"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."

- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

#Girls

Star Citizens

From Teacher to Protector: Asha Suman's Inspiring Journey

In a remarkable display of dedication and commitment, Asha Suman, a government school teacher from Alwar district in Rajasthan, has been empowering young girls by imparting self-defence training. Her efforts have earned her the prestigious National Award to Teachers-2023, presented by the President of India on Teachers' Day. Asha, who teaches at the Government Primary School in Kharkhara, Rajgarh block, has equipped thousands of girls with self-defence techniques, including visually impaired and speech and hearing disabled students. Her exceptional contributions in the fields of education, health, and safety have been recognized among the top 50 educators in the country. With a focus on curriculum development, community outreach, and women empowerment, Asha has directly interacted with over 50,000 women, promoting their empowerment and safety. Notably, she has dedicated herself to training disabled and deaf-mute girls, currently instructing a record-breaking 250 individuals. Additionally, she imparts self-defence and martial arts training to numerous school girls, women, and teachers. Asha's journey to this remarkable achievement was not without challenges. She commenced her teaching career in a remote and underprivileged area with no school building. Overcoming obstacles, she inspired families to prioritize education for their daughters, resulting in a significant increase in enrollment. A tragic incident near the school further fueled Asha's determination to ensure the safety of girls, leading her to teach self-defence techniques. The recognition of Asha's efforts with the National Award signifies the impact she has made in empowering girls and promoting their safety. Her story serves as an inspiration to educators and individuals alike, highlighting the transformative power of education and self-defence training in building confidence and resilience among young girls.  

21 Sep 2023
Star Citizens

A Teacher in Tamil Nadu Builds Toilets so That Girls Don’t Have to Skip School

A teacher in a government school in Tamil Nadu was shocked to know that girls don’t use toilets in school as they are in a very poor and unhygienic condition. The girls therefore skip school during their periods and on other days control their bladder as they have no proper toilets. Satheesh Kumar , a teacher at Poovalur Government Higher Secondary school in Tiruchy was very concerned for the hapless girls and decided to help them out. He initially geared up to make repairs and renovations to the existing toilets, but soon found that his efforts are in vain as 135 students had only one toilet with four cubicles. Kumar realized that the girls used toilets at home just before coming to school at 8 am and would relieve themselves only after going home at 4 pm. He decided to build a new toilet with the award money of Rs 50,000 which he had recently won for best teacher. Many people pitched in with funds to help. He resorted to crowdfunding and received donations from people all over in India. Thanks to his dedicated efforts, the school this month inaugurated a swanky new toilet for girls and female staff which was built at a cost of 10.50 lakhs. The construction of the toilet began in January 2019 and it was ready in November. There are 14 toilets for the girls and four toilets for teachers while one toilet is for the differently-abled. The toilet which is built on an 820-sq. ft area is equipped with a washbasin, napkin vending machines and incinerators. The sensitive and compassionate nature of Satheesh Kumar led him to do a noble act. The girls of the government schools are happy beyond measure. One girl exclaimed that the new toilet is a huge relief for them as they no longer have to control their bladder for eight hours and can henceforth, regularly attend school.   

17 Dec 2019
Star Citizens

Positive Reads

Majestic Marvel in the Desert: This Girl's School Redefines Architectural Brilliance

