A Journey of Self-Empowerment and Leadership
Kabita is a passionate teacher at Kalika Sharan School. In her free time, she actively participated in her Women Club in her hometown when she lived there. Through these Women Clubs, e.g. during Leadership Workshops organized by VIN, she advocates for gender equality and encourages women to recognize their self-worth and develop self-esteem.
But it wasn’t always like this – Kabita had to overcome a lot of insecurities first: Reflecting on her past, Kabita recalls that when she was younger, she had no understanding of leadership or self-esteem. She was a shy student, afraid to speak in public, and deeply insecure. However, a turning point came when others showed that they believed in her, especially during a school speech competition: “A one-batch senior sister was very fond of me, she saw potential in me that I couldn’t. She encouraged me to participate and helped me with the competition. Luckily, due to her support and positive motivation, I secured 3rd position. This really boosted my morale.”
VIN’s – Women’s Empowerment Programs
Gradually, this external belief in her abilities transformed into her own self-concept. She continued participating in speech competitions, not for the sake of winning but for the confidence and happiness they brought her. The experience reinforced her new positive mindset of feeling able to grow and succeed.
Due to these convictions, Kabita approaches life’s obstacles with a positive outlook, as she says, “I like to keep optimism in life and try to see the good in everyone, even myself.” For her, acceptance is key when facing difficulties. Rather than resisting, complaining, or allowing herself to be discouraged, she chooses and tries to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.
Kabita hopes that other women, especially young girls, will follow this path of positivity. However, she understands it is not always easy, as many girls grow up in environments that do not encourage female growth. She highlights the traditional gender biases that restrict women’s potential, which she strongly opposes: “Personally, I am totally against mentality such as ‘girls cannot achieve anything; they’re only limited to household duties; they shouldn’t dream big as they’ll get married and have to look after her in-laws, etc.’ Boys or girls, they’re both equal.” She believes that family support plays a crucial role in building self-esteem. Instead of comparing oneself to others, she emphasizes the importance of setting personal goals and achieving them at one’s own pace. Moreover, Kabita believes it is not only essential for women to challenge societal expectations but also to set strong examples through leadership in schools and communities.
To inspire and empower other women, Kabita shares her perspective on learning from mistakes and trusting oneself: “Never fall into wrong doings. But we’re humans at the end of the day. Mistakes happen. What matters is how you reciprocate it. Try to learn from your mistakes, realize, correct yourself, and have trust in yourself.”
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