I will be the first girl in my family's history to graduate from college. 

Short story: I am Radha Kumari. I am 20 years old. I grew up in a village in India where girls have no voice. I found my voice through football and education. I grew up in rural Jharkhand–an area where 6/10 girls drop out of school and become young brides. I have evaded child marriage and fought for my right to education, and in 2020 I accepted a full tuition scholarship at Leinn International through Mondragon University in Spain to study entrepreneurship. Over the past three years, my living expenses have been supported by Yuwa Inc and a private foundation called Young Living Foundation (here's an interview I gave for YL Foundation). Since these scholarships are not renewable, I need extra support to finish the last year of my degree in Spain.

Why is this important? One of my biggest goals is to study sports management in the UK and work at a big football organization like FIFA. For six years, I played an important role in girls' lives in rural India as a football coach at Yuwa. By finishing this degree and becoming financially independent, I will be able to inspire these young people and their families by showing the value of investing in a girl's education. 

Long story: Since I started playing football and entered the education program at Yuwa, I have fought for a different life than my sister. That dream was the beginning of my journey to education and a future free from poverty. I have seen the cycle of how girls are not invested in or educated, get forced into child marriage, grow up to be financially dependent on others, experience abuse, and continue the cycle. Gender equity and investment in girls' future is a development that I would like to bring to my community. I want to create a social enterprise that empowers women to make decisions in their families. You grow up with fear, with inequality, with humiliation, but all of it makes you strong!!!

I did not always dream of more. When I was a child, my classroom had 70 students, teachers often skipped work, and when they did show up, they yelled at us for asking questions. Eventually, the school became too much trouble. Like 6/10 girls in my village, I dropped out. One day, as I directed the cows with my bamboo stick, I saw children playing soccer. I snuck away from my family to join them, playing in my long skirt. People in my community believe that soccer is not meant for girls, but that is how I found my voice. I was 9 years old, wearing mismatched socks and old shoes. Walking to practice, boys made snide comments and threw rocks. At 5 AM I would be the first one waiting for the coach and in high school, I became one. I started a team and earned money to pay my school fees. My parents locked the doors, stopping me from playing in tournaments, but now I had the strength to defy them. In 2016, I competed in one of the biggest youth tournaments in Spain. That was my first time knowing what a passport and visa looked like. I shared my experiences with people in my village explaining how fundamental education and sport are for girls. Since then, ten families have allowed their daughters to play and girls have soccer keeper gloves instead of wedding bangles.

In 2018, I was selected to study at Yale Young Global Scholar, a 2-week academic camp at Yale University. It was very tough and intense but I did not give up and successfully completed the course on sustainability and entrepreneurship. In 2020, I graduated from high school and accepted a full scholarship at LEINN INTERNATIONAL, Mondragon University. I am currently working on a project which is called Vaani - It is an organization that uses football to gather women together empowering women in sports. It has hosted more than 8 events in countries like Germany, India, and South Korea. I have also been nominated by the UN for young leader woman in sport 2030.

I want to learn sport management, specifically women’s football.

Be part of my story by supporting my education and helping to reach the woman I want to become. Read more here.

Sincerely,

Radha Kumari

Thank you:)