In the enchanting Thar Desert, the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girl's School stands as an amazing creation, seamlessly blending with its arid surroundings. Designed by Diana Kellogg Architects, this awe-inspiring structure symbolizes a beacon of knowledge and education in the remote Kanori community near Jaisalmer. At the heart of this architectural masterpiece lies a sanctuary for young girls to pursue their dreams. In a province like Rajasthan, where the literacy rate barely reaches 32%, this school aims to empower young girls and their mothers, providing them with a brighter future while promoting sustainability. The visionary behind this exclusive initiative is Michael Daube, the founder of CITTA, who recognized the importance of granting the girls of rural Jaisalmer their fundamental right to education. Collaborating with the iconic architect Diana Kellogg, based in the United States, Daube embarked on this challenging project, overseeing its inception and completion. Crafted to withstand the extreme desert temperatures, the school incorporates innovative technologies that automatically regulate overheating, enabling it to endure scorching temperatures of up to 55 degrees Celsius, while keeping the premises cool. Kellogg conceived a stunning oval arcade which symbolizes the universal emblem of femininity, representing an infinity sign giving birth to an egg-like form. Covering an area of almost 9,000 square feet, the school features a curved design crafted by local craftsmen, who happen to be the fathers of the girls themselves. The entire structure, along with its architectural elements, has been carved from locally sourced yellow sandstone. With a focus on sustainability, rainwater harvesting techniques were implemented, and a rooftop solar canopy provides electricity for the building, further enhancing its sustainability. The fort-like structure of the school amidst the barren desert encompasses three impressive elliptical elements. The massive outer wall forms the backbone of the building, while an inner wall surrounds the classrooms and other areas, enclosing a central courtyard. Perforated sandstone walls protect the school premises from the scorching sun and desert dust, creating a shaded and clean courtyard where the girls can play even during the hot summer months. The interior of the classrooms exude warmth, with beige wooden doors, chocolate brown boards, and furniture that perfectly complements the overall design. Recessed circular spaces within the walls serve as artistic architectural elements, doubling as seating areas and leisure nooks for the girls. To add a touch of elegance to the school uniforms, renowned designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee drew inspiration from the intricate and enigmatic patterns of Ajrakh woodblock prints. The Rajkumari Ratnavati Girl's School represents a promising future for underprivileged girls and women in rural Jaisalmer. It serves as an architectural splendor in rural India, inspiring future projects aimed at empowering communities through education. 

26 Jun 2023
Positive Reads

This School Is in Tune With Gandhian Values Even After a Century!

The Vidyodaya Girls’ Higher Secondary School in T Nagar Chennai has an old charm as it stays rooted in Gandhian values even as it celebrates its centenary in the coming year. What sets this school apart is that the students here are imparted training to spin the charkha twice in a week. The students here are steeped in Gandhian values which help them to be good academicians and sportspersons. The school has maintained its old-world charm with huge playgrounds, an abundance of trees, and few buildings. Students from faraway places seek admission to this reputed school which was founded in 1924 by Elizabeth Sornam Appasamy. It was founded with a donation of Rs 10,000 which was collected from the public. Initially, the school had only three boarders and threeday scholars. Today it has expanded to a group of schools - Vidyodaya Girls Higher Secondary School, Vidyodaya Matriculation School and Vidyodaya Nursery School- comprising 2500 girls. The students here on every Thursday start the Sarvodaya prayer with a few lines about Mahatma Gandhi, passages from Gita, Bible and Quran. The session concludes with a rendition of Mahatma Gandhi's favorite bhajans. No donations are collected from the students in this school. If there is surplus income, it is set aside to buy sports kits or other necessary items for the students. The school will be celebrating its centenary from February 24th next year.

24 Dec 2022
Positive Reads

Good News

For the first time ever, the Indian Army Launches the Girls Sports Company to empower young women athletes

The Indian army has given a major boost to young women athletes in the country by approving the formation of the Girls Sport Company (GSC). This move is in line with the Army's ongoing efforts to recruit women in India. The GSC will function on the same lines as the Boys Sports Company (BSC), which was established by the Army Sports Institute (ASI) in 2005 to identify and train young and talented athletes at its campus in Pune.  Speaking to the Times of India, ASI Commandant Colonel Devraj Gill said that the proposal for forming the GSC was approved by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in February.  The BSC has produced some notable athletes, including Commonwealth Games gold medalists Jeremy Lairinnunga and Achinta Sheuli, who have represented India in the Olympics and other high-profile events. The GSC will recruit a total of 120 athletes over four years, with 30 in each of the four disciplines: wrestling, weightlifting, boxing, and athletics. The ASI is renowned for its world-class infrastructure, and the new residential facility being built on the 72-acre campus will accommodate 300 athletes and coaches. Female coaches, physios, and masseuses will be appointed alongside the recruits to ensure they receive the best possible training. With this new initiative, the Indian army aims to empower young women in sports and provide them with opportunities to represent the country at the highest level. It is a significant step towards gender equality in sports and a positive sign for young female athletes across India.

