On Tuesday February 10, 2009, the International Women’s Health Coalition held its annual gala dinner at Cipriani’s in New York City, raising funds to protect women all over the world. Sunita Rathore, Veerni Academy resident since 2006, was featured as a special guest, giving a spontaneous and touching speech in front of hundreds of guests. She received a well-deserved standing ovation.

Sunita, a college graduate, has been active in the Academy as a mentor for younger girls. In addition she teaches both computer skills and sports to fellow Academy students. She is currently working on a Masters in Economics.
Below is the text of her speech:

“I have come to speak to you from Jodhpur, a small city in western Rajasthan, India. I come from a village called Sathin, 70 km from Jodhpur the village has around 700 people. But personally, I do not know because in my culture girls are not allowed to go outside of our houses. My father is illiterate. My mother left school when she was 12. She got married when she was 14. Now my father supports 4 children and my grandparents on a small salary. He works as a security guard. I have come to talk to you about how school can change a girl’s life. I know because I have changed my own life through education. Most of my schooling was done in my village. When I was 10, I was one of 7 girls with 25 boys in my class. My elder brother and sister left school, but I told my younger brother, he should continue studying. I have made a promise to him that if you stay in school and get good marks, I will help you pay for school. School is important for boys too. I have always loved studying and my best subject is economics. Actually my worst marks are in English. But I wanted to address you tonight in English, because it is a challenge. I love a challenge. When I was 17, I wanted to continue studying. But I knew college was too expensive for my family. My father said I could not go to college. He said I should stay in and study and not go out of the house. But I searched for an opportunity to continue studying and I found the Veerni Hostel, a boarding school for girls studying in Jodhpur. I am able to live there for free and go to college. I am studying sociology, political science, and economics. I am taking my final exams next month. I have my books In New York. I graduate in April. But this is not easy.

Many girls like Mamta- the girl in the film- do not have success. Her mother took her out of school. I was sad to see her leave because I know her future is finished. Early marriage is a tradition in my community. Many girls are married before they reach the legal age for marriage which in India is 18. In village, it is very common to marry before age 15. At the Veerni hostel, 15 of the 86 girls are already married. If they are in the village, their parents will send them to their husbands. But if they go to school outside the village, the parents will let them study. They say man can wait. This is how education changes a girl’s life. I know because I see that my parents listen to me now that I have an education. After I graduate my first dream is to join the army to develop skills and discipline. My next dream is to work in business. I want to be a rich person because when you are a poor girl no one listens to your ideas. I want to earn enough money to provide for my family and solve their problems. Then I want to start a school that is different than most of the schools in India. I don't want the girls in my school to just sit in their chairs. I want then to learn to be leaders in society. I want them to be free to express their ideas and fulfil their dreams. Then I want to go into politics and become India's prime Minister. And lastly I want to thank the Veerni project for giving me the platform to achieve my goals. And I want to thank you for listening to me".

Following the IWHC dinner, Sunita spent two weeks in New York and Washington DC visiting a variety of organisations such as Girls Learn International, Glen Ridge High School and the United Nations.