Empowering 200 Girl Leaders in India

Despite their rural backgrounds, lack of exposure and other social barriers our Girl Icons pursue their dreams relentlessly through all odds. Their stories showcase resilience, breaking through societal norms like child marriage and educational inequality. These victories go beyond personal success, representing a spirit that inspires change. Our Girl Icon’s Journey are powerful examples of fierce economic and social independence, setting the stage for a future that breaks the vicious cycle of intergenerational inequality and poverty.

We take pride in highlighting Girl Icons from our recent cohort who, within a few months of program completion, have already left their mark in diverse  sectors. 

Dreaming Beyond Boundaries: A Journey of Resilience and Triumph

Meet Ritu (name Changed to protect identity), a beacon of determination and resilience hailing from a quaint village in Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh. At 22 , Ritu is pursuing the second year of her master's degree, shouldering the responsibilities that come with being the elder daughter. However, within her beats the heart of a dreamer with aspirations as vast as the open sky – she yearns to become a software engineer.

In a world where opportunities can be scarce, Ritu refuses to be defined by her background or gender. Undeterred, she set her sights on a role as a Computer Operator and Program Assistant at Tata Motors, India’s premier automobile manufacturer. Ritu also had the chance to represent Tata Motors Lucknow at the prestigious CII Work Skill Competition in Ludhiana, a three-day challenge encompassing programming languages C and MS Excel.

Against all odds, Ritu emerged victorious, clinching the Gold Medal for Lucknow. The accolades poured in, with everyone acknowledging her achievement, including the Deputy General Manager who noted that she was the first girl from Lucknow to claim victory in this esteemed competition. As a proud member of the 2018 batch of Girl icons , she also supports the current cohorts of girls as a mentor.

Ritu's story resonates as a testament to the power of resilience and determination. It echoes the belief that regardless of your origin, you can pursue your dreams and transform them into a reality.

Breaking Barriers on the Path to Change: Advocating for Girls' Education

18-year-old Anjali (name changed to protect identity) has always been troubled by the fact that girls are denied an education in her small village of Bamhori, Madhya Pradesh, often being married off before they reach secondary-school age. The desire to change this trend motivated her to become a Girl Icon in 2022. During her tenure as a Girl Icon, Anjali conducted a powerful Social Action Project around the importance of girls’ education, and was a fierce advocate against child marriage.

Once Anjali became part of the Girl Icon Alumni Network, she learned about the Aaghaz Foundation. Anjali subsequently applied for a Child Protection Internship with Aaghaz, where only 50 participants were to be selected from applicants spanning 52 districts. As part of the application process, Anjali began to raise awareness about child marriage in her community. First, she identified young girls who had been married at an early age and assessed their mental and physical well-being. She reached out to them, establishing connections and creating videos on the detrimental effects of child marriage. Anjali then formed a group, inviting community members to join, where she shared these videos to highlight the negative impacts. Additionally, she organized a rally within her community to further spread awareness about the issue. Anjali has now been named one of the 50 Aaghaz interns, and will continue her work around child protection.