Stories of Change

As I set foot in Sarawasti Balika Inter College, Lucknow, for the Girl Icon District Level Event, the flurry of activity caught me by surprise. Early in the morning several parents were chatting with each other, while others reassured their nervous daughters that they would be by their side throughout the day. In the corner, …

Intern Insights: A Look Into Lucknow’s Girl Icon Training Read More »

When I joined Milaan as the Program Officer for Movement Building, I underestimated the significant challenge that awaited me: revitalizing and uniting a coalition network in need of consolidation. The task at hand was not only immense but also crucial, as it involved uniting CSOs with diverse interests and expertise, which proved daunting. Given that …

Inside Insights: Anjali Singh, Program Officer – Movement Building Read More »

In conversation with H.E Sue Lines, Hon President, Australian Senate I, Aakansha Mudgal, am a Co-Facilitator at Milaan Foundation, living in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. I am 21 and pursuing the last semester of my graduation in Humanities from Chaudhary Charan Singh University. Nothing brings me more pleasure than spending time in nature, reading books, …

Inside Insights: Aakansha Mudgal, Co-Facilitator Read More »

Before joining Milaan, I worked as a volunteer Program Manager where I handled volunteers globally. I designed workshops and tasks for volunteer engagement, recruited volunteers, and coordinated with colleges. Creating positive change in society has always been my goal. However, one thing I was missing in my work was the opportunity to work on the …

Inside Insights: Monika Phore, Community Coordinator Read More »

I recently finished my first day as an intern at the Milaan Foundation. The organisation’s Lucknow office is tucked away in a little corner of Gomtinagar, in an unassuming building. As I walked inside, the change in atmosphere struck me immediately. The walls of the office were covered with drawings, quotes, and decor made by …

Intern Insights: First Day at the Milaan Foundation Read More »

“Education is the key to resolving the problems that hinder our well-being” – Sakkubai 13-year-old Sakkubai belongs to a family of migrant workers, without a permanent home and no fixed income. She had come to accept Gamangatti village to be her home. But a year ago, she had to move in with her grandmother because …

The Importance of Education Read More »

The following is an opinion piece by Swarachna School leadership team member: Akshay Shetty. In this blog post, Akshay introduces us to one of the inspirational teachers who makes the school a brighter place and embodies all the qualities of a Girl Icon. For the past few months, I have been living in a part …

Teachers of Swarachna: Kanchan Read More »

A rising star, Rajkumari has emerged as a leader to educate, persuade and inspire her community to act against the lack of education for girls and see their inherent worth. Rajkumari knows that a good peer educator understands and respects others and encourages girls to make choices with a positive impact. Hailing from the remote …

Change the World Like a Girl! Read More »

“I no longer feel the void of not having a family to support me. People in my community now look up to me and discuss their problems with me, hoping I could help them. Having the ability and knowledge to help them make me happy. Yes, not having my parents by my side was hard …

Joining Forces for the Greater Good Read More »

14-year-old Simpi studies in 9th grade. Belonging to a rural village in Barabanki district, Uttar Pradesh, she resides in a small house with her family, including her father, a farmer, her mother, a house maker and her three siblings. Simpi considers her father to be the catalyst that motivated her to join Milaan’s Girl Icon …

A Beacon of Change Read More »

‘My life, Mere Faisle’ is an intervention designed and implemented by Pravah and its partners since 2015. This intervention looks at the issue of Early and Child Marriage through the psycho-social approach, enabling young people to take charge of one’s lives and decisions. Raju (name changed), 16 years old, Chandauli District, Uttar Pradesh A participant …

My Life, Mere Faisle: Raju Read More »

“I was hesitant to talk to elders in my village as I was insecure about my experiences and societal status. Girl Icon Program gave me the confidence to put forth my opinion with confidence.”- Varsha Soni A 20-year-old Girl Icon, Varsha hails from the village of Raahat in the district of Harda in Madhya Pradesh. …

Breaking the Silence Around Menstruation Read More »

