Darani, 15-year-old girl and an active leader of a children group who lives at Shevapet community in Salem Corporation. She used a very vibrant and highly empowered girl to volunteer herself to organise, coordinate and identify also tried to sort it out with the support of the community. She took efforts to bring changes and transformation to the elders from traditional practices in the names of culture and customs.

Dharani came to know that her classmates were discussing secretly one of their classmate marriage arrangements. Dharani realised that her classmate was being forced by her parents for her marriage. Dharani and her friends wanted to confront the classmate’s family, but they feared the repercussions. Hence, Dharani was an empowered leader in the children group and was aware of the ChildLine, but she was not able to confirm that the arrangements of her classmate’s marriage. 

Dharani had discussed this with members and mentors of the children group about this issue.  With the discussion and guidance from the children group she got motivated so, she took the issue to her school headmaster.  The children group and school administration together stopped the arrangement of marriage successfully. Dharani has determined to marry after achieving higher education and once attain at the right age.  The child-friendly Salem initiative had not only empowered the children and made them act as social change agents in their communities.