Muskan Ahirwar, India

I'm Muskan Ahirwar, a 12th-grade humanities student. In 2016, I started Kitabi Masti with 121 books outside my home, now a library of 2100+ books. With support from Rajya Shiksha Kendra and volunteers, it's a study hub and community space in Bhopal's Durga Nagar, a low income neighborhood. Open daily, we offer tutoring, support for at-risk students, and school supply distribution. My efforts earned national and international recognition, including awards from Niti Ayog, Princess Diana, and the UN. My vision extends to establishing more reading centers like Kitabi Masti, providing marginalized children with vital support and space to flourish.

Kitabi Masti is a library in my slum area where I live. It is opened after school in the evening every day. Kids come here to read books, which are different from their school books. The plan is to get children interested in reading and interested in education. My focus is especially for girls education as many of my friends have dropped out of school at an early age. Girls are expected to do only house work and get married. But I want to change that. Children in my area also spend time outside, not studying and the library helps to keep them busy and productive.