Aliza grew up in rural Nepal, where girls weren’t encouraged to speak up. From a young age, she was told what she could and couldn’t do. Her father was abusive toward her mother and sister; he left the family when Aliza was small.
Aliza’s mother and sister refused to be victims. Her mother encouraged Aliza to pursue her dreams. Aliza’s sister completed the application for Aliza to attend Kopila Valley School, run by a former STF partner organization, BlinkNow. Here, Aliza learned anything is possible.
BlinkNow and Aliza’s scholarship from STF helped her graduate from high school and be accepted to medical school. Aliza was later part of our inaugural Girl Activist Fellowship, which gave her the confidence, knowledge, and platform to speak out about her experiences and the rights all girls deserve.
She’s the First nurtured Aliza’s passion for poetry and public speaking. Motivated to take action, she wrote her first poem, Dear World, to spark discussions around gender equality, domestic violence, and reproductive rights. Seeing herself recite the poem on STF’s Instagram was a powerful moment that made her feel heard like never before.
Aliza, now 22, is pursuing a lifelong dream to be a doctor. Her activism with STF inspired her to explore a specialization in gynecology, so she can support women while advocating for reproductive rights. Her ultimate dream, to give women in her community the healthcare and respect they deserve, will soon be a reality.
Dear World
By Aliza Puri, She’s the First Girl Activist Fellow
Editor’s Note: Aliza wrote this poem as a letter to the world from every girl who has been abused, who finds it hard to come forward and ask for justice because she is too scared and embarrassed—until she decides to fight for herself.
Dear World,
I would ask you, “How are you?”
But I know you are not fine
You cannot hear the pleas
You cannot see the tears
And you cannot feel the pain
Of my sisters
Who are humiliated, exploited, and tortured for their existence
And please don’t ask me
“How I am”
Because then I would say
“I am fine”
Without meaning to
Because that’s what I was taught to do
Right from my childhood
I was told to be
Patient, humble and kind
I was told
Not to think too much
I was told to remain silent
Even when I don’t like anybody’s touch
My hands were tied by your “False morale”
Which is somehow only applicable to gals
When all I wanted to punch the person
Who dared to hit me with/without a reason
My lips were sealed with “politeness”
When I wanted to shout “you are wrong”
When I wanted to raise my voice
To make my own choice
You made me fear
To seek justice
You made me feel
There’s no hope
You made me feel guilty
For taking care of myself
Dear world,
But then maybe
I won’t say “I am fine”
Because I am not
After years of silence and politeness
After years of being humble and kind
Now, I don’t have the patience
To tolerate the injustice and exploitation
I don’t have the big heart that you expect me to possess
The heart that kept all of its
Pain, worries, and desires within itself
I won’t be silent anymore
Because I have realized that
I have nothing to lose except for myself
And I am too precious to be lost
Dear world,
As I tell you these things
All I ever expect from you is to listen
Just listen to the pleas and cries
of my sister across the world
and you will know the depth of their pain
I don’t expect you to fight for me
I don’t need you to fight my demons
I am more than able to do that
But as I fight this battle
Please just stand by me
Don’t silence my cries
Don’t tell me to hide my tears
Don’t highlight my fears
Don’t tie my hands when they
Are seeking justice
Just stand by me
And support me
Because it has taken me days and months and years
To realize my worth
To realize that
I have the right to be free from these exploitations
That had started to feel like an heirloom
Passed down from generation to generations
It has taken me years to realize
That my battles are worth fighting for
It has taken me years to build the courage
To come to you and ask for
The justice that I deserve
Without any judgment and fear
Therefore, just stand by me
Dear world,
I don’t know if you can hear me or not
But I won’t stop speaking and shouting and fighting this battle
I will fight this battle
With or against you
And I promise you
I will win