What It Means to Lead: Lessons from Young Changemakers In Communities of India

In villages like Rajapur, Haryana, girls are often under the watchful eyes of the patriarchy. What they can wear, where they can go, what dreams they ought to have—society dictates their fate at every phase of their lives. “Why should our daughters study? Their place is here at home,” parents say, as they cut off their daughters’ education at class 10, often to arrange their marriages. But despite it all, dimmed dreams stay alive in the girls’ hearts. 

Young Bharti and her peers decided no longer to wait for change; they transformed into catalysts themselves. In early 2024, they organised themselves into a youth group with the help of Breakthrough. By March, they had established a dropout centre in the village chaupal for girls who were unable to re-enter regular schools, while continuing to visit homes to convince parents to reconsider their decision. The centre became a haven for 25 young girls. By May, 16 of them had returned to school and the centre’s impact was felt across the community. By July, change was undeniable. Six girls from the dropout centre were actively preparing for college entrance exams.

In villages like Rajapur, revolution is afoot and brave girls are steering the wheel. This is not an isolated story. Team Change Leaders like Bharti are volunteers rising from intervention communities who take on the role of resident change agents. Through Breakthrough’s programmes in four states—Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Haryana, and Delhi NCR—youth are learning how to speak up for themselves, creating change not just in their lives but in entire communities. 

We are seeing this change across all four states. When there is space to challenge norms, build bridges, and dream unfettered, we see young minds blossom. They utilise communication and leadership skills sharpened at Breakthrough sessions and even adopt unique methods to make their point heard. Beyond the crucial efforts of organising rallies and contributing to community meetings, these passionate changemakers also touch hearts through theatre, film, and discussions. 

So we ask, what does it mean to lead? For these young people, it means finding their voice, often against formidable odds, and inspiring others to join along. At Breakthrough, we are honoured to walk alongside these courageous young individuals, providing them with the tools, platforms, and support they need to not just challenge norms but to fundamentally reshape their communities for a more equal and just future. They are not just the leaders of tomorrow. They are leading today, and their impact is undeniable.

About Breakthrough: Breakthrough is a 25-year-old organization that works on culture change by shifting social norms that limit women and girls from reaching their full potential. We work with adolescents and young people aged 11-25 so that a generation shifts towards calling out the norms that hold them back and taking action.