Dipika is a 16-year-old girl from Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City, Ward 14, Sunsari. She lives with her father, mother, and younger brother. Currently, Dipika is in grade 10 at Shree Parbati Secondary School in Itahari-14, Narbasha, Sunsari. Although her father works abroad, he has a limited income and has not returned in the past 10 years, according to her mother. Her mother is involved in agricultural work, and her brother is in grade 8 at the same school. The family’s economic condition is challenging.

Dipika is from an Indigenous community, and her family is isolated. Previously, she was unaware of child rights, protection, and child abuse. While studying at school, she had little involvement outside of her classes and was characterized by shyness and a reluctance to share her issues.

Despite this, she is a regular student and performs well academically. After the introduction of the Cyber Safety Program at her school, she participated in the Online Child Sexual Abuse (OCSA) prevention session, which helped her become aware of child abuse and online exploitation. Voice of Children trained her in child rights and facilitation skills, enhancing her knowledge in these areas. She now understands the management of the child club and its importance, as well as the issues facing children at both the community and provincial levels.

Now, she is the president of the school-level child club, where she organizes activities such as awareness sessions, debates, and participation in ward-level events.

In July 2024, Dipika was selected as a member of the Child Advisory Committee for the Children as Zone of Peace (CZOP) National Campaign, a prominent national alliance for child rights in Nepal. https://www.czopnepal.org.np/czop-child-advisory-committee/

In August 2024, Dipika participated in the National Level Child Advisory Committee Meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Dipika expressed, “I am very happy, and I want to work more for child protection in my community.” Her mother remarked, “My daughter is lucky, and she will be a good person in the future.”

Dipika’s teacher noted, “She is active in the child club and leads awareness activities.”