The Courage to Say No: A 15-year-old Stops Her Own Marriage

At just 15 years old, Priyanka found herself at a crossroads when her family arranged her marriage, a practice still prevalent in many rural communities. However, unlike many girls in similar situations, Priyanka was aware of the consequences of early marriage—thanks to the knowledge she had gained through Aarambh Manch. This platform had equipped her […]

I Can Read What My Daughter Brings Home

Mulpunja, Diamond Harbour, West Bengal Women gather for literacy classes as part of the Mothers’ Literacy Programme in Mulpunja. Photo: Akshay Mahajan In the village of Mulpunja, when the day’s labour is done and the zari threads are packed away, a quiet classroom begins to fill—not with children, but with their mothers. The Mothers’ Literacy […]

Sisterhood and Second Chances

In Nahana, the rhythm of village life moves slowly—fields shimmer in the midday heat, goats bleat along narrow paths, and the scent of earth lingers thick in the air. But inside the IIMPACT Learning Centre, time feels different. Here, something quietly transformative is always unfolding. This is where Roshni, Saira, Sawana, and Eyaruna-Nisha first met […]

It’s Story Time

Jhinga Centre, West Bengal Monowara Khatum teaching at the IIMPACT Learning Centre in Jhinga, West Bengal. Photo: Akshay Mahajan “It’s story time,” says Monowara Khatum to the classroom full of girls. Today’s lesson begins with the tale of the dumb crocodile—funny, sharp, and just a little wise. The girls giggle, lean forward and listen harder. […]