This year, they had to move back to their village after the lockdown was imposed by the government to control the outspread of COVID-19.  However, her life was not the same as it used to be in the village, it changed from going to school, studying and playing with her friends to staying at home and taking care of household chores.

Educate Girls' Field Coordinator, Rajkumar met Priya's family during a door-to-door survey conducted by the organisation with all the precaution after the lockdown was lifted. "I asked her family to let her study again, but her mother refused by saying that she needs to work at home, and schools are not even open yet," shared Rajkumar. He tried to reason with Priya's mother by telling her the importance of education is for her future and how educating would be beneficial for her family.

After a lot of convincing, her mother agreed to send her to community-based learning camp called Camp Vidya (an initiative by Educate Girls that gives an opportunity to children to study in the absence of regular school so that their learning doesn't stop). Priya started coming to the camp regularly and took great interest in everything that was being taught there.  "I saw that Priya was quite happy and excited at Camp Vidya. The next day, I went to her house and told her family about how well she is doing in her studies. I asked them to let her go to school again, and they agreed! Now, as soon as the school reopens, Priya would be enroled in Grade 5", says Rajkumar.

Now, Priya comes to Camp Vidya daily and ask her friends to come with her and study. "I like studying, and I will not quit school now. My parents have agreed to leave me with my paternal grandmother so that I can continue studying", she says while expressing her aim to become a teacher in future.

* Named changed