Spotlight: Meet Mamta

Mamta is a 21 year old girl who dropped out of school after the 8th grade. Her father runs a general store and her mother is a housewife. Mamta dropped out of school because she had met with an accident and developed a back problem.

Until Mamta became a part of GOAL she spent most of her time doing household work and helping her mother. Mamta had completed her tailoring course from the Prerana centre and during her free time she would take orders for stitching blouses and ‘salwar suits’ for the community women and also earn money from it.

She joined GOAL through Prerana, with the hope that, since she no longer went to a formal school, she could learn new things through this programme. As she started playing netball and attending sessions, her interest took a deep root. She became more confident and developed her communication skills. She attended the sessions regularly and most of the time had many questions relating to the sessions. Since she was older than the other girls and also had a natural command over the group and emerged as a leader.

Recognizing her potential, she was selected to become a ‘GOAL Champion’. Mamta has become very confident and can speak on any platform without hesitation. Reflecting on what she learned in the programme Mamta says:

“In GOAL we were given information about different topics including HIV/AIDS. We now know our body and ways of maintaining hygiene and cleanliness, with in and around us. In fact we learnt about a whole lot of issues, which are important for every girl to know. As girls we were never taught to aspire for anything in life, GOAL opened our minds and encouraged us to make the pathways towards achieving our dreams.”

Mamta now aspires to complete her education and also start her own tailoring centre to teach other girls. GOAL helped her recognize her strength in conducting sessions and she seeks GOAL’s support in exploring the possibility of working in a NGO.

Mamta running a GOAL session in Delhi