This began to change when the Vidya program was introduced at her school. The Educate Girls initiative which is built on the understanding that getting a girl into school is only the first step. To ensure she stays there and thrives, she needs more than just a seat in a classroom; she needs to feel that her voice matters. Through the Bal Sabha (Children’s Parliament), the program provides girls in Grades 6, 7, and 8 with life skills and leadership opportunities.

When the time came for the Bal Sabha elections at her school, Asma felt a flicker of curiosity. For the first time, she decided to step forward. Her peers recognised something in her that she had not yet seen in herself, and to her own surprise, they elected her as the Cultural Secretary.

The title brought with it a new sense of purpose. Suddenly, school was no longer just a place to sit quietly. It was a place where she had a responsibility to her peers. Her attendance became regular because she knew her school community was counting on her to lead. As she participated in sessions focused on confidence and problem-solving, supported by Tejas Networks Limited, her hesitation began to fade. She started asking questions, leading activities, and speaking with a clarity that was previously unseen.

The transformation has been remarkable. Today, Asma is no longer the girl who hesitates to speak. She has become a learner who not only participates in every session but also motivates other girls. As the Cultural Secretary, she manages school events with a level of poise that seemed impossible just a few months ago.

Asma’s journey is a powerful reminder that education is about more than just academic learning. It is about the holistic development that ensures a girl stays in school and thrives. Through the Vidya program, Asma has not only improved her attendance but has also prepared herself to face the world with confidence.

Her story illustrates that when girls are given the right opportunities and a platform to lead, they can break through their inner barriers. With the right guidance, girls like Asma are discovering their hidden potential and stepping into the light, ready to lead their communities toward a brighter future.

*Name changed to protect the identity of the minor.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Halima dropped out of school after completing Grade 7 following the loss of her mother. In the middle of grief and uncertainty, her education came to a sudden halt.

When Halima later tried to return to school, the prolonged gap in her education made her ineligible for formal school.

Where she comes from, and why it mattered

Halima comes from a remote rural community in Bihar. In such settings, access to education was shaped not just by availability, but by everyday realities at home and in the community. For many girls, schooling competed with household chores and long-held beliefs about when a girl’s education should end.

These realities formed the backdrop of Halima’s life. At home, encouragement was limited. While her brother and sister-in-law were present, they often discouraged her aspiration to continue her education. Her sister-in-law believed household chores mattered more than education.

Beyond her home, prevailing social norms posed an additional challenge. Attitudes around a girl’s marriageable age reinforced the idea that education could wait.

What it took to change minds

Educate Girls’ Prerak, Sabana Praveen, visited Halima’s home and spoke with her sister-in-law. The initial conversations did not lead to change. But Sabana and the Educate Girls team did not give up.

They organised a community meeting and invited parents of more girls like Halima and key stakeholders. The discussion focused on the importance of education, the opportunities available after Grade 10, and government schemes that support girls in continuing their education.

Slowly, perspectives began to shift.

Starting again

Over time, resistance gave way to consent. Halima’s brother agreed to let her attend the village learning camp and resume her education. That decision marked a turning point in her life.

Halima passed her Grade 10 examinations through open schooling with distinction and topped the Bihar State Open School. She is ready to continue her education with confidence and clarity about what lies ahead.

“I thank Educate Girls for supporting me and many other girls on this journey towards becoming self-reliant”, she said.

Finding a way back to learning

In 2024, Mamta learnt about the Educate Girls’ Pragati program. Pragati supports adolescent girls and young women who had to pause their education and now want to complete Grade 10 through open schooling. 

With encouragement from her mentor, Prerak Teja Ram Ji, she decided to give herself this second chance after nearly a decade away from textbooks.

Returning to studies was not easy. She had to rebuild her confidence, create a routine and stay focused, but she kept going.

A result that changed perceptions

Her effort paid off. Mamta passed the Rajasthan State Open School Grade 10 exams with 85 per cent. She ranked second among all girls and third overall in the state. Her achievement inspired her family, her neighbours and many who had once questioned the value of girls’ education.

