let me tell you about a really really remarkable girl that I know and she’s
remarkable girl that I know and she’s
remarkable girl that I know and she’s only 17 years old she loves bicycling
only 17 years old she loves bicycling
only 17 years old she loves bicycling she uses education to talk about the
she uses education to talk about the
she uses education to talk about the value of girls staying in school and
value of girls staying in school and
value of girls staying in school and she’s also challenging outdated gender
she’s also challenging outdated gender
she’s also challenging outdated gender norms in uttar pradesh india
norms in uttar pradesh india
norms in uttar pradesh india this is raj knee and you know you may
this is raj knee and you know you may
this is raj knee and you know you may not have heard roger his name before but
not have heard roger his name before but
not have heard roger his name before but i assure you every single person in her
i assure you every single person in her
i assure you every single person in her village has and that’s because when raj
village has and that’s because when raj
village has and that’s because when raj knee was only 14 years old she her
knee was only 14 years old she her
knee was only 14 years old she her parents did something that is actually
parents did something that is actually
parents did something that is actually quite normalized unfortunately in that
quite normalized unfortunately in that
quite normalized unfortunately in that part of northern india and that is they
part of northern india and that is they
part of northern india and that is they arranged her marriage but it’s not
arranged her marriage but it’s not
arranged her marriage but it’s not exactly what Rodney it’s not the
exactly what Rodney it’s not the
exactly what Rodney it’s not the arranged marriage itself that is why raj
arranged marriage itself that is why raj
arranged marriage itself that is why raj knee is known because in uttar pradesh
knee is known because in uttar pradesh
knee is known because in uttar pradesh the state where i work 2.8 million
the state where i work 2.8 million
the state where i work 2.8 million children are married under age 18 and in
children are married under age 18 and in
children are married under age 18 and in a country India with the sixth largest
a country India with the sixth largest
a country India with the sixth largest rate of child marriages youtuber – is
rate of child marriages youtuber – is
rate of child marriages youtuber – is number one so it’s actually what
number one so it’s actually what
number one so it’s actually what happened as a result of this really you
happened as a result of this really you
happened as a result of this really you know horrendous situation what that
know horrendous situation what that
know horrendous situation what that makes Raja knee so incredible and that
makes Raja knee so incredible and that
makes Raja knee so incredible and that is she fought back she not only stopped
is she fought back she not only stopped
is she fought back she not only stopped her own marriage she went further and
her own marriage she went further and
her own marriage she went further and she stopped three child marriages in her
she stopped three child marriages in her
she stopped three child marriages in her community so you know when I met Raja
community so you know when I met Raja
community so you know when I met Raja knee in 2015 and this is her community
knee in 2015 and this is her community
knee in 2015 and this is her community in situ foiler newtripper – she was
in situ foiler newtripper – she was
in situ foiler newtripper – she was actually biking 35 miles per day
actually biking 35 miles per day
actually biking 35 miles per day roundtrip
roundtrip
roundtrip just to get to school and over the past
just to get to school and over the past
just to get to school and over the past year and a half that I’ve known her she
year and a half that I’ve known her she
year and a half that I’ve known her she has really become a respected voice in
has really become a respected voice in
has really become a respected voice in her community I think this picture helps
her community I think this picture helps
her community I think this picture helps clarify that so while you all might not
clarify that so while you all might not
clarify that so while you all might not know raj news name you probably most
know raj news name you probably most
know raj news name you probably most likely know the name of 19 year old
likely know the name of 19 year old
likely know the name of 19 year old Pakistani activist Malala and for those
Pakistani activist Malala and for those
Pakistani activist Malala and for those that don’t know Malala was just like
that don’t know Malala was just like
that don’t know Malala was just like Raja nee spent her youth fighting
Raja nee spent her youth fighting
Raja nee spent her youth fighting against inequalities and just to get an
against inequalities and just to get an
against inequalities and just to get an education and was injured in Taliban
education and was injured in Taliban
education and was injured in Taliban occupied territory at age 14 at 17 she
occupied territory at age 14 at 17 she
occupied territory at age 14 at 17 she was the youngest person to receive a
was the youngest person to receive a
was the youngest person to receive a Nobel Peace Prize so the question I have
Nobel Peace Prize so the question I have
Nobel Peace Prize so the question I have is what does it mean that you know
is what does it mean that you know
is what does it mean that you know malala’s name but you probably don’t
malala’s name but you probably don’t
malala’s name but you probably don’t know Raja nice name and should the goal
know Raja nice name and should the goal
know Raja nice name and should the goal be to turn Raja knees into globe into
