Anoyara comes from a family of little means in West Bengal. When she was just five years old, she also lost her father. When she turned twelve, her family’s financial circumstances compelled her mother to listen to the advice of a distant relative, who suggested sending her to a family who could take care of her and give her an education. However, Anoyara and her mother had been deceived—she became a victim of child trafficking and was forced to work as domestic help in Delhi instead. There, she was abused, kept in terrible conditions, and unable to contact her family until she was rescued by the organization Save the Children. When she returned home and saw how many children were suffering that same way, she became an avid children’s rights activist. She has fought against exploitation and child marriage, and has helped rescue hundreds more children. Her efforts led to her becoming one of the youngest recipients of the Nari Shakti Award.
“Children will have wings, won’t be afraid of anything and are able to reach to the skies.”
—Anoyara Khatun
This excerpt is from The Book of Awesome Girls by Becca Anderson, which is available now through Amazon and Mango Media.
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