What Mamta’s success represents

Today, Mamta dreams of becoming a teacher. Her journey and the result gave her the confidence to dream bigger about her future and showed her community what determination can look like. Her journey now reflects a simple truth: when girls have the opportunity to educate themselves, they can move forward on their own terms.

Holding on to a dream

Manisha did not take this decision at the last minute. She held on to her dream for years, worked through setbacks and found the support she needed.

She lives in a remote village in Rajasthan and always wanted to become a teacher. After Grade 9, she had to leave school because the secondary school was far away, transport costs were high, and her family was facing financial difficulties. She stayed home, not knowing what her next step would be.

“Kuch na kuch banenge.” She would think to herself.

A second chance through Pragati

Things changed when her Prerak didi, a trained community mentor under the Educate Girls’ Pragati program, told her about a second-chance learning camp nearby.

Pragati supports adolescent girls and young women who had to drop out of school or pause their education. It helps them prepare for their Grade 10 exams through open schooling. For Manisha, it felt like a chance to continue what she had started.

Her father needed convincing. “Padh likh ke kya karoge?” he asked. Manisha replied, “Kuch na kuch banenge.” She kept trying and slowly gained his support. On the night before her wedding, he finally agreed to let her sit for the exams.

Balancing two milestones

When the wedding date conflicted with one of her papers, both families encouraged her to go ahead with the exams. Her father-in-law believed strongly in education, and her husband supported her without hesitation.

On the morning of her wedding, she completed the early rituals and then travelled to the exam centre in a decorated van. She revised on the way, finished her paper and returned in time for the celebrations.

Looking ahead

Manisha passed her Grade 10 and now wants to continue her education through open schooling. She plans to complete Grade 12 and begin her teacher training.

Her journey shows how powerful second-chance education can be. Through Pragati, thousands of girls like Manisha are returning to learning.

At just eight years old, she has already assumed responsibilities far beyond her age. She is one of ten siblings—three brothers and six sisters—in a family sustained by the hard physical labour of her parents, Raksharam and Geeta. In a household where daily earnings determined whether meals would be cooked, education was often seen as a luxury rather than a necessity. Like many families in the village, her parents believed girls were more needed at home than in school. As a result, three of Chandni’s sisters dropped out after completing Class Eight and began contributing to household work and seasonal agricultural labour.

Chandni followed a similar path. She helped care for her siblings and manage domestic responsibilities, gradually drifting away from schooling. When her parents attempted to enrol her in school last year, the process stalled due to an error in her Aadhaar documentation. Despite multiple attempts, the enrolment could not be completed. The family, already stretched thin, felt overwhelmed by the administrative procedures. Without guidance or support, correcting official documents felt intimidating and unnecessary. Chandni remained out of school for yet another year, and over time, her absence from education became normal.

It was during this period that Educate Girls’ Field Coordinators and Team Balika volunteers, supported by the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), reached Chandni’s village through door-to-door survey. When they met Chandni and her family, they began engaging her parents in conversations about the importance of education, particularly for girls. As the discussions continued, the Aadhaar card emerged as the primary barrier.

The Educate Girls team stepped in with practical support—explaining the importance of accurate documentation and guiding the family through each step of the correction process. With sustained follow-up and local coordination, Chandni’s Aadhaar card was eventually corrected. It was a small administrative change, but one with life-altering implications.

The journey did not end there. During another round of home visits, the team returned. Once again, they addressed concerns, responded to doubts, and encouraged Chandni’s parents to reconsider their decision. This time, supported by continued engagement and growing awareness, the family agreed, and Chandni was successfully enrolled in Class Two.

Today, Chandni attends school every day. She speaks simply about her experience—she enjoys studying, playing with her friends, and learning new things. In the classroom, she is discovering a world that extends beyond household chores and daily survival.

Her story is a reminder that access to education is often delayed not by a lack of potential, but by small, solvable barriers. With patience, persistence, and the right support, every Chandni can return to school—and begin shaping a future of her own.

During a door-to-door survey in the village, Shankar, an Educate Girls’ Field Coordinator, visited Ananya’s house and found her at home. Her parents were busy with farming, and Ananya had stayed back to take care of her younger siblings and help with household chores. 

