INDIA. Khajuarao. 09 November 2022. Divya (Right with glasses) in her school in Khajuarao.

Divya Chaudhry, 16-year-old, lives in Tikuri district, in Madhya Pradesh the state with the fifth largest population in the India. The region boasts of a rich cultural and wildlife heritage but it’s hunted by drought and economic crisis. Malnutrition, hunger, high infant and child mortality are prevalent. While it witness a large scale migration, the gender ratio is skewed with 925 females per 1,000 men in Madhya Pradesh, compounding the already distressing situation. Divya and her sister could choose to prioritise education in their life thanks to the role of their family .
Divya says : “I am passionate about health, and have an in-depth understanding of family planning and sexual reproductive health because of my mother’s teaching and sensitizing us on these issues. These are not topics that one should be coy about addressing or discussing…it is an important aspect of a person’s health, and its importance should not be undermined.”
“Today, I feel empowered to do anything I want to and to become anything I want to. I have recently learned how to ride a motorcycle, and run my errands on it. People in the village do talk and raise their eyebrows, but I have the support of my parents. Seeing me, other girls in the village are also learning how to ride a motorcycle."