Lakshmi
Lakshmi was a quiet 15-year-old who never questioned her family’s decisions. When they began discussing her marriage, she accepted it silently—believing, as they did, that marrying early would ease financial pressure and protect family honour.
According to Girls Not Brides, 23% of girls in India marry before the age of 18, and 5% marry before the age of 15. Rates are higher in rural villages, like the one where Lakshmi lives in Uttar Pradesh.
By chance, Lakshmi’s life took a different turn—just as she stood on the brink of child marriage, early motherhood, and a future beyond her control.
The community-based organization DEHAT entered Lakshmi’s life at this pivotal time. Although DEHAT had been educating youth in the community for decades, it was the first year they had a sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) program for girls, thanks to flexible funding from She’s the First.
“Before receiving STF’s support, most of our resources were tied to education programs, which meant we could not prioritize interventions that tackled the root causes of child marriage. As a result, while girls were enrolled in school, many still faced early marriage due to social pressures, limited knowledge about their rights, and a lack of safe spaces to talk about their bodies and choices.”
DEHAT led sessions on healthy relationships and bodily autonomy for girls, as a result of She’s the First funding and training.
With training from She’s the First, DEHAT learned to use girl-centered design to guide conversations about child marriage. They were surprised to discover that many girls were choosing to marry young simply because they didn’t understand what marriage would mean for their bodies or their futures. Once DEHAT began offering sessions on decision-making, agency, and bodily autonomy, girls started to see that they had real choices—and new possibilities ahead.
As a result of these sessions, Lakshmi learned to advocate for herself, speak openly with her parents, and share her desire to stay in school. “Amma, you suffered so much,” she told her mother. “You couldn’t study. You didn’t have freedom. Do you want the same life for me? Am I ready to manage a household? Is my body ready for that responsibility?”
She successfully stopped her own marriage.
Today, Lakshmi is studying nursing to support her family and to care for the girls and women in her village. She was inspired by the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights program DEHAT developed with She’s the First’s support.
As part of DEHAT’s SRHR program, Lakshmi and her peers brought a letter to the local health center, requesting sanitary pads and contraceptives (photo courtesy of DEHAT)
Before, Lakshmi saw health only in terms of illness and treatment. But thanks to the SRHR program, she learned that health also includes information, rights, and dignity. She realised that many girls and women in her village face difficulties simply because they lack the right information. This experience awakened a strong sense of service and responsibility in her.
In addition to Lakshmi, DEHAT reaches around 200 girls annually:
60 girls have successfully negotiated for their higher studies.
35 girls are learning skills for economic independence.
25 girls have become peer supporters, holding sessions on menstrual health, safe sex, and contraception with women, girls, community members, and religious leaders.
Your donations directly support these outcomes. Lakshmi is stronger with DEHAT. DEHAT is stronger with She’s the First. And we are stronger with you.
Please consider investing in our Stronger Together campaign so more girls can choose their own futures, just like Lakshmi.