By Tina Kapoor | Head of Communications
Dear Supporter
The pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on adolescent girls in rural communities, deepening poverty means girls will be forced to drop out of school, become child brides and face violence within homes and communities.
The role of grassroots girl leaders is critical to ensure they are able to work with more girls and help them overcome barriers by designing local solutions unique to their communities, this is why Milaan is committed to investing in girl leaders who can take action to build equal and resilient communities.
Meet our 13-year-old girl leader Renuka (name changed) who hails from Uttar Pradesh in India. A state where 1 in 4 girls is a child bride and has the highest school dropout rate in the country. Renuka with support from her father has continued to generate awareness in her community on girls’ education and has brought back 10 girls to school under the government’s free education provision.
Milaan’s leadership training has helped her to nurture her skills and work closely with families and village stakeholders to engage community members, identify school dropout girls and bring them back to school.
Renuka’s 34-year-old mother is a school dropout like many others in her community but inspired by her daughter's resolve to be educated and to create pathways for more girls in her community, her mother decided to enroll herself back in school.
“I want to study because I want to educate myself, knowledge can never go to waste”. Says Renuka’s mother
Her mother wants to become a role model for women in her community just like her daughter to advocate for adult education and not let age become a barrier to learning.
Today, Renuka’s mother is enrolled in formal education in grade 11th at DD Kabadi School in Uttar Pradesh and envisions completing her senior secondary education.
Renuka and her mother’s story is a testament to how building grassroots girl leadership can not only influence more girls but families and communities at large to invest in girls' education and empowerment.
Your continued support helps us to create role models like Renuka from vulnerable communities in rural India. Donate to support our work to create a cadre of educated and empowered young women!
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