By Shimona Chadha | Fundraising and Communications
Dear Donors,
Thank you for supporting India’s first-generation female learners. Through the KickStart Girls programme, adolescent girls and young women in rural Maharashtra are gaining access to financial and digital literacy, leadership opportunities, and pathways to education and employment. In regions where limited resources and social barriers often restrict girls’ futures, these initiatives are helping them build confidence, skills, and independence. This report shares key highlights and progress from the past few months made possible through your support.
Youth Leadership Lab
During this quarter, the Youth Leadership Lab continued to build financial awareness and life skills among rural youth through a series of workshops focused on financial literacy, digital literacy, and banking literacy.
A total of 389 students participated in these sessions across multiple workshops, with 55.5% of participants being girls. The sessions focused on strengthening students’ understanding of savings, banking systems, insurance, and responsible financial behaviour.
Through interactive discussions and real-life examples, students learned how financial tools can support families and livelihoods in rural communities.
Student Reflection: Sanvi“I did not know much about livestock insurance before. We were explained that when animals fall sick and if their illness is not treated in time, they may die, and livestock insurance helps in such situations. I was provided with guidance and I am very thankful to learn this valuable information.”
This highlights how financial literacy education is helping rural youth understand important financial protections that are often overlooked in farming households.
KickStart Girls Fellowship
This quarter marked a major milestone for the Fellowship Programme, as Cohort 1 successfully completed the fellowship.
Cohort 1 Completion
Fellows completed their External Internships with various Companies & NGOs and returned for a closing orientation and graduation ceremony. During the final reflection sessions, fellows shared their experiences of working in professional environments for the first time.
For many fellows, this programme represented their first opportunity to leave their villages and live independently in cities. Over the past eight months, they developed professional skills, workplace confidence, and exposure to career pathways previously unavailable to them.
Encouragingly, two fellows secured jobs within one month of graduation, demonstrating the programme’s effectiveness in creating pathways to employment.
Cohort 2 Launch
A new cohort of 16 young women has begun the fellowship programme.
To strengthen career preparedness, these are the modules that have been introduced from the beginning of the programme, including:
These sessions aim to equip fellows with the skills, confidence, and awareness needed to transition into professional careers.
RBI Financial Literacy Week 2026
KickStart Girls actively participated in RBI Financial Literacy Week 2026, conducting awareness activities both in schools and community spaces. A total of 261 people were reached through these initiatives.
School-based Sessions
Structured 1.5 hour financial literacy sessions were conducted for students in Grades 7, 8, and 9. This was facilitated by Fellows who were trained by the KickStart Girls Team to conduct these sessions.
These sessions focused on explaining:
Through these sessions, 124 school girls received KYC-related financial literacy training.
Community Outreach
After completing the training, fellows stepped into their communities to conduct outreach activities in local markets and public spaces. Acting as financial literacy ambassadors, they engaged with community members, citizens, and local entrepreneurs in weekly markets.
Through these outreach efforts, 137 community members were informed about KYC processes and the importance of safe banking practices.
Story from the Field: Aarti – Fellowship Participant
During Financial Literacy Week, Aarti actively engaged community members to spread awareness about digital banking safety. She explained the risks of sharing sensitive banking information such as OTP, PIN, and passwords, and warned people about fraudulent calls and suspicious links. She also advised community members to verify messages carefully and only use official banking platforms. Aarti also informed people about the steps to take in case of suspected fraud, including reporting incidents to banks, contacting official helplines, and filing complaints on the National Cybercrime Portal.
Through these conversations, Aarti felt confident that people became more aware and cautious about protecting themselves from digital financial fraud.
Girls-led Community Radio – Nayi Soch
As part of the Nayi Soch Community Radio initiative, young girls hosted radio programmes addressing important themes related to leadership, agriculture, and women’s empowerment.
Radio episodes covered topics such as:
These programmes provided girls with a platform to express their ideas, build confidence, and engage in public dialogue on issues affecting rural women and youth.
Bicycle Distribution for Access to Education
To support students who travel long distances to attend school, 27 bicycles were distributed on 26 January.
These bicycles were provided to students who walk more than 7 kilometres daily to reach school.
This intervention will help reduce travel time, improve attendance, and ensure that students can continue their education without the burden of long and exhausting commutes.
Children’s School Bank Initiative
The School Bank programme continued to strengthen financial literacy and inclusion among school children by helping them develop regular saving habits and practical banking knowledge.
Financial Inclusion Outcomes so far:
In partnership with a High School, 100 new student savings accounts were opened, enabling many students to access formal banking services for the first time.
To reinforce financial learning, a School Bank was established within the school, functioning as a student-led model of financial inclusion.
Student Leadership Roles: Four girls were trained to manage the School Bank in key leadership roles of Bank Manager, Cashier, Bank Sakhee and Clerk. Students maintain records, facilitate deposits, and encourage their peers to develop regular saving habits.
The School Bank is now fully operational, allowing students to practice real-world financial management skills.
Student Story: Aarav,a student at Mohi School, comes from a farming family where every rupee matters. Since the School Bank started, Aarav has begun saving small amounts of money regularly. “Every day, if my parents give me money for snacks, I use it. But on some days, I decide to save it instead. I put in two to five rupees, and at the end of the week, I deposit it into my school bank. So far I have collected 813 in my bank account from my own savings.” Aarav plans to use his savings to pay his 10th standard examination fees, showing how even small savings can help children take ownership of their future.
Improving School Infrastructure for Girls
During the School Bank project, a critical infrastructure gap was identified at Mohi School - the absence of a toilet facility for girls.
This lack of sanitation facilities created daily challenges related to hygiene, privacy, and dignity, particularly for adolescent girls.
In response, the programme supported the construction of a dedicated girls’ toilet, which was inaugurated on 27 December 2025.
The initiative also encouraged community participation. Students, teachers, and school staff jointly participated in painting and beautifying the facility, creating a sense of shared ownership.
The new facility has contributed to a safer, more inclusive learning environment, helping ensure that girls can continue their education with dignity and confidence.
Links:
By Felicia Nadar | Programme Manager, KickStart Girls
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