Gunja was facing an impossible problem. She yearned to join the local “Child Club,” where kids from her region of Nepal met to learn, play, and discuss social issues. However, her uncle and brother forbid Gunja from joining, worried that participation would mar her reputation and hurt the family.

Gunja felt torn between her dreams and her loved ones. No solution seemed to work. Then she encountered a radio show called Sangor, or Together for Change.

“Anupama, the strong-headed, vocal character, represents all the girls who live a suppressed life,” Gunja said. “But her determination to live life on her own terms, and the fearless battles that she fought with her family to achieve her dreams, has inspired me.”

As a rare Maithili-language show, Sangor found great success, with nearly 70 percent of radio listeners in the regions of Eastern and Central Tarai tuning in each week. The show had released over 200 episodes on issues such as child marriage, girls’ education, armed groups, dowry arrangements, and more.

Sangor even reached Gunja’s household, where her whole family started to listen. And Gunja started to grow.

First, she spoke with her aunt, who had graduated from the Child Club. Then she approached her uncle and brother one more time, finally securing their approval.

Gunja did not stop there. After joining Child Club, she started a weekly class on sexual and reproductive health. The 15-year-old girl stepped into a leadership role, helping her community open up about taboo topics.

Soon, Gunja had become president of the same group that had once seemed out of her reach. And as leader of the Child Club, she was determined to elevate other young girls like herself, watching from the margins but ready for a chance to lead.