Preeti’s story: From a child bride to a community activist

Preeti, a 24-year-old mother of four, came to Study Hall Education Foundation (SHEF) almost three years ago to enroll her daughters at Prerna School. Preeti had a troubled childhood and at the age of eight, started working with her mother as domestic help and looking after siblings and house chores. She was forced into a child marriage to a 30-year-old man when she was only 11 and had her first child at age 13.

By the time Preeti was 19, both her parents and her in-laws had passed away. The same year, she became a widow as her husband died from liver failure due to alcohol abuse. Determined to give her daughters a good future, Preeti worked in five houses to barely make ends and to send her daughters to school. When she came to Prerna to enroll her 11 year old daughter, Rakhee Panjwani, principal of Prerna, asked Preeti to also enroll herself and her two other daughters. Her 4 year old son will be enrolled later when he is 6 years old.

Preeti is now studying in class 9 in the bridge course (an accelerated learning program) and has left the informal working sector to work part time in SHEF’s outreach office. The SHEF staff helps with her younger son when Preeti attends classes.