Reclaiming Her Identity

“If you educate a man, you educate an individual. But, if you educate a woman, you educate a family and a nation”

~Savitribai Phule

A quote that turned real for Geeta Kalawat and many families around her. Hailing from Bediya community in Madhya Pradesh, Geeta Kalawat had always been a girl with a million dreams. But coming from a family with three sisters and one brother, she wasn’t sure what altitude the flight of her dreams would make it up to? While the resources to support her dreams were scarce, but her dreams were plenty. 

But her parents wanted to support her till it was possible. So, she was sent to Govt. School in her village, from where she successfully completed her education till 8th standard in 2018. But due to poor economic condition, long distance to school and most importantly lack of understanding of educational importance, she had to drop out. She knew there was no way she would be able to continue it.

But CRY knew it had to make it happen, for Geeta once and for many girls like Geeta who had walked into her footsteps before owing to similar circumstances.

And with CRY’s will in place, HCL paved the way! After a three-year halt, in 2021, the team started a new intervention wherein it conducted a survey for drop out students. After counselling, among many others, Geeta also expressed her powerful desire to continue her education, but provided her parents support her decision. 

So, the team set out on a long counselling journey wherein first, Geeta’s parents were counselled on the importance of education and how it would prove to be a game-changer for her. Since none of the family members had ever studied beyond 8th standard, they faintly understood the importance. Especially for a girl to study beyond 8th, it was something unimaginable for them.

But sustained efforts, and a homely rapport of the team with her parents finally made them agree! But the real task was yet unfinished. It was making Geeta confident enough to continue with her studies. 

The entire work began with supporting Geeta through the Child Activity Centre (CAC). She would relearn to read and write there for three months straight. And finally, in December 2021, she was enrolled into the formal education system once again through National Institute of Open Learning (NIOS).

With exams in upcoming July, Geeta decided to appear for it. But little did she know that the examination centre would be 100km away from her home. People around her once again told her that it was impossible. But the team ensured that she reached her centre bypassing the heavy rainfall and distance that came in her way. 

She wrote the paper, hopeful of what lay ahead in the future! Yet when the results came out, she could not pass it. And as it happens, her family once again asked her to trade off between career and marriage as the latter would bring her a definite future.

But because team CRY with its years of experience knew, the picture may not be rosy at first but is definitely worth it in the end; it never lost its optimism. The team counselled her parents once again, this time not for her zeal to learn, but for letting her gain a degree that would make all her effort until then worth it. 

They decided to give it one more chance, and in 2023, Geeta was enrolled again for the examination through NIOS. Her efforts shone bright, and she made it successfully through her 10th standard examination, becoming the first in her family to have achieved the milestone. 

Now was the time, she was officially ready to make it to her Senior Secondary Education class, class 11th. But there had to be a fee paid for the enrolment as the plan was to shift her from Open Board to M.P State Board. Her family hesitated, thinking she had already completed a certain level of education. Paying any extra would not add up to anything. But with Educator’s efforts in place, the family once again agreed to pay the amount. 

Geeta outshone all, this time acing her 11th standard examination with First Division. The achievement was widely recognised and appreciated in the village and proved to be a significant booster for her confidence. Now she is finally preparing for her 12th standard examination. 

So, with the CRY-HCL team’s efforts and her will power, the flight of her dreams took off and to an altitude unimaginable for many around her! What made it even more impressive, was the fact that she looks forward to serving the society as a Teacher. She believes the organisation’s intervention at the right time, changed everything for her and so she wishes to be the right mentor guiding, at the right time for others like herself around her too.