, but lasting transformation. Yes—invest in long-term mentorship and sustained leadership development. Grassroots youth need more than just workshops; they need consistent guidance, real opportunities, and, above all, trust. Support locally-led initiatives and allow young leaders to shape their own solutions. Give them platforms to express themselves, raise their voices, and take ownership of decisions that impact their lives.
Q. What are your dreams for the next five years—for yourself, and for your village? How do you want your work to grow?
A. Getting selected for the Bihar Police and undergoing training in Katihar has been a dream come true—it's my first step toward becoming a changemaker in uniform. Over the next five years, I aim to inspire more girls to take on leadership roles, prevent child marriage, promote education for all and continue working to improve the lives of girls and women by raising awareness about their basic rights and entitlements.
I also want every girl to believe that she can achieve something meaningful in life. I make it a point to meet with young girls and women, encouraging them to recognize their strengths and speak up for their rights. I want my work and influence to grow in a way that brings real, positive change to my community so that more "Jyotis" can emerge. I want girls to dream bigger and achieve even greater things in life.
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