18 year-old Ruhi rallies more than 300 girls in her village to return to school
In an Indian village, a viewing of He Named Me Malala sparks a movement for girls’ education
18-year-old Ruhi decided not to sit by and watch as girls in her small village in Bihar, India consistently dropped out of school. Inspired by He Named Me Malala, the documentary about Malala’s life, Ruhi created a “Malala Manch” — a group that encourages girls to return to the classroom. “If Malala could do this, then why can’t we? If one girl can raise awareness among so many people, then we can do the same,” Ruhi says of her decision to start Malala Manch.
In Ruhi’s village in Buxar, four out of five girls drop out after Class 8 each year because school is no longer free. Families can’t afford to pay for their daughters’ tuitions — instead girls are married off or sent to work in factories to earn money.
In addition to facing barriers like child marriage and child labour, girls in Ruhi’s village must also contend with threats of harassment and violence along the three kilometre walk to school. The long and dangerous commute made Ruhi’s grandfather hesitant to allow her to continue her education.
Ruhi managed to convince her grandfather that “girls and boys should be seen with equal eyes. If the boy can study until Class 12, then girls too can study and move forward.” Knowing firsthand the challenges girls in her community face to go to school, Ruhi created Malala Manch to support them. After surveying 250 families, researching drop out and out-of-school rates, Ruhi selected 300 girls from 10 neighbouring villages. Every month they gather at Ruhi’s house to discuss solutions to the education disparity in Bihar.
With all 307 girls in Malala Manch enrolled in school, Ruhi is making real strides for girls’ education in her village. She stresses that education benefits more than just one girl — it transforms the community and future generations.
She says, “Educating girls is as important as educating boys because only when the girl is educated can the society progress as a whole. When a mother gives birth to a child, she can teach her child and the next generation will move forward.”
This is just the beginning for Ruhi, who plans to grow Malala Manch. “I want this to be replicated on the state level and national level.” Ruhi says. She knows the work isn’t over, but her resilience and awareness are changing perspectives and lives, one person as a time.
Each girl has a unique story to tell — and their voices are our most powerful weapons in the fight for equality. Learn more about Malala Fund’s work to support girls’ education around the world.
