Growing up in a culturally reserved village in Rajasthan, India, Seema never imagined that she would one day achieve her dream of becoming a teacher and making education more accessible for her community.

As a woman from the Scheduled Tribes, one of the country’s most disadvantaged indigenous groups, she faced educational barriers and societal restrictions.

Seema’s parents never received a formal education. Her father worked as a farmer and her mother, who could not read or write, managed the household. After graduating high school, Seema entered an arranged marriage and moved in with her in-laws. She became a mother to two sons, who are now eight and six years old. Despite her circumstances, Seema aspired to be more than household caretaker and was determined to continue her studies to become a teacher. With support from her father and mother-in-law, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, passed the pre-teacher entrance exam, enrolled in a Bachelor of Education program, and completed her Master of Arts degree.

After learning about a GoodWeave-supported Child Friendly Community (CFC) in her village, Seema saw an opportunity to fulfill her dream of becoming an educator. She began working as a facilitator in July 2019 and has been dedicated to the role ever since.

Seema’s new role marked her first experience working with children. She initially struggled to gain a foothold in the community, as many people were accustomed to male teachers, and she felt uncomfortable going into people’s homes to check on the children’s progress. Additionally, her lack of confidence hindered her ability to communicate effectively with both teachers and parents about academic issues. Since joining the CFC program, her confidence has grown significantly through GoodWeave’s workshops and training, and she now excels in her role as a facilitator.

“I could never have imagined such a change in me, even in my dreams. For this, I thank GoodWeave and my in-laws,” Seema says.

With her newfound confidence, she also learned to drive and eventually purchased a vehicle, making her commute easier. Seema works across four different schools that serve 133 children identified as at-risk of becoming child laborers, and also supports an additional 500 children in her community. She uses technology to capture and share the children’s progress, demonstrating the positive impact of the Motivation and Learning Camps (MLC). This program is designed to help children who are behind their age-appropriate learning levels to catch up and re-enter mainstream school.

A role model in her community, Seema has formed an adolescent group, including four child parliaments, which are student-led programs focused on social and educational activities. She also organizes monthly meetings on life skills, addressing children’s rights, protection, health and personal hygiene.

Her sole motivation is to work for children and eradicate the deep-rooted social injustices that continue to affect thousands of children in rural Rajasthan. The villagers have embraced the MLC program after witnessing its positive impact on the community. Seema has enrolled eight children in the public school where she was once denied work, and those same teachers now recognize her value and support her efforts in raising awareness of child labor and the challenges surrounding children’s access to education. Her dream is to ensure that every child can learn and access opportunities that lead to a brighter future, free from exploitative work.