be to turn Raja knees into globe into
be to turn Raja knees into globe into malala’s via broadening their exposure
malala’s via broadening their exposure
malala’s via broadening their exposure globally and does success look the same
globally and does success look the same
globally and does success look the same in different areas of development so I’d
in different areas of development so I’d
in different areas of development so I’d like to examine how the seed of change
like to examine how the seed of change
like to examine how the seed of change has planted both on the larger global
has planted both on the larger global
has planted both on the larger global scale as well as on the rural community
scale as well as on the rural community
scale as well as on the rural community level and how that helps to drive a
level and how that helps to drive a
level and how that helps to drive a fundamental mindset from both angles so
fundamental mindset from both angles so
fundamental mindset from both angles so and additionally how can we even begin
and additionally how can we even begin
and additionally how can we even begin to make a dent in a world where amazing
to make a dent in a world where amazing
to make a dent in a world where amazing girls like Malala and Raj knee are
girls like Malala and Raj knee are
girls like Malala and Raj knee are facing such like you know
facing such like you know
facing such like you know extraordinarily horrible circumstances
extraordinarily horrible circumstances
extraordinarily horrible circumstances so when I left the country to work in
so when I left the country to work in
so when I left the country to work in the development sector almost five years
the development sector almost five years
the development sector almost five years ago I had the opportunity to work in
ago I had the opportunity to work in
ago I had the opportunity to work in Thailand with some really amazing women
Thailand with some really amazing women
Thailand with some really amazing women and that would later drive me to work in
and that would later drive me to work in
and that would later drive me to work in a Calcutta India and I worked for a
a Calcutta India and I worked for a
a Calcutta India and I worked for a non-profit where we worked with women to
non-profit where we worked with women to
non-profit where we worked with women to upskill them in rural areas and then
upskill them in rural areas and then
upskill them in rural areas and then they would migrate to urban areas and
they would migrate to urban areas and
they would migrate to urban areas and get jobs there and what I was really
get jobs there and what I was really
get jobs there and what I was really struck with working with these women was
struck with working with these women was
struck with working with these women was the vast potential that they had and
the vast potential that they had and
the vast potential that they had and also the passion for education
also the passion for education
also the passion for education information but unfortunately as
information but unfortunately as
information but unfortunately as adolescents they just did not have
adolescents they just did not have
adolescents they just did not have access to education as they deserve so I
access to education as they deserve so I
access to education as they deserve so I began to imagine a world where women
began to imagine a world where women
began to imagine a world where women like these women they were identified
like these women they were identified
like these women they were identified younger and they were appreciated in
younger and they were appreciated in
younger and they were appreciated in their own communities for their tenacity
their own communities for their tenacity
their own communities for their tenacity and for their intellect and this got me
and for their intellect and this got me
and for their intellect and this got me thinking about the potential of working
thinking about the potential of working
thinking about the potential of working with adolescent girls and I started
with adolescent girls and I started
with adolescent girls and I started thinking about investing in them to
thinking about investing in them to
thinking about investing in them to remain in their communities and drive
remain in their communities and drive
remain in their communities and drive the change themselves so I moved to
the change themselves so I moved to
the change themselves so I moved to Lucknow in the state of Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow in the state of Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow in the state of Uttar Pradesh and worked for the organisation Milan
and worked for the organisation Milan
and worked for the organisation Milan and this is when I co-founded girl icons
and this is when I co-founded girl icons
and this is when I co-founded girl icons and to tell you a little bit about the
and to tell you a little bit about the
and to tell you a little bit about the girl icon program the girl like on
girl icon program the girl like on
girl icon program the girl like on program recognizes girls ages 12 through
program recognizes girls ages 12 through
program recognizes girls ages 12 through 18 for a period of two years and we
18 for a period of two years and we
18 for a period of two years and we assign them mentors we do very
assign them mentors we do very
assign them mentors we do very comprehensive leadership training with
comprehensive leadership training with
comprehensive leadership training with them
them
them residential leadership training and we
residential leadership training and we
residential leadership training and we also give them very small grants and we
also give them very small grants and we
also give them very small grants and we help them develop a peer group of 20
