Pooja Chopra

The two years of teaching were the best years of my life. It made me learn so much about the stark realities of our society. I got sensitized to the stigma that existed against women. While the boys were sent to a private school, the girl was sent to a government school. Every day, I used to walk the girls back home after school. Every day, I met a person inside the house - the mother. I asked every mother one question - what dreams do you have for your girl child? Every mother had very blurry visions. They felt they could never fulfill their dreams growing up and had no voice, choice or power to dream for their girls. She felt financially dependent on the husband and saw her role limited to household chores. The society had made her believe that it is wrong for her to step out for herself to become independent. This triggered me to begin my journey with Khwaab.

Community Development, Economic Empowerment, Women EmpowermentGirlTable AdminDecember 21, 2021India

Dudu Tsobane

I grew up in the streets of Soweto raised by a single parent (my mother). Growing up was never easy, but I was always determined to make my parents proud and to become someone that would someday inspire the kids in my community. I have always been a big dreamer and a visionary. I’ve always believed I was destined for greatness. I did not have it all as a child - it was a struggle as my mom was unemployed and we had zero income in our household. I used to wear torn school shoes, and when I started getting my period, my mom could not afford to buy me sanitary pads so I used clothes as a substitute so I could go to school and not miss my classes. That made me have low self-confidence as I could not play with my friends and enjoy school on those days, but not even that [experience] could get me to lose my focus, instead it propelled me to dream bigger. I made a vow to myself that I will help as many girls who are underprivileged, so they do not have to experience what I went through as a young girl.

Mudrakat Alabi-Macfoy

I’m a young Muslim woman with four law qualifications. I stopped practicing law because I was disenchanted with the system and how it robs people of financial investments, justice, and time. I had aspired to be a judge, however, my decision to live for change came when I realized that despite my law qualifications and practice, I still wasn’t making a major impact. In fact, I faced an ethical dilemma which I had to defend or lose my job. I didn’t want to be on the wrong side of justice. I wanted to help people and so I made the decision to quit law practice and actively pursue civic engagement in the non-profit sector.

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