From a Village Girl to a Community Leader: My Journey सानो गाउँकी छोरीदेखि सामुदायिक नेतृसम्म : मेरो यात्रा

[Priyanka Kumari Kushwaha]

When a woman forgets her dream, society loses a possibility. But when a woman rises again, she lifts the whole community with her."
🌱 My Beginning
My name is Priyanka Kumari Kushwaha. I was born and raised in a small village of Parsa district, Nepal. Studying in the local government school, I passed my SLC. After that, with a big dream of pursuing higher education, I enrolled at Siddhartha International College in Birgunj for grades 11 and 12.
During my studies, I got married. Responsibilities increased after marriage. Within a year, I became a mother, and while raising my daughter, my own dreams slowly started to fade. But deep inside, my passion for education and my desire to do something new never died. After two to three years, that desire motivated me to return to studies. I then chose Agriculture as my subject.
However, even after completing my education, I couldn’t find a job. At that point, I began to see life from a new perspective.
🌍 The Reality of My Village
While living in my in-laws’ village, I closely observed the condition of women and adolescent girls. Social problems like child marriage, violence against women, and dowry were poisoning the environment of the village. The dreams of many girls were being locked inside their homes.
This reality deeply touched me. With my husband’s encouragement and support, in 2018 I established an organization named “Sakhi: Friends of Women.”
The word “Sakhi” in Bhojpuri means “friend,” and with the purpose of becoming friends to women, we moved forward. From board members to leadership, our organization is run entirely by women. In the beginning, we faced many obstacles—negative perceptions, doubts, and criticism from the community. But we did not give up courage and kept finding our way forward.
💡 The First Opportunity: Girl First Fund
In 2019, for the first time, we received a small grant of USD 5,000 from the Girl First Fund. With this amount, we started working with adolescent girls to reduce child marriage.
That experience became the turning point of my life. It taught me that even a small grant can make a big impact. After that, the organization gradually received more grants, big and small, and the community also started to trust our work.
✨ Encounter with the SALT Approach
My real transformation happened in 2025. That year, we received a grant from Global Fund for Children. During that time, I first learned about the SALT approach.
Before participating in the SALT program, the methods and strategies I used for social change were different. But after being introduced to SALT, my mindset completely changed. I realized that community-driven change becomes sustainable only when the community itself takes active ownership. When people embrace an initiative wholeheartedly, its impact becomes deep and lasting.
Participating in this program helped me change my perception and perspective. SALT taught me: I) The importance of becoming capable myself II) The value of building heartfelt relationships III) The power of honesty and collaboration IV) The art of sharing dreams and supporting each other V) The importance of effective communication and exchange
Today, I can proudly say—SALT has completely transformed my thoughts, behavior, and outlook. It has shown not only me, but also my family and community, a new path.
🙏 Words of Gratitude
I am deeply grateful to everyone who continuously supported, inspired, and believed in me throughout this journey. Especially— Indrani Ma’am, Ritu, Navaraj Sir, Srishti Joshi, and Shruti Karki from the Girls First Fund—thank you so much. Without your love, guidance, and support, this journey would not have been possible.
Likewise, I want to extend special thanks to my Sakhi team. It is because of their courage, trust, and tireless efforts that we have reached this level today.
🌸 Conclusion
Today, I confidently say—only when women rise, society truly progresses. Even a small dream can become the path to great change.

"जब एक महिला आफ्नो सपना बिर्सन्छ, समाजले पनि एउटा सम्भावना गुमाउँछ। तर जब एक महिला फेरि उठ्छे, त्यसले पूरा समुदायलाई उठाउँछ।"

🌱 मेरो सुरुवात
मेरो नाम प्रियंका कुमारी कुशवाहा हो। म नेपालको पर्सा जिल्लाको एउटा सानो गाउँमा जन्मेँ र हुर्केँ। गाउँकै सरकारी विद्यालयमा पढ्दै मैले एसएलसी पास गरेँ। त्यसपछि उच्च शिक्षा हासिल गर्ने ठूलो सपना लिएर वीरगञ्जको सिद्धार्थ इन्टरनेसनल कलेजमा ११ र १२ कक्षासम्म अध्ययन गरेँ।
त्यही पढाइको क्रममा मेरो विवाह भयो। विवाहपछिको जीवनमा जिम्मेवारी थपिँदै गए। एक वर्षमै आमा बनेँ र छोरीलाई हुर्काउने क्रममा आफ्ना सपनाहरू विस्तारै ओझेलमा परे। तर, मनको गहिराइमा शिक्षा र केही नयाँ गर्ने चाहना कहिल्यै मरेन। दुई–तीन वर्षपछि त्यो चाहनाले मलाई फेरि पढ्न प्रेरित गर्‍यो। त्यसपछि मैले कृषि (Agriculture) विषय रोजेँ।
तर, पढाइ पुरा गरेर पनि रोजगारी पाउन सकिनँ। यतिबेला मैले जीवनलाई नयाँ दृष्टिले बुझ्न थालेँ।

