Karina is a role model for young girls even outside her community and is determined in her fight for her dreams.
When She Leads: Karina
July 1, 2024
Reading Time: 2 minutesThis interview is part of our When She Leads: Shadhika Scholar collection. Learn more.
Karina Khatun is a Scholar from Shadhika’s Partner Jabala Action Research Organization in West Bengal. Karina is from a minority community in Kolkata and has been engaged with Jabala since her childhood.
Jabala was integral to ensuring that she was not forced in child marriage after her secondary schooling.
Karina was forcibly taken to her village by her family to pursue a potential marriage. As a group leader among her peers, Karina was aware of her rights and she informed the Jabala team of her situation immediately. Together, they engaged her family in counseling and she was subsequently able to continue her education, completing her schooling with high scores.
Soon after, Karina was accepted into Shadhika’s Scholarship Program. Karina is now in the final year of her college degree and works part-time at a homeopathy store. Karina is intent on growing her career before getting married, and has been able to work with her parents to support her dreams. It hasn’t been a smooth journey for Karina, but she has always been a vocal and bold leader.
Karina is a role model for young girls even outside her community and is determined in her fight for her dreams.