help them develop a peer group of 20
help them develop a peer group of 20 plus girls within their communities so
plus girls within their communities so
plus girls within their communities so that those groups can go out and do
that those groups can go out and do
that those groups can go out and do three social action projects and the
three social action projects and the
three social action projects and the idea is a radiating effect of change so
idea is a radiating effect of change so
idea is a radiating effect of change so take a breather I want you all to
take a breather I want you all to
take a breather I want you all to imagine just for one minute
imagine just for one minute
imagine just for one minute an orange just a single orange so I want
an orange just a single orange so I want
an orange just a single orange so I want to imagine that you cut the orange and
to imagine that you cut the orange and
to imagine that you cut the orange and then you pick out each seed and you have
then you pick out each seed and you have
then you pick out each seed and you have the seeds in your hand and you can
the seeds in your hand and you can
the seeds in your hand and you can probably tell me how many seeds you have
probably tell me how many seeds you have
probably tell me how many seeds you have in your hand then I want you and imagine
in your hand then I want you and imagine
in your hand then I want you and imagine that you take one of those seeds and you
that you take one of those seeds and you
that you take one of those seeds and you look really really closely at it like
look really really closely at it like
look really really closely at it like really closely do you think that you
really closely do you think that you
really closely do you think that you could then tell me how many oranges are
could then tell me how many oranges are
could then tell me how many oranges are in that seed probably not how many
in that seed probably not how many
in that seed probably not how many groves how many trees are in that seed
groves how many trees are in that seed
groves how many trees are in that seed so and furthermore if you were to take
so and furthermore if you were to take
so and furthermore if you were to take that one seed and you were to plant it
that one seed and you were to plant it
that one seed and you were to plant it in a dry barren climate and you were to
in a dry barren climate and you were to
in a dry barren climate and you were to give it support and nurturing it might
give it support and nurturing it might
give it support and nurturing it might become a tree and then that tree might
become a tree and then that tree might
become a tree and then that tree might become an orange grove and then
become an orange grove and then
become an orange grove and then hopefully that grove would nurture an
hopefully that grove would nurture an
hopefully that grove would nurture an entire lush ecosystem around it that’s
entire lush ecosystem around it that’s
entire lush ecosystem around it that’s the hope so this is what we’re trying to
the hope so this is what we’re trying to
the hope so this is what we’re trying to achieve with the girl icon program we
achieve with the girl icon program we
achieve with the girl icon program we take we reach out and select those seeds
take we reach out and select those seeds
take we reach out and select those seeds we nurture them to grow into prosperous
we nurture them to grow into prosperous
we nurture them to grow into prosperous trees and then they reach out they grow
trees and then they reach out they grow
trees and then they reach out they grow their roots and they build lush
their roots and they build lush
their roots and they build lush ecosystems of peers and enlightened
ecosystems of peers and enlightened
ecosystems of peers and enlightened communities so because in a country
communities so because in a country
communities so because in a country where and this is a hard one one in 100
where and this is a hard one one in 100
where and this is a hard one one in 100 girls in rural India complete 12th grade
girls in rural India complete 12th grade
girls in rural India complete 12th grade really difficult statistic in a country
really difficult statistic in a country
really difficult statistic in a country where this is actually true the process
where this is actually true the process
where this is actually true the process so it’s a really long and tough road for
so it’s a really long and tough road for
so it’s a really long and tough road for girls like Rajan II but the good news is
girls like Rajan II but the good news is
girls like Rajan II but the good news is the process starts with just one seed
the process starts with just one seed
the process starts with just one seed so I want you to meet eighteen-year-old
so I want you to meet eighteen-year-old
so I want you to meet eighteen-year-old cyber and cyber is also a girl icon but
cyber and cyber is also a girl icon but
cyber and cyber is also a girl icon but her story previous to becoming a girl
her story previous to becoming a girl
her story previous to becoming a girl icon is actually a little bit harsher
icon is actually a little bit harsher
icon is actually a little bit harsher she um suffered through years of abuse
she um suffered through years of abuse
she um suffered through years of abuse at her father’s hands and her father
at her father’s hands and her father
at her father’s hands and her father actually multiple times unenrolled her
actually multiple times unenrolled her
actually multiple times unenrolled her from school in other word she would go
from school in other word she would go
from school in other word she would go to school she would enroll she would be
to school she would enroll she would be
to school she would enroll she would be in school and he would come and unenroll
