A Young Change maker Against Child Marriage

Lalita Shahi, born on October 3, 2006, in Ward No. 4 of Raskot Municipality, is an inspiring young social activist. Born to Kalam Shahi and Paru Shahi, Lalita grew up with two brothers and two sisters. A playful child, she completed her primary education at Shambhunath Primary School in her ward. Her life took a transformative turn when the Girls standing Strong Project, run by Plan International Nepal in partnership with HURENDEC Nepal, was implemented in her community.

Lalita participated in the COC (Changemakers) class under the project, which introduced her to child rights and societal issues like child marriage and gender discrimination. Inspired by the lessons, she joined the village children’s club and actively engaged in school extracurricular activities, earning the admiration of her teachers and classmates. Her dedication and leadership qualities were evident early on, as she took on the role of treasurer of the Jagruk Yuva Club in her ward.

As Lalita progressed in her education, joining Shree Badimalika Secondary School in Ward No. 5, her awareness deepened. She learned about harmful practices such as Chhaupadi, gender discrimination, and the impact of child marriage on health and education. These realizations inspired her to campaign actively against these age-old traditions. Lalita started raising her voice in her family and community, urging people to abandon harmful practices like untouchability and forcing women to stay outside during menstruation. Her determination to create change made her a well-known advocate in her village.

After completing the COC class, Lalita joined the Kishori Club under the Empowered Girls Project and participated in a district-level youth gathering. Her leadership abilities shone as she was elected President of the District-Level Youth Network. In her new role, Lalita worked tirelessly on behalf of youth and children. She actively campaigned against child marriage, even facing resistance and criticism from some families. Despite these challenges, her persistence paid off, as she managed to stop child marriages and gained respect from her community. Lalita’s impactful work led to her participation in the Model Youth Municipal Assembly Practice Program, where her efforts were widely praised. She won the position of Deputy Mayor by a significant margin. Subsequently, she was recommended by the municipality to participate in the Model Youth Provincial Assembly Practice Program in Karnali Province, where she served as Speaker. Her leadership inspired other young people to join the fight against harmful social practices. With the support of local governments, she has motivated many to take an active role in reducing child marriage and promoting gender equality. Thanks to Lalita’s activism and collaboration with the community and stakeholders, Ward No. 4 of Raskot Municipality was declared the first child marriage-free ward. Lalita believes that with similar efforts in all wards, the municipality can soon become a child marriage-free zone. Lalita Shahi’s journey from a playful child to a dedicated activist demonstrates the power of awareness, education, and persistence. She expressed her gratitude, saying, “I am thankful to Plan International Nepal and HURENDEC Nepal for helping me reach this point. I will continue this campaign to bring about even more change.”