Educate Girls Celebrates 18 Years of Impact, Honors ‘Pragati’ Learners

Udaipur: Educate Girls, the first Indian organization to receive the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, celebrated its 18th anniversary by honoring learners who successfully completed their Class 10 board examinations under the Team Balika Volunteer Network. The event highlighted nearly two decades of advancing girls’ education in rural and educationally marginalized communities. Community leaders, government representatives, volunteers, partners, and learners attended to celebrate this milestone.

Graduating learners were awarded certificates, and interactive sessions provided a platform for sharing stories of struggle, community engagement, and transformative change.

Keynote Highlights

The chief guest, Sanjay Joshi, addressed the gathering, emphasizing:

“The most important step is to start. Once you begin, moving forward becomes easier. One girl’s success inspires others, and her education impacts families and generations. It is vital to free women from social constraints and integrate them into learning.”

He encouraged the organization to pursue its ambitious goal of connecting 10 million women to education by 2035 with renewed energy.

CEO Gayatri Nair Lobo congratulated the graduates, stating that completing Class 10 marks a significant milestone. She reflected on the organization’s journey, which began 18 years ago in Pali, Rajasthan, with the belief that every girl deserves an opportunity. Today, Educate Girls has helped over 10,000 young women complete Class 10 successfully. She emphasized that this celebration honors not only outcomes but courage, perseverance, and collective effort:

“This is not the end of your journey—it is a new beginning. You are hope, you are strength, and as you move forward, you bring your community along with you.”

Pragati: Celebrating Second-Chance Success

During a special ceremony in Udaipur, adolescent girls and young women from across Rajasthan were honored for successfully completing the Class 10 examination under the Rajasthan State Open School, through Educate Girls’ second-chance initiative ‘Pragati’. The program supports girls aged 15–29 who had dropped out or risked permanent exclusion from formal education.

Through Pragati, 10,210 learners resumed their education after a gap and successfully completed Class 10. The program strengthens academic foundations, builds life skills, and fosters confidence and decision-making, empowering young women to shape their futures.

Remarks from Educate Girls Leadership

Director – Operations Vikram Solanki highlighted the collective courage behind each learner’s success, stating:

“With strong government partnerships and the dedication of Team Balika volunteers and mentors, we demonstrate that when communities and systems work together, change is sustainable. By 2035, our commitment is not just to enroll girls but to ensure they succeed and thrive.”

The event saw participation from over 450 learners, 45 mentors, and 73 Team Balika volunteers, along with numerous partners and guests. Director – People & Culture Anushri Singh and Rajasthan State Operations Head Brajesh Sinha were also present.

Many of the honored young women had overcome strict gender norms, household responsibilities, and long absences from school. For several, this was their first public ceremony, marking both personal resolve and community support, establishing them as role models in their villages.

Panel Discussion and Interactive Learning

The program featured a live panel discussion with learners from remote communities, Team Balika volunteers who engage families for girls’ education, and mentors guiding young women returning to school. Attendees also experienced a demonstration of Educate Girls’ supplementary learning materials, showcasing innovative tools and methods that enable learners to reintegrate into the education system and achieve success.

This milestone event celebrated 18 years of sustained impact, community-driven change, and the transformative power of girls’ education.