‘My life, Mere Faisle’ is an intervention designed and implemented by Pravah and its partners since 2015. This intervention looks at the issue of Early and Child Marriage through the psycho-social approach, enabling young people to take charge of one’s lives and decisions. Monika (name changed), 17 years old, Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh Monika is …

My Life, Mere Faisle: Monika Read More »

Soumya, a 14-year-old Girl Icon, lives and studies in Kalghattagi, Dharwad, which is a remote village in Karnataka. She belongs to a community where taboos around menstruation are profound. A vast majority of 12 to 15-year-old girls are enrolled in primary school, but once they reach puberty, something distressing happens. The majority of girls drop …

It’s Normal. Period. Read More »

Girl Icon Anju hails from Jamasindh village in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh. Both her parents work as farmers on other’s lands. Earnings in the family also come from rearing and selling goats during festivals, especially festivals like Diwali. The cost per goat goes up to INR 4,000 – 6,000, depending on their weight. Anju belongs to …

Take the First Step: Story of an Aspiring IPS Officer Read More »

Breaking the cocoon of patriarchy and gendered attitudes, our courageous Girl Icon, Roshni is fighting to bring about change in society. Currently, a second-year student, pursuing her Bachelor’s in Science, this young rebel believes education is the only tool to empower everyone. Read on for Roshni’s Story! An 18-year-old girl, Roshni comes from a small …

Breaking the Bias Read More »

As a part of the #CelebrateGirls campaign, Milaan is looking to examine and address barriers to education for adolescent girls. Leading up to our #CelebrateGirls Expert Consultation, we want to hear from you as we crowdsource ideas to address specific barriers to education. Today, we examine the barrier lack of infrastructure presents in educating girls. …

#CelebrateGirls: Infrastructural Barriers to Education Read More »

This past Wednesday, the Milaan office was bustling with activity. Having received nearly 2,000 applications from aspiring Girl Icons throughout Uttar Pradesh, the team was faced with the exciting challenge of selecting the most promising girl leaders to be awarded the Girl Icon Fellowship in October. To support the selection process, the team brought together …

Reshaping the Future, One Girl Icon at a Time Read More »

The following is an opinion piece by Swarachna School leadership team member: Akshay Shetty.  It relates to Akshay’s experiences working in the school and relating world issues to students from rural backgrounds. Temperatures in Sitapur have been nose-diving into single digits steadily and our wonderful students are having a tough time riding their bicycles through …

Contextualising the World for a Rural School Read More »

This post was written by Milaan’s Co-Founder, Sharadindu Goswami, as an overview of the prominent barrier to education for adolescent girls: Finances. Of late, I have come across several remarks along the lines of ‘Now that education for 6-14-year-olds is free, there is no financial reason for parents not to send their daughters to school.’ …

#CelebrateGirls: Financial Barriers to Education Read More »

Anita’s voice has been amplified through our partner in the #CelebrateGirls campaign, Bharat Calling, which encourages rural students who are being left behind due to financial, social, or cultural reasons on the path to higher education. The #CelebrateGirls campaign aims to highlight and amplify voices to collectively address barriers to education for adolescent girls. In …

#CelebrateGirls Voices: Anita Read More »

The following is an opinion piece by Swarachna School leadership team member: Akshay Shetty.  It relates to Akshay’s experiences and opinion of an event that occurred on October 18th in Lucknow. The Gandhi Corner of the La Martiniere Girls’ College, one of Lucknow’s most prestigious institutions, organises ‘The Day of the Girl Child’ every October.  …

Girls’ Day Out in Lucknow Read More »

A week before a new term at Swarachna School begins, teachers are participating in training with Sharadindu and Ananya. Starting early in the day, teachers gather for long, hot, and productive sessions on how they can be sources of inspiration in the coming year. The team has worked tirelessly with them to prepare engaging students …

A Space to Solve Queries: A Teacher’s View Read More »

The Azadi Team has been working in the Upper Primary Schools in the district of Balrampur, for the past month to make schools menstruation-friendly. During their time in these 25 schools, they have engaged with communities, teachers, and students in their mission to understand how to improve the current system of basic education for addressing …

Making Schools Menstrual Friendly Read More »