Prerna Girls School and Vidyasthali School participated in the Indra Global Congress 2015.Ms. Nishu Singh, Ms. Ruby Verma , Ms. Navratri, Ms. Kritika Maurya and Ms. Shreya Singh were part of the team that represented India at the Congress.The event was an opportunity for our girls to come together and share their experiences with the fellow students and school staff.

A conversation with the girls –

What did you learn from the week that you didn’t already know?

We used to think that western countries have no problems since they are developed countries but they also have problems. When we saw their performances, then we realized that they also struggling with similar problems like crime, etc. We also didn’t know that foreigners don’t follow a caste system.Which was different because in India we have learned to first see caste of a person, and then be friends with them. Also, nobody seemed to care if a person is smart or intelligent. Everyone was treated equally irrespective of all that.We also came to know that people actually follow traffic rules. And keep their streets clean. We got to see new technologies like lights with sensors, etc and learned new things like playing guitar, making puppets etc.

With whom did you particularly connect?

We connected very well with the students from Plymouth and Derry. They were staying near to us and we also had a party with them. We also connected with Damola, Jake, Martha, Maggi and David Sir.

Which of the art forms you encountered made the most impact on you?

The dance was interesting because all the steps were just taken from what we feel while we are at different places and are feeling different things. And were made into one dance.
We loved the play from Plymouth students. We also loved visual arts because the way it was presented was very different and beautiful.

Has the experience made you feel differently about (i) yourself, (ii) the world?

(i) Yes. We felt very different about us. We felt free.Because there was no restrictions on girls to look and behave in any particular way. Nobody cared about appearances and talked to each other nicely without judging on the basis of clothes etc. So all the time that goes in thinking what all is wrong in us, that didn’t happen there. Here we keep thinking this only. So that’s why we felt so free. Which made us feel equal. And now that feeling of being equal is still with us.
Girls there were much more free and were not conscious of themselves. This made us feel and be freer. Girls and boys were more comfortable around each other and nobody made a big deal out of that.

(ii) As Indians we had a lot of limitations. Because we discriminate among people on basis of caste and gender. But in Plymouth, it was different. We realized that the world can be more equal. If we drop caste and everything, then living peacefully is possible. We now don’t believe in caste and everything and will try to not continue it. Also we learned that we do not need to restrict girls and boys to be friends with each other and allow them to be free.

What would you change if you were organising the event?

We would not remove anything but would like to add a translator. We couldn’t understand a lot of things that were in different languages. A translator would be helpful. Also, we would like to have music workshop in which all students can participate.

Was there a special moment that will stay with you? If so, what was it?

The first and the last day of the workshop, when we presented our work. Also, the panel discussion because it was the first time that some of us were on a panel.

Prerna Girls perform at a consultation on early marriage organized by Sadbhavna trust, in collaboration with Nirantar,Delhi.Several nonprofits from the across the state participated in the consultation and Study Hall Educational foundation was also invited to participate.Students from Prerna Girls presented a drama on early marriage and its affect on a young girl’s life.Prerna Girls performance received a standing ovation and was followed by an engaging discussion.

Media Coverage

Moni Kannaujia, Priya Dubey and Preeti Rawat were part of a team presenting at Digital Media and Learning Conference, Los Angeles.

A team of 14 Prerna Girls was previously part of OneMinutesJr Initiative by UNICEF, as part of the program the girls created one minute issue based films. These films have been screened across the world and have also won international awards. Moni Kannaujia, Priya Dubey and Preeti Rawat have screened their short films from OneMinuteJr as part of their presentation at Digital Media and Learning Conference.

An article published on June 19, 2015 in Hindustan Times, Lucknow Edition; 

Intermediate results for Prerna Girls School (National Institute of Open Schooling) have been declared for the year 2015. 18 Prerna girls appeared in the 2015 examination, we are proud to announce a 100% result with each girl scoring an aggregate above 60. We stand together to congratulate our girls for a job well done !

Aggregate percentage of Prerna Girls 2015 cohort stands 70.7%

The article was originally featured at Women’s Feature Service. Mehru Jaffer is a journalist and a well known author. Mehru Jaffer on the launch of the book Poetry of Purpose in Lucknow .Her words and her experience with the Prerna Girls.

Laxmi, Khushboo, Sunita, Kunti, Rama and Aarti confidently walked up on stage, picked up the microphone and spoke about their lives, experiences, struggles and aspirations in front a packed audience. One after another, each young woman animatedly talked about her family, how she had learnt to deal with crushing poverty and gender bias and strike out against illiteracy and violence to create a secure space for her. Above all, they loudly declared how they felt they were equal to the men in their families and in society; that nothing could stop them from fulfilling their dreams. Amidst an inspired, encouraging crowd a woman looked on proudly; she knew her work with them was now complete. It’s been nearly two decades since Dr Urvashi Sahni started a school for girls from impoverished families in Lucknow to “enable them to take a feminist stance in their lives from an early age in order to discover who they are and understand the oppression they face in their daily lives”. Today, through drama, digital stories and music, in addition to regular lessons, 700 youngsters, who usually go back home to an exploited mother, an alcoholic father and vagabond siblings, are learning to “to resist discrimination and rise above it”.“I realized I had been given skills but was not taught how to use the skills for myself. I was not taught that I have the right to my own life. Over time, I concluded that education should really be about this, about discovering one’s self.