Sapna Rathod (Name changed), a resident of Sevapur Tanda, is a determined adolescent girl who has successfully passed Grade 10 with 54% marks. She actively leads as the President of the Bharat Mata Kishori Group, demonstrating strong leadership and commitment toward her own development and that of other girls in her community.

Coming from a vulnerable background, Sapna lives with her grandmother and younger brother on the tanda, while her parents work in Latur for their livelihood. Despite managing household responsibilities, she remained consistent in her education and participation in group activities.

The challenge began early in her life. While she was in Grade 8, discussions about her child marriage had already started within her family. Through regular Kishori Group meetings, Sapna had gained awareness about the harmful effects of child marriage and the importance of continuing education. Although she initially tried to convince her grandmother, her views were not accepted at that time.

Recognizing the risk, the issue was taken up in group discussions, followed by a home visit and counselling of her grandmother. With continuous dialogue and awareness about legal provisions and long-term consequences, the family agreed to postpone her marriage at least until the completion of Grade 10. Gradually, her grandmother also began attending parent meetings, showing a positive shift in attitude.

The turning point came on the day Sapna received her Grade 10 results. Despite scoring 54%, her family felt disappointed, and on the same day, guests arrived with a marriage proposal. Soon after, pressure was created on her to discontinue her education. The next day, Sapna learned that her marriage had been informally finalized.

At this critical moment, Sapna displayed remarkable courage and clarity. She firmly expressed her decision by saying, “I do not want to get married.” With support from her mother, she was given a chance to speak directly with the prospective groom. During this interaction, she realized that he had limited education and no interest in continuing studies.

This strengthened her resolve. Sapna confidently communicated to her parents, “A person who does not understand the value of education will never allow me to continue mine.” Her clarity, confidence, and determination convinced her family to reconsider. Eventually, they respected her decision and informed the guests that the marriage would not take place.

This transformation was made possible through continuous support mechanisms such as regular Kishori Group meetings, family counselling through home visits, active participation in parent meetings, and confidence-building through Life Skills Education sessions. Despite facing challenges like family pressure, economic constraints, and social expectations, Sapna overcame them through knowledge, self-confidence, and strong communication.

Today, Sapna stands as an empowered adolescent who has successfully rejected child marriage and is determined to pursue further education. Her journey reflects the power of adolescent leadership, awareness, and life skills in transforming lives and challenging deep-rooted social norms.