Khadija's diary

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Enhancing

agency and improved sexual and reproductive health

I am Khadija, a passionate changemaker of Magrahat - a small yet beautiful place in West Bengal state of India. My mission is to break down the barriers and myths surrounding sexual and reproductive health in my community.

With over 50 villages under its jurisdiction, Magrahat is vast and diverse. I travel from village to village on my trusty bike, reaching out to women and men of all ages. I conduct group sessions, provide individual counseling, organize youth fairs, and accompany my younger sisters to health facilities.

I want to create a place where women have access to information and resources to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.

The weather was getting cold. It was our first community session after our Durga Pooja celebrations. I was excited to start a new module for the community sessions – Life skills, gender, and rights. I was nervous as I had recently received training on new

Our training on new module modules, but I tried my best in executing it.

The session was a success, exceeding my expectations. The girls were receptive and absorbed the information I was imparting. I enjoy conducting group sessions in secure environments as the girls always exhibit enthusiasm, whether it's through quizzes, role-plays, or board games.

And like every community session, in this one too, once the session got over, girls started reaching out to me with their problems. But there was one girl who was standing in the corner and waiting for others to leave. Her name was Deepa, a 16-year-old who had traveled from the nearby village to attend the session.

Community session with girls and young women

When everyone left, Deepa finally came to me and asked for help.

Here is how our interaction went:

Deepa: Khadija di, please help me!

Me: What happened Deepa? All okay? Don't worry, you can freely talk to me. I will help you. Now tell me what happened.

Deepa: A marriage proposal has come for me. My parents are planning to accept it. Khadija di, I don't want to marry now. I am just 16! At least let me complete my school. Please talk to my parents di! They are not listening to me

Me: Don't worry Deepa! I will talk to your parents Let's go to your house today now.

I was eager to support Deepa in any way possible. I met Deepa's parents and educated them on the legal age for marriage, the significance of female education, and the ramifications of early pregnancy. I showed them informative videos and posters, yet their sole reply to all my efforts was that they would think about it.

I was not satisfied with the response. Deepa looked at me, with a look of dismay- her eyes told me that her parents were not convinced. That evening, I was unable to shake Deepa's case from my thoughts. Then it struck me! I approached an active Self Help Group from Deepa's village. I knew one of the members, so it was easy to set up a meeting with the group. Deepa joined me in the meeting, where she shared her circumstances. I repeated the information I had previously shared with her parents, but with a different approach. I asked each woman in the group about the challenges they faced due to early marriage. They agreed to speak with Deepa's mother. They began holding regular meetings with Deepa's parents, and I was now filled with hope for Deepa's future.

10 days later, Deepa called me and asked to meet immediately.

We met at nearby aanganwadi. I was getting restless as I waited for Deepa. What did she want to tell me? Deepa came running and immediately hugged me.

"Khadija di! My parents agreed! They rejected the proposal.

Didi tumi chhile bole ami benche gelam, ami eto taratari ektuo biye korte chaina (I got saved because you were there, I never wanted to get married at this early age)"

Deepa's unwavering resolve was my biggest victory!

My diary is filled with beautiful memories from my journey to make Magrahat a better place for women. Each story in my diary is a reminder of the power of community and the importance of spreading knowledge and agency.

disclaimer:

This diary is for representational purposes.

Names of individuals have been changed to protect their privacy.