The Reality for Many Adolescent Girls
For millions of girls in Africa, Mexico and India, life is often shaped by poverty, restricted mobility and deeply rooted gender norms. In rural India, girls as young as 13 are pulled from the classroom to prepare for marriage. Decisions about marriage, education, health and work are often made for them, not by them. Safe spaces where girls can gather, speak freely, learn about their rights and imagine a different future are rare.
Khushi, Neha and Pinki’s lives reflected this reality.
Khushi’s Story
Forced to leave school in eighth grade, Khushi was dedicated to caring for her siblings while her mother worked to support five children on her own. Given that 23% of girls in India are married before turning 18 (UNICEF 2023), Khushi feared marriage would be next for her. Like many girls in her community, she had little exposure to information or opportunities or the outside world.
Everything changed when Khushi joined a Girls Collective, supported by The Hunger Project-India. For the first time, Khushi had access to a safe space where she could gather with her peers without fear, speak openly, ask questions and learn.
For Khushi, the Girls Collective was not just a meeting; it was an entry point to dignity, confidence and choice. There, she found the courage to return to school. Her family arranged a marriage for her three times, and each time Khushi refused—choosing to continue pursuing her education instead. Today, she is earning her bachelor’s degree, teaching at a local school and mentoring younger girls.
Neha’s Story
At 15, Neha spent long days working for her family’s business and caring for her household, leaving little time for school. Through her Girls Collective, she found the confidence to ask her family to share responsibilities more equally. Now her brother helps her father manage the business, and her sister-in-law and mother support her with household chores. This gives Neha time to study and attend school regularly.
Division of household work gives me the time to study. Domestic work is not only the responsibility of girls and women—it is the responsibility of all.
Pinki’s Story
While she was still in school, Pinki’s family arranged her marriage. With the support of her Girls Collective, she found the confidence to speak up for the future she wanted—and her family agreed to delay the marriage.
Today, Pinki is earning a Bachelor of Arts degree while generating her own income through stitching and beauty services. That income pays for her education and contributes to her family’s financial well-being. Her example and encouragement inspire other girls facing the same pressures she once did to follow their dreams.
Girls Collectives in India
Through regular meetings and structured trainings, THP-India facilitates Girls Collective discussions on:
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- Girls’ rights & entitlements
- Education & life skills
- Harms of child & early marriage
- Gender equality & decision-making
- Health, including menstrual hygiene
In a context where girls’ mobility is limited and their voices are often hushed, Girls Collectives are a powerful platform for collective learning and solidarity.
How One Girl’s Opportunity Can Transform a Community
When girls stay in school, the impact compounds across her lifetime, her children’s and the generation that follows. They are far more likely to delay marriage, earn income and become leaders in their communities. They are healthier and better nourished. And their prosperity creates lasting change.
Courage is needed from all of us to create a world without hunger. The cycle of hunger and poverty can be broken when we invest in girls’ capacity, confidence and education. It allows them to create a future full of opportunity and possibility. Your support for The Hunger Project enables girls like Khushi, Neha and Pinki to step into their leadership and become this powerful force for change.
Photo credits for images above: India 2025. All photos are for The Hunger Project.