TRANSFORMING GIRLS FROM LIABILITIES TO ASSETS VIA EDUCATION

When asked to send her daughter to school a young rural mother responded: “Why should I lose an extra pair of hands for field labour? How can she go to school with no money for clothes or food?”

This shocking yet sobering insight shows that simple economics lie at the heart of the challenge: in rural India girls are liabilities; we knew education would transform them into assets.

When we started Pardada Pardadi Educational Society’s (PPES’) in 2000 the majority dropped out within days. Education simply wasn’t a priority and Parents saw no value in a free education compared to help in the fields. We quickly realised that economic problems could only be addressed by economic solutions. So we built a new business model for educating the rural poor.

PPES’ unique approach incentivizes students in classes six to eight with Rs. 10 a day for attendance. This rises to Rs. 15 a day in classes nine to twelve. In addition, each girl receives three meals a day, free uniforms, free books and stationery, free transportation and free health facilities. We also launched a scheme to provide basic sanitation free to local communities as gifts to the girls attending our school.

The money is paid once the girl has graduated, and we continue to support every student after her graduation by encouraging further studies or by guaranteeing each girl a job.

And it works.

One of our students, Sonam, is currently studying for a Diploma in IT from NTTF Bangalore. Sonam says, “Going to Bangalore was the highlight of my life, the scholarship fund enabled me to realise my ambition”.

Another student, Mohini, who is pursuing a B.Tech from Banasthali University, added, “Having a bachelor’s degree in technology had always been my dream. Without the scholarship fund my ambition would have stayed a dream.”

Over the years we have seen a profound shift towards girls funding higher education. This speaks volumes for the evolving beliefs in the importance of education.

But the biggest reward is watching young women from poor rural communities become empowered to work and lead independent lives, thanks to the transformative effects of a good free education.

PPES transforms the lives of girls and women in rural India through a free education, and programmes that support economic empowerment, community development and health and hygiene.

Help raise money to support the education of girls like Sonam and Mohini.