Senior Pooja Nagpal speaks about women’s activism at the United Nations Headquarters

By Kelli Saunders

Staff Writer

Pooja Nagpal not only dreams to make a difference but takes action daily to represent women who do not have equality.

Mira Costa senior Pooja Nagpal was invited to speak about women’s activism on behalf of all youth at the United Nation’s Headquarters in New York City from March 14-18. During the conference she was also able to share her views on child marriage, female infanticide, acid attacks, rape and sexual assault on college campuses.

“I’ve always felt like it was my obligation to give back to women and girls,” Nagpal said. “Seeing how violence against girls changes their lives, their ambitions and their careers, I’ve always felt like it was so unfair that victims are targeted or even blamed for their circumstance.”

At the conference Nagpal was given the opportunity to speak with ambassadors of different countries and is currently working with governments to install her curriculum of self-defense and women empowerment into their schools.

“I generally do not think that speaking or giving speeches is the way to end an issue,” Nagpal said. “It’s the actual working and doing.”

In 2013, Nagpal used her knowledge of martial arts and street fighting to teach self-defense in villages in India and low-income areas of Los Angeles. She created her own non-profit organization called For a Change, Defend where she has worked with over 500 women and girls, preventing domestic violence, sexual assault and teen dating violence.

“Since the very first time teaching in India, I saw the sudden increase of confidence and ambition light up in a girl’s eyes who had been beaten down by society,” Nagpal said. “I know what the power of interacting and empowering girls can do. I’ve always felt that a nation succeeds only by how well they treat and empower their women.”

This summer Nagpal will be working on various projects involving teaching sex trafficking survivors and working with Harvard gender violence law professors and famous journalists.  

“I know this is a lifelong goal for me,” Nagpal said. “Whether I teach self defense, or use engineering for social good, or entrepreneurship. Whatever it may be, I hope to continue helping others.”

Nagpal plans to implement programs at Costa to promote youth activism and has created a women’s safety app. She is finishing the app and will soon give it to the United Nations to implement in governments and schools around the world.

“I believe that we should contribute to the world in a sense that is higher than ourselves,” Nagpal said. “We should appreciate the great education and lifestyle we lead and it is now up to use to be the leaders in the world to end climate change, gender inequality, violence, and more. I hope more of my peers take activism to a level that is further than a transitory phase into college.”