Pooja Mukteshwar Wayal

Pooja Mukteshwar Wayal (15), is from India. Facing hardship of her own, Pooja was moved to make sure other children wouldn’t have to suffer the same way. Watching friends and community members struggle only deepened her empathy — and school programs and NGO involvement showed her a way to turn that empathy into action.

Pooja organizes school and community awareness drives on children’s rights, covering topics like education, protection from child labor, and gender equality. She runs interactive workshops for students, teaching them their rights, responsibilities, and how to speak up against injustice — using tools like quizzes, storytelling, and group discussions to keep sessions engaging.

She also takes her message beyond the classroom, visiting nearby communities to talk with parents and children about the importance of education and the dangers of child labor and early marriage. Her rallies and campaigns have drawn over 100 community members at a time, while her workshops reach 50 to 200 participants per session.

With guidance from teachers and mentors sharpening her communication and critical thinking, Pooja continues to speak up in public forums and school assemblies, pushing for better policies to protect children.