When Shankar later met her parents, he spoke to them—her parents said, “It is better if she helps at home while we work in the fields.” Despite several conversations, they were not ready to change their mind.

Shankar then visited the local village school to discuss Ananya’s situation with the teacher. Together, Shankar and the teacher decided to visit Ananya’s house to speak to her father. But once again, he refused.

The next day, Shankar met the Sarpanch (village head) and explained Ananya’s situation. He requested the Sarpanch to accompany him to Ananya’s home and speak with the family. During the visit, Shankar shared examples of the difference that education can make. He also shared his own story – how being educated allowed him to work and support others. This time, the message got through. Ananya’s parents finally agreed to send her to school.

Shankar then helped them arrange all necessary documents. Since Ananya didn’t have an Aadhaar card, he took her parents to the Panchayat Secretary to get her birth certificate. He then accompanied them to the Aadhaar centre to get the Aadhaar card issued. 

With all documents in place, Ananya was finally enrolled in grade 1 at the village government school. Now, Ananya goes to school every day with her friends, smiling and eager to learn. Seeing this, her parents are happy and grateful. They expressed their sincere thanks to Field Coordinator Shankar and the primary school teacher for helping them understand the importance of education.

*name changed to protect minor

Vaishali and Vidya live with their father, Kailash, who works as a labourer, and their mother, Sunita. When Kailash’s first daughter, Vaishali, was born, they used to live together with his alcoholic father. However, when Vidya arrived, the atmosphere changed. Disappointed at not having a grandson, Kailash’s father blamed the couple for the “misfortune.” But the brunt of his anger was borne by the girls. He prohibited them from going to school. Following tradition, Kailash and his wife complied. Despite being of school-going age, Vaishali spent all her time doing household chores.

In 2019, things got worse. Kailash’s father started coming home drunk and hurting the girls. Kailash couldn’t do anything about it. One night, he decided it was best to leave home to protect his daughters. Kailash and his family moved to a nearby village. In the new village, Kailash worked hard as a labourer. He wanted his daughters to go to school, but they didn’t have their documents with them, and he didn’t want to face his father again. So, the girls couldn’t go to school. 

After the pandemic, Kailash lost his father, and they decided to move to find better work. Around this time, Educate Girls’ Team Balika Volunteer Seema visited them. Seema knew Vaishali and Vidya were not in school. She didn’t waste time and went to see them right away. Seema talked to Kailash about Educate Girls and told her he wanted his girls to go to school. Seema contacted Educate Girls’ Field Coordinator Pinky Muvel and told her the whole story. 

The next day, Seema and Pinky revisited Kailash. Pinky explained the different government schemes the girls were eligible for to ease Kailash’s financial concerns. Pinky asked Kailash if he wanted his daughters to go through what he had gone through. This made Kailash think, and he agreed to enrol both his children.

Seema and Pinky faced a new challenge: getting Vaishali and Vidya’s documents ready. Seema made many trips to the Panchayat office and completed all the paperwork. She also took them to school for enrolment. The sisters were finally enrolled in Grade 1 and are now regularly going to school!

*names changed to protect minors  

During a door-to-door survey, the Educate Girls team identified the sisters as out of school and met with their family. They tried to persuade them but to no avail. Months passed and the team continued trying to convince them using different methods like telling them about the benefits of girls’ education, organising Mohallah Meetings (community meetings), communicating through village influencers, but the family was immovable.

A year later, a few members of the Educate Girls’ team changed but one thing remained constant, their efforts to enrol the twins. One of the reasons they cited was the concern for their daughters’ safety, as they would have to travel to the neighbouring village to pursue their education.

After umpteen attempts and multiple visits to the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) – a free, residential school by the government, the family finally agreed to enroll their daughters. The girls were enrolled in Grade 6, where they could study to Grade 8.

“KGBV only teaches ‘til Grade 8. It took us a lot of effort to enrol the twin sisters, I couldn’t let their future be in the danger by dropping out. So, after 2 years, I went to their house again to check on the girls and convince the family to not let their daughters drop out again. The family was happy to see the progress of their daughters and they agreed to send them to school after 8^th”, shared Ramesh Bamaniya, Educate Girls’ Field Coordinator.

