(January 17, 2024) Every year, India witnesses millions of girls dropping out of school due to a lack of transport facilities to educational institutions. The lack of security for these young girls has pushed several parents to keep them locked up in their houses. While several non-profit organisations and politicians have been working to rectify the situation by spreading awareness, a young 16-year-old activist decided to do something more concrete.
Jivya Lamba
Jivya Lamba, a class XII student from Haryana, was so disturbed after she visited a local village, that she spent several days thereafter searching for a solution to this grievous, yet unaddressed issue. “During the pandemic, I was a volunteer to distribute food, and sanitary products to people in the nearby village. During one such visit, I met with a few girls, who during the interaction told me that many of them had to leave the school after attaining puberty. When I asked for the reason, they said that their school was quite far away, and since the road to the institute wasn’t safe their parents thought it better to keep them at home,” the activist said.
After a few sleepless nights of researching the issue, Jivya stumbled upon the idea of installing GPS trackers on the bicycles of these girls, which can be used by their parents to know where they are at any time – a campaign she named WeCycle. It was quite a simple but effective idea, which helped reduce high school dropout rates among girls and increased their participation in studies – winning Jivya, the prestigious Diana Award, 2023.
Donning many hats
Academically brilliant, Jivya has been vocal about various causes since she was quite young. She has even represented her school internationally in various debate competitions. “Since the age of 11, debating has been a defining journey for me. Winning medals at the World Scholars Cup Global Round and Yale’s Tournament of Champions showcased my dedication and passion for debating. Beyond competitions, debating expanded my perspective. During the pandemic, I invested time in enhancing my skills and earned more medals in the 2022 World Scholars Cup. This journey was more than just a competition; it represents my continuous growth and the profound impact of words,” the activist expressed.
Jivya handing out her book to girls at a rural school
However, it was when the pandemic hit the nation, that the youngster started actively volunteering at the grassroots level. The Global Indian, along with a few friends, collected steam vaporisers, PPE kits, face masks, home testing kits, and sanitary products for free distribution in the village and other deprived areas. They also volunteered to distribute home-cooked meals to not just the needy, but also to COVID-19-positive patients and their family members. “The pandemic highlighted how desperately we needed to reach out to others and offer help. However, it became evident that even though many people recognised this need, the drive to take the initiative was lacking. So, I thought about taking a step and started working with underprivileged communities,” shared the activist, who is also a trained singer.
A true changemaker
It was during one such distribution errand that the activist came across the issue of girl safety. However, that was just the tip of the iceberg. Many girls, who had attained puberty, were unaware of menstrual health and various related syndromes. “Through my interaction with these girls in rural areas, it became quite clear that they had very little understanding of the changes caused by the onset of puberty and lack guidance on how to tackle it.” shared the activist, adding, “They are reserved and uncomfortable speaking about menstruation, adding to lack of confidence. Some had symptoms similar to PCOS but lacked awareness or community support.”
The young activist talking to parents at school
The activist then invested her time in creating an educational handbook, forming support groups, and actively engaging with families and community leaders to promote awareness about menstrual health. “The idea is to not just spread awareness, but also open a dialogue about these issues. My handbook is developed in the regional language, to make sure that everyone who reads it understands the concepts,” shared the activist, adding, “WeCycle is a step forward in the direction of free mobility for our young female students, athletes, and future-generation mothers. I am committed to making lives easy for these girls and my heart goes out to them.”