🌍 गाउँको वास्तविकता
ससुरालको गाउँमा रहँदा मैले महिलाहरू र किशोरीहरूको अवस्था नजिकैबाट देखें। बालविवाह, महिला हिंसा, दाइजो जस्ता सामाजिक विकृतिहरूले गाउँको वातावरणलाई नकारात्मक बनाइरहेको थियो। किशोरीहरूका सपना घरभित्रै कैद भइरहेका थिए।
यो अवस्थाले मलाई भित्रैदेखि छुयो। अनि श्रीमान्को समर्थन र हौसला पाएर २०१८ मा "सखी: महिलाको साथी" नामक संस्था स्थापना गरें।
“सखी” शब्द भोजपुरीमा साथी भन्ने अर्थ दिन्छ, र हामी महिलाको साथी बन्ने उद्देश्यसहित अघि बढ्यौं। यस संस्थामा बोर्ड सदस्यदेखि नेतृत्वसम्म सबै महिला मात्र छौँ। सुरुका दिनमा धेरै अवरोध आए—गाउँका मानिसहरूको नकारात्मक सोच, शंका र आलोचना। तर, हामीले साहस छोडेनौँ र बाटो खोज्दै गयौँ।

💡 पहिलो अवसर : Girl First Fund
२०१९ मा हामीलाई पहिलो पटक Girl First Fund बाट USD 5000 को सानो ग्रान्ट प्राप्त भयो। यो रकम प्रयोग गरेर हामीले बालविवाह न्यूनीकरणका लागि किशोरीहरूसँग काम सुरु गर्‍यौं।
त्यो अनुभव मेरो जीवनकै turning point थियो। सानो ग्रान्टले पनि ठूलो काम गर्न सकिन्छ भन्ने विश्वास जगायो। त्यसपछि संस्थाले क्रमशः साना–ठूला ग्रान्टहरू पाउँदै गयो, र हाम्रो काममा समुदायले पनि विश्वास गर्न थाले।

✨ SALT Approach सँगको भेट
मेरो वास्तविक परिवर्तन भने २०२५ मा भयो। त्यो वर्ष हामीले Global Fund for Children बाट ग्रान्ट प्राप्त गर्यौं। त्यही क्रममा मैले पहिलोपटक SALT approach को बारेमा सुनेँ।
साल्ट कार्यक्रममा सहभागी हुनुअघि मैले समाज परिवर्तनका लागि अपनाएका तरिकाहरू र विधिहरू फरक थिए। तर SALT सँग परिचित भएपछि मेरो सोच पूर्ण रूपमा बद्लियो। अहिले मैले बुझें—समाजमा आधारित परिवर्तन समाजकै सक्रिय सहभागितामा हुँदा मात्र दिगो हुन्छ। जब समुदायले कुनै कामलाई अपनत्वका साथ अघि बढाउँछ, त्यसको प्रभाव गहिरो र स्थायी हुन्छ।
यस कार्यक्रममा सहभागी हुँदा मैले आफ्नो धारणा र दृष्टिकोण बदल्न मद्दत पाएं। SALT ले मलाई सिकायो—
I) आफू सक्षम बन्नुपर्ने कुरा
II)आत्मीय सम्बन्ध निर्माणको महत्व
III)इमानदारी र सहकार्यको शक्ति
IV)सपना साझा गरेर एकअर्कालाई सहयोग गर्ने कला
V)प्रभावकारी सञ्चार र साटासाटको महत्व
आज म गर्वका साथ भन्न सक्छु—SALT ले मेरो सोच, व्यवहार र दृष्टिकोण पूर्ण रूपमा परिवर्तन गर्‍यो। यसले मलाई मात्र होइन, मेरो परिवार र समुदायलाई पनि नयाँ बाटो देखायो।

🙏 धन्यवादका शब्दहरू
यस यात्रामा मलाई निरन्तर साथ, प्रेरणा र विश्वास दिने सबैप्रति म कृतज्ञ छु। विशेष गरी —
इन्द्राणी मेम,ऋतु,नवराज सर,सृष्टि जोशी र Girls First Fund की श्रुति कार्की लाई धेरै धेरै धन्यवाद।
तपाईँहरूको माया, मार्गदर्शन र सहयोग बिना यो यात्रा सम्भव हुने थिएन।
त्यसैगरी, मेरो सखी टिमलाई पनि विशेष धन्यवाद दिन चाहन्छु। उहाहरूकै साहस, विश्वास र निरन्तर मिहिनेतले गर्दा हामी आज यो स्तरमा पुग्न सफल भयौं।

🌸 निष्कर्ष
आज म आत्मविश्वासका साथ भन्छु— जब महिलाहरू उठ्छन्, तब मात्र समाज अघि बढ्छ। सानो सपना पनि ठूलो परिवर्तनको बाटो बन्न सक्छ।

[Parvez Hassan]

Congratulations Priyanka 

[Kaushalya Sumedh Agre]

This blog beautifully narrates Priyanka Kumari Kushwaha’s inspiring journey. she is a change-maker. her personal struggles, resilience, and her pivotal role in empowering women and adolescent girls through her organization is very inspiring 👍 All the best for your hard work priyanka.

[Sadia Jafrin]

I am very proud of you!

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Congratulations on your journey Priyanka. Am glad I know Vicky and you:-)