Poonam from Govindpuri, Delhi
Age: 17 years

“My father was never keen on me and my older sister getting educated. We managed to study till Class 12 from a government school because our mother was very supportive. Once when I was in Class 9, my father debarred us from pursuing our education. We refused to just drop out; we continued studying at home without his knowledge and eventually convinced him to let us go back to school. We are now doing our graduation from Delhi University’s School of Open Learning. Our father doesn’t know about it yet. He wanted us to learn the tricks and trade of a beautician or how to stitch. We took his advice and did a makeup and beautician’s course to sustain ourselves. Now, we go to the houses of ladies who need our services and I also teach children at a Save the Children center.”

– As told to Tania Goklany. She met Poonam at a Save the Children Centre in Govindpuri, Delhi.