"Pink Bags" scholarships for young girls

Around the world, millions of children are born into a fate that seems unchangeable. In Bangladesh, this reality is harshest for the Dalit community, the "outcasts." For generations, they have lived in a condition of invisibility, denied the right to an education, a voice, or a future.

In the village of Tala, discrimination was once the only law. Out of 750 Dalit children, only three had access to school—all of them boys. Girls were deemed even less worthy, trapped between extreme poverty and the threat of forced marriages. One of those three boys was Lino.

Instead of accepting his privilege, Lino chose to resist. At age 12, after being cast out by his family for refusing an arranged marriage, he built a small classroom with 50 bamboo canes to teach other Dalit children. This was the first seed of Dalit NGO, which today manages 75 schools. Since 2012, Mission Bambini has supported this vision through the Pink Bags Project (Borse Rosa), focusing on the most vulnerable: Dalit girls.

From the Village School to the Hospital: Basona’s Testimony

Many donors ask: “What happens to the girls I helped years ago?” The answer is in the story of Basona, born in 2000 in the village of Baruhati. Her journey is the ultimate proof that a "Pink Bags" is not just aid—it is a life-changing bridge to autonomy.

Basona grew up in a large family under difficult circumstances. Her father, Ranjon, passed away years ago, leaving her mother, Mitali, to support the family as a cleaner. Despite their extreme poverty, Mitali understood a fundamental truth: education was the only way out for her daughter.

"I had the luck and the opportunity to study in a small village school," Basona recalls. "There, I learned to read, write, and speak English. If I hadn’t been able to attend that school every day, I don’t know where or who I would be today."

Basona’s determination, fueled by the steady support of the Pink Scholarship, led her to achieve the unthinkable for a Dalit girl. She didn’t just finish school; she excelled. She moved on to professional training at the Satkhira Nursing Institute, completing her internship at the Satkhira Medical College.

Today, Basona is a qualified nurse. She has reached a milestone that seemed impossible twenty years ago. Now married and living with her in-laws, she continues to dream big: "My goal is to work in a public hospital, become a great nurse, and help the weakest people—and, of course, help my mother."

The Legacy of a Dream

Basona’s story is the living legacy of Lino's "bamboo dream." It proves that when we invest in a girl's education, we aren't just giving her books; we are giving her a profession, a voice, and the power to choose her own destiny.

Around the world, millions of children and adolescents grow up surrounded by poverty, social exclusion, and a lack of opportunities. In Brazil, these inequalities are particularly evident in urban outskirts, where many young people live in extreme vulnerability, often deprived of their right to education, healthcare, and a dignified life.

Santo Amaro, a district in the southern part of São Paulo, is one such place. Here, domestic violence, substance abuse, and family instability create a difficult environment for children and teenagers—especially for girls, who are at greater risk of dropping out of school and repeating cycles of poverty and marginalization.

In response, the Casa dos Sonhos Association, with the support of Mission Bambini, some years ago launched the Pink Scholarship Project (Bolsa Rosa)—a concrete initiative designed to restore dignity, self-esteem, and a sense of future to girls living in conditions of social risk.

The project provides educational support, vocational training, and psychosocial assistance, helping young participants build paths toward autonomy and self-realization. Through training activities and personal care kits, the girls develop greater self-awareness and confidence. At the same time, the welcoming and safe environment of Casa dos Sonhos allows them to rediscover the value of respect, empathy, and cooperation.

One of the most inspiring examples of transformation is Marciele, a 14-year-old girl currently attending the 6th grade of elementary school. She joined the project in 2025, coming from a very challenging family situation: her mother struggles with drug and alcohol addiction and is unable to properly care for her children. The family first came into contact with Casa dos Sonhos through the Health Week initiative, organized since 2020 by the University of Santo Amaro (UNISA), which offers free medical assistance to the local community.

When Marciele first arrived at Casa dos Sonhos, she was shy and withdrawn, struggling to interact with her peers. Over time, her daily participation in educational activities helped her regain her self-worth and rediscover joy in learning and playing. Today, she is a confident and engaged young girl—active in group work, expressive, and collaborative. She even learned to enjoy playtime again, something she once refused, often saying: “I don’t like to play, auntie.”

Marciele’s journey shows how the project has not only supported her education but also contributed to her emotional and personal growth. Despite continuing to face poverty and family difficulties, she now has dreams, hope, and a stronger sense of purpose.

Marciele’s Testimony

“I live in a situation of great poverty, and the Pink Scholarship Project gave me the support I needed to stay in school. I wasn’t attending classes because I didn’t have clothes or shoes to wear. I used a friend’s backpack to carry my notebook, and I felt very ashamed.
The principal didn’t understand my situation and kept asking me to wear sneakers and long pants, often scolding me in front of my classmates.
It’s still hard for me to go to school every day because my mother sometimes forces me to go out and beg on the streets. When I don’t, I have to stay home to take care of my younger siblings.
Pink Scholarship is the only support I have to continue studying and the only place where I am treated well—with respect and affection.”

This testimony shows that the Pink Scholarship Project is not just about providing material help—it is about creating a safe and supportive space where girls can feel valued and regain their sense of dignity.

The project’s ultimate goal is to create lasting change, not only for the girls but also for their families and communities. By promoting education, autonomy, and awareness of children’s rights, Pink Scholarship helps build a new generation of strong, educated, and resilient young women—capable of breaking the cycle of poverty and violence.