in school and he would come and unenroll
in school and he would come and unenroll her and so you know battling through
her and so you know battling through
her and so you know battling through this for years eventually Sipho had to
this for years eventually Sipho had to
this for years eventually Sipho had to watch her entire village burned down
still cybo is a strong young woman and
still cybo is a strong young woman and uh you know she came out of this and now
uh you know she came out of this and now
uh you know she came out of this and now has a strong peer group she’s used her
has a strong peer group she’s used her
has a strong peer group she’s used her voice to build a strong peer group and
voice to build a strong peer group and
voice to build a strong peer group and she also works on the community radio as
she also works on the community radio as
she also works on the community radio as a DJ and she also tutors girls in her
a DJ and she also tutors girls in her
a DJ and she also tutors girls in her community
community
community um she’s a very tenacious young lady so
now again you might not know psifas name
now again you might not know psifas name right but like raj knee those one or two
right but like raj knee those one or two
right but like raj knee those one or two villages or those communities
villages or those communities
villages or those communities surrounding cybo they definitely have
surrounding cybo they definitely have
surrounding cybo they definitely have heard psifas name and its leaders like
heard psifas name and its leaders like
heard psifas name and its leaders like cybo or raj nee that can really be role
cybo or raj nee that can really be role
cybo or raj nee that can really be role models to girls in those communities on
models to girls in those communities on
models to girls in those communities on the ground and then can begin to even
the ground and then can begin to even
the ground and then can begin to even start to make an impact from the ground
start to make an impact from the ground
start to make an impact from the ground up and what these girls can start doing
up and what these girls can start doing
up and what these girls can start doing in order to build this lush ecosystem is
in order to build this lush ecosystem is
in order to build this lush ecosystem is they can start this process of
they can start this process of
they can start this process of transformation and to do that they have
transformation and to do that they have
transformation and to do that they have to first start by recognizing the
to first start by recognizing the
to first start by recognizing the barriers that exist for girls like cybo
barriers that exist for girls like cybo
barriers that exist for girls like cybo and Raj Dee then they can move forward
and Raj Dee then they can move forward
and Raj Dee then they can move forward with therapy
with therapy
with therapy to reconcile and that is a process of
to reconcile and that is a process of
to reconcile and that is a process of healing they need to they have seen
healing they need to they have seen
healing they need to they have seen these barriers or they need to heal and
these barriers or they need to heal and
these barriers or they need to heal and work through it with the community and
work through it with the community and
work through it with the community and the last part of the process which is
the last part of the process which is
the last part of the process which is one of the most important is rebuild so
one of the most important is rebuild so
one of the most important is rebuild so then they can work with their peers with
then they can work with their peers with
then they can work with their peers with their parents with the local government
their parents with the local government
their parents with the local government and they can rebuild to create a
and they can rebuild to create a
and they can rebuild to create a beautiful new ecosystem of change and
beautiful new ecosystem of change and
beautiful new ecosystem of change and cyber and Rodney are all working
cyber and Rodney are all working
cyber and Rodney are all working together right now in northern India to
together right now in northern India to
together right now in northern India to rebuild and create a host of peers who
rebuild and create a host of peers who
rebuild and create a host of peers who are all setting out roots of change so I
are all setting out roots of change so I
are all setting out roots of change so I think it’s really important that we
think it’s really important that we
think it’s really important that we don’t forget about these young leaders
don’t forget about these young leaders
don’t forget about these young leaders on the grassroots level especially when
on the grassroots level especially when
on the grassroots level especially when we’re thinking about the larger global
we’re thinking about the larger global
we’re thinking about the larger global vision of change and this doesn’t always
vision of change and this doesn’t always
vision of change and this doesn’t always mean that we export those local voices
mean that we export those local voices
mean that we export those local voices into the global eye we need to equip
into the global eye we need to equip
into the global eye we need to equip those voices with skills and then we
those voices with skills and then we
those voices with skills and then we need to send them back into the village
need to send them back into the village
need to send them back into the village where they can then use those skills to
where they can then use those skills to
where they can then use those skills to enrich their communities and they can
enrich their communities and they can
enrich their communities and they can become the very relatable change next