14 Apr 2023
Good News

Good News for Girl Athletes As Khelo India to Launch National Girls Football League

To give an impetus to the participation of girls in sports, Khelo India is set to launch leagues across all sports, exclusively for girls. Khelo India, initiated by the Sports Authority of India in 2018  is a grassroots talent hunt that is now set to launch leagues across all sports, exclusively for girls. The sports federations and state governments will organize the leagues titled Khelo India Girls League (KIGL). The first league to be launched in the series is the Khelo India Girls Football League. It will be organized by the All India Football Federation, in association with the Sports Authority of India. The Girls Football League Promoting women’s football in India has been given top priority. All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Praful Patel said that they intend to energize women’s football in India and encourage more girls to take up the sport ahead of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup which will be held in  2020. To tap the grassroots level talent, the initial league will be organized by the federation and its partners between local clubs, academies and school teams of a city or town. The best teams of each state will then compete at the national level to form national level teams and athletes. Need To Promote Sports In The Country The KIGL was formed to encourage more children to take up sports and provide a platform for them to display and enhance their sporting skills. The different leagues of the KIGL will provide a further thrust to this aim and motivate children to participate in sports at a very young age. While the football league will be sponsored by SAI, local organizers will also be roped in to raise sponsorship for local matches, as per approved guidelines of the government. These impactful initiatives by Khelo India will certainly bring out the abundant sporting talent of the nation. Image Source: IISM

26 Sep 2019
Good News

App by Chennai Team With Destitute Girls Win First Prize at Prestigious US Meet

India shone at Technovation Girls – an annual competition hosted by Technovation, a non-profit in the US – when a team of three girls Stella, Ishwarya and Akshara all between 10 and 14 years old bagged the first prize for developing the best app in the competition. They were mentored by Tanya Elizabeth Ken, a class XI student who herself was a finalist in the Technovation challenge in 2017. The girls won prize money of $12,000 for their app named Baton. According to the girls, the prize money will be used to develop the app further. Baton Baton is an app that provides a platform for social work initiatives of students or interns. It collaborates with NGOs, institutions and corporations and hands over incomplete social work initiatives from one intern to another. The girls explained that just as in a relay race, a baton is handed over from one athlete to another, their app passes on the social work initiatives started by a social worker to the next level and it continues till the social impact is attained. The All Girls Team The enthusiastic and smart girls Stella, Ishwarya and Akshara came together to form Team Social Relay which they said stands for equality and inclusiveness. While Ishwarya and  Stella stay in a home for destitute children run by NGO Paadhai, Akshara studies in class sixth. The judges were very impressed by the Baton app and said that it was very well thought out with a sophisticated workflow that exceeded well beyond their expectations.  

20 Aug 2019
Good News

A Kind Gesture Helps Young Girls To Continue Their Studies

Hundreds of girls stopped going to school in Muktsar district, Ludhiana last year owing to lack of transportation facilities. These girls dropped out as they had to travel 5 km from their homes to reach a school. Now, thanks to the Muktsar district administration that has decided to provide bicycles to them under the theme  'Saadi dhee saada maan' (our daughter our pride), the girls have started going to school. The district authorities identified 264 girls who had stopped going to school and appealed to masses to make bicycles available to the girls so that they could continue their studies. Within a day, the assurances and money for nearly 100 cycles came forth. The administration then tied up with a bicycle manufacturing company at Ludhiana which has agreed to provide the cycles at Rs 1,500 each. Muktsar deputy commissioner (DC) Sumeet Jarangal said that he came up with this initiative when a fortnight ago, he was on a bicycle ride at Jharod village when he noticed some girls waiting for transport to go to their school which was 5 km away. He was told by villagers that some girls have stopped going to school due to want of transportation facilities. That is when he came up with this idea of providing bicycles to the girls.

3 Nov 2017
Good News

Global Inspirations

Victory of sorts for six Afghan girls

It was a victory of sorts for six Afghan girls who were able to participate in the international robotic competition after being rejected twice when they applied for a visa. It sparked an international backlash following which President Trump intervened and allowed entry of the six girls from the war torn country to participate in the competition. Joe Sestak, the president of First Global, a non-profit organizing the competition was jubilant after the decision. He said that their greatest power is the power to bring people of different nations together in the pursuit of a common goal and prove that their similarities outweigh their differences.  He appreciated "the professional leadership of the US State Department" for providing for all 163 teams from 157 countries, including a team of Syrian refugees, to participate in the competition. The Afghan girls took six months to construct a robot that can identify orange and blue coloured balls and sort them accordingly by putting them in their correct places. Hailing from a country where young girls are often discouraged from pursuing academic studies, it was no small feat for these young girls to convince their family members to allow them to travel and participate in a competition in the US. The girls wanted to prove to the world that the Afghans can also construct a hand made robot. Their presence at the competition will give hope to many other aspiring young Afghan children with big dreams.

18 Jul 2017
Global Inspirations

Archives