Ramesh further helped them enrol in a residential school in a nearby town. However, the hostel was far from the examination centre so he drove girls daily from hostel to the exam centre, so that they can continue their studies hassle-free.

Kavita and Bhumika are now enrolled in Grade 10 and their family is extremely happy to see them doing well.

“I am fortunate to have met people from Educate Girls who helped my daughters have a brighter future. I am proud of my girls and will ensure that they at least complete their graduation,” said their father.

Educate A Child (EAC), a global programme of the Education Above All Foundation, has partnered with Educate Girls to identify out of school children and ensure that they have access to quality primary education. With the support of EAC, Educate Girls has been working in some of the most remote and marginalised communities in India, providing out of school children (OOSC) an opportunity to learn, thereby contributing directly to the UN’s SDG 4 and indirectly impacting a number of other SDGs

*Name changed to protect the identity of minor

Despite being 10 years old, Sara* was never enrolled in school because her parents never valued education. She lives with her family in a small village in the Sirohi district of Rajasthan. Being the eldest of three children, she was burdened with the responsibilities of household chores and taking care of her siblings.

She has always been fascinated with teaching, and hence wished to go to school and become a teacher eventually. But her family never understood her aspirations.

Last year Sara was identified as an out-of-school girl during the door-to-door survey by the Educate Girls’ team. Despite efforts to convince her family to send her to school, her parents refused to agree. The team didn’t give up hope on enrolling Sara and spoke with the teacher and the Sarpanch (village head) to help convince her family. A community meeting was organized and all parents of out-of-school girls, including Sara’s parents, were encouraged to attend.

At the community meeting, the team spoke extensively about the benefits of educating girls and informed them about the government schemes that support girls’ education. The teacher and the Sarpanch also helped them in convincing families. As a result Sarah’s family agreed to enroll her, and her two younger sisters in school!

Sara was enrolled in Grade 4. However, she had difficulty understanding what was being taught online as schools were closed due to the pandemic, and she had never been to school before. To address this, the Educate Girls’ Field Coordinator and Team Balika volunteer suggested sending her to Camp Vidya, a community-based learning initiative by Educate Girls that was started during the outbreak of Covid-19. Children were taught in a fun and interactive way in a safe environment. Sara with her siblings began attending the learning camp regularly and her learning level gradually improved.

When schools reopened, Sara didn’t face any problem in keeping pace with her classmates. Sara now goes to school with her 2 younger sisters.

“I enjoy reading books. When I grow up, I want to become a teacher and teach all the children in my community,” shared Sara.

Educate A Child (EAC), a global programme of the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation and Educate Girls have partnered to provide quality primary education to out of school children,  living in some of the most remote, tribal and marginalised communities of India.

Educate Girls’ Team Balika volunteers are educated and determined youth of their village who go to any lengths to make every girl in their village educated. They along with Educate Girls’ staff go through extreme terrains and knock on every door to identify out-of-school girls and convince their parents to send them back to school. On one such visits they came across Manu’s home where they tried to understand the reason of her not being at school.

Manu’s parents were not any different from the majority of the population in the village who considered sending girls to school a waste of time and money. Her mother said, “Manu’s grandmother is very old and my husband and I spend the entire day working at the farm, so who is going to take care of the cattle and housework? It would be better if she stays here and helps me out”.  Educate Girls’ Team Balika never let her parent’s refusal come in between the end goal of sending Manu to school. For this, he visited their home multiple times, sometimes with the school teacher and sometimes with the village head who spoke to them about the various benefits of girls’ education. The convincing took months but her parents reluctantly said yes. Manu was finally enroled in Grade 1 in 2017!

Her parents, especially her mother who was skeptical about this new journey changed her perspective in just a few months of Manu’s schooling. “It gives me immense joy to see my child so happy returning from school and telling us the innumerable things she learns at school. I am glad we made this decision, I wish we had someone like Team Balika back in our day to guide us too” says her mother.

It has been four years since Manu was enrolled in school and now she knows a way to fulfill her dream of a pucca house, it is through teaching! She is currently in Grade 5 and can’t wait to go to school post the pandemic.

*Name changed.