Why Support Us
Almost half of India’s 1.25 billion people are aged under 25, making it the youngest nation in the world. This can be India’s biggest asset if the energies of the youth are channelised in the right direction.
The government has made efforts to ensure that its youth are healthy, educated and skilled through a number of innovative schemes. Particular efforts are made to ensure education is available to marginalised communities and girls. However, inequitable gender norms, early/forced marriage, engagement in sibling care, poor delivery of education, and lack of a safe and secure environment in schools, community and at home prevent girls from fulfilling their full potential. Girls’ voices are unheard, they have very low aspirations and don’t have the courage to take decisions for themselves and pursue life opportunities.
As per a UNICEF report, in India, one in three (34 per cent) adolescent girls (aged 15-19) who are married or in union have experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence by their husband or partner. Among these, more than one in 10 (13 per cent) have experienced sexual violence by their partner. A recent study conducted in six Indian states by Save the Children, reveals that due to lack of safe spaces like school, work place and markets, many bright girls are forced to drop out of school. They do not pursue higher education and restrict themselves from engaging in decent work due to fear, and force themselves to remain inside their homes.
The solution to many of these problems lies in empowering the girls and working with communities and the public education system to make it more welcoming. Born out of experiencing these statistics first hand and driven by the desires of strong community leaders to create change in India starting with Meerut. PankhRise Foundation is committed to implement Girl Power Project Through GPP, we work to tackle the basic problems that girls face and create collectives of girls, bringing together 10-15 adolescent girls in selected schools, to provide them support and empower them by building their leadership skills. This helps them to acquire skills, knowledge, experience and confidence, and of course have fun by expressing themselves. These opportunities help them to break the silence, reflect, think logically, critically review issues, challenge deep-rooted gender and patriarchal norms, seek solidarity and emerge as effective agents of change who go to educate and help other girls to be empowered.