become the very relatable change next
become the very relatable change next door so now I want you all to take
door so now I want you all to take
door so now I want you all to take another breather and to imagine
another breather and to imagine
another breather and to imagine yourselves in North India and you’re in
yourselves in North India and you’re in
yourselves in North India and you’re in a rural village perhaps somewhere and
a rural village perhaps somewhere and
a rural village perhaps somewhere and Sita Porter Pradesh and you don’t have
Sita Porter Pradesh and you don’t have
Sita Porter Pradesh and you don’t have access to TV but you might have radio
access to TV but you might have radio
access to TV but you might have radio and you probably don’t really have
and you probably don’t really have
and you probably don’t really have electricity I’m going to be honest but
electricity I’m going to be honest but
electricity I’m going to be honest but and that means no fans especially when
and that means no fans especially when
and that means no fans especially when it’s 104 degrees outside but and if you
it’s 104 degrees outside but and if you
it’s 104 degrees outside but and if you would like some water you can go outside
would like some water you can go outside
would like some water you can go outside and you can use the hand pump and get
and you can use the hand pump and get
and you can use the hand pump and get that water so sitting inside of your
that water so sitting inside of your
that water so sitting inside of your relatively cooler cottage like this one
relatively cooler cottage like this one
relatively cooler cottage like this one and looking outside I want you
and looking outside I want you
and looking outside I want you consider that all these girls and all
consider that all these girls and all
consider that all these girls and all the girls in this village they probably
the girls in this village they probably
the girls in this village they probably have never ever heard of Malala but the
have never ever heard of Malala but the
have never ever heard of Malala but the good news is they probably know Raj me
good news is they probably know Raj me
good news is they probably know Raj me and Siva they know a Raj me and cybo so
what I want us to do is to focus not
what I want us to do is to focus not only on the global activists but also
only on the global activists but also
only on the global activists but also there’s a real need to focus on the
there’s a real need to focus on the
there’s a real need to focus on the local in community activists on the
local in community activists on the
local in community activists on the ground who are sources of inspiration
ground who are sources of inspiration
ground who are sources of inspiration for their communities for their parents
for their communities for their parents
for their communities for their parents for everyone who’s within their their
for everyone who’s within their their
for everyone who’s within their their ecosystem and they can also act as
ecosystem and they can also act as
ecosystem and they can also act as guides towards something better see in
guides towards something better see in
guides towards something better see in order to create real systemic change we
order to create real systemic change we
order to create real systemic change we can’t work just from one direction we
can’t work just from one direction we
can’t work just from one direction we need the global visible activists like
need the global visible activists like
need the global visible activists like Malala but we also need the Raj DS and
Malala but we also need the Raj DS and
Malala but we also need the Raj DS and the Sai bus to transform from the ground
the Sai bus to transform from the ground
the Sai bus to transform from the ground up
imagine a very solid rock hard ground
imagine a very solid rock hard ground now with the proper support you can
now with the proper support you can
now with the proper support you can still nurture a tree to grow through
still nurture a tree to grow through
still nurture a tree to grow through that ground and its roots can still
that ground and its roots can still
that ground and its roots can still break through the ground and the girl
break through the ground and the girl
break through the ground and the girl icons are an example of how this can
icons are an example of how this can
icons are an example of how this can happen in real society because they’re
happen in real society because they’re
happen in real society because they’re now equipped with basic skills like
now equipped with basic skills like
now equipped with basic skills like financial literacy human rights and
financial literacy human rights and
financial literacy human rights and reproductive health so in this way it
reproductive health so in this way it
reproductive health so in this way it won’t take just one seed or one global
won’t take just one seed or one global
won’t take just one seed or one global voice to bring about change or to crack
voice to bring about change or to crack
voice to bring about change or to crack this ground it will take an ecosystem of
this ground it will take an ecosystem of
this ground it will take an ecosystem of fruitful trees agent
fruitful trees agent
fruitful trees agent of change and ideas to break these
of change and ideas to break these
of change and ideas to break these inequalities down and it will take a
inequalities down and it will take a
inequalities down and it will take a legion of girls like cybo Malala and Raj
legion of girls like cybo Malala and Raj
legion of girls like cybo Malala and Raj nee to drive this shift so I’m hopeful
nee to drive this shift so I’m hopeful
nee to drive this shift so I’m hopeful about the future
”
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