Laxmi Kumari Chaudhary: From Quiet Observer to Climate Action Leader
Laxmi Kumari Chaudhary (22) grew up in Baragadhi Rural Municipality, a place where caste and gender discrimination were ingrained in daily life. She witnessed Dalits being shooed away from people’s homes and girls being denied the same opportunities as boys. Although she wasn’t directly subjected to these injustices, they left a deep impression on her. “It always felt wrong, but I didn’t know how to change it,” Laxmi recalls. “I just knew I wanted to do something to make things better.”
That desire to create change found its path when the local education officer introduced her to the Global Girls Creating Change (G2C2) program. At first, Laxmi was hesitant. “But I don’t know anything about climate change!” she told the officer. The response was simple yet powerful: “You’ll learn as you go. This is your chance to make a difference.”
Laxmi took those words to heart. She applied, attended the exam and interview, and gave it her best shot. To her surprise, she was selected.
Laxmi’s journey began at the G2C2 project’s kick-off event in Chapur, where she immediately demonstrated her leadership potential. During the planning meeting, someone suggested that it might be nice if one of the girl champions gave the opening speech. Without hesitation, Laxmi volunteered.
“In a society like ours, it’s rare for girls to step forward like that,” one of the organizers recalled. Laxmi’s willingness to embrace the opportunity made a strong impression. “I always knew that being out of my comfort zone would mean growth. Where else would I get the chance to face my fear of public speaking?” she says. Her speech resonated deeply with the audience, which included ministers, mayors, and other key personnel. From that moment on, Laxmi was recognized as a leader to watch.
As the program progressed, Laxmi realized that climate change wasn’t just an environmental issue; it was deeply connected to the social inequalities she had observed all her life. Through G2C2, she began to understand how climate change disproportionately affects marginalized groups, particularly women and girls in patriarchal communities like hers. This realization strengthened her resolve. “For the first time, I could see how addressing climate change also meant addressing the injustices I had always seen around me,” she reflects.
Her work with G2C2 brought her into closer contact with her community. Leading focus group discussions and surveys, she shared her knowledge about climate change and its interconnected impacts on education, gender, and livelihoods. For Laxmi, this work wasn’t just about climate advocacy—it was about empowering those silenced by societal norms. “I realized that many people in my community didn’t understand climate change or how deeply it affects their lives,” she shares. “Through these discussions, I could not only inform them but also amplify their voices.”
“Being in the G2C2 program is the first real-world job I’ve ever had. It has boosted my confidence and helped me grow so much,” Laxmi reflects. Her work, rooted in her early observations of injustice, proves that change begins with recognizing the connections between social and environmental issues.
“I’ve learned that climate change isn’t just about the environment—it’s about people, especially the most vulnerable,” she says. “Through G2C2, I’m not just addressing climate change; I’m addressing the inequalities I’ve seen my whole life.”
Laxmi’s journey from a quiet observer to a confident leader shows what can happen when someone steps out of their comfort zone. She’s not just fighting for the environment; she’s fighting for equality, her community, and a brighter future for all.
