70% female literacy vs 85% male literacy
Female literacy stands at 70.3%, compared with 84.7% for men and a global female literacy average of 79%. Although literacy rates in India have improved, girls still face significant barriers to education.
Going to School Fund ¹ú²úÊÓƵ“ Cohort 5 Innovation Award Winner¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯
Unlocking girls' potential
What if the next world-class climate innovator, or next Nobel Peace Prize winner is sitting in a classroom¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯today, but¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯never gets the chance to finish school¹ú²úÊÓƵ¦ because¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯she¹ú²úÊÓƵ™s¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯a girl.¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯
Across India and the world, millions of girls face barriers that put their education at risk.¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯
Poverty, gender¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯discrimination¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯and social expectations continue to limit opportunities for¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯millions of¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯girls. In some communities, girls are expected to take on household responsibilities, care for family¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯members¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯or marry early,¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯making it more likely they will leave school before completing their education.¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯
Climate change happens because of environmental changes, but we can reduce it by making small contributions like this project. It felt like we were real inventors.Vaishnavi, 13, Mumbai
Vaishnavi's story
For thirteen-year-old Vaishnavi in Mumbai, climate change once felt like a distant issue she had no power to change. Through the programme, she and her classmates built a biodegradable water tower designed to collect moisture from the air.
This shift, from uncertainty to ownership, was central to her learning experience.
Equipping tomorrow¹ú²úÊÓƵ™s female leaders
Going to School’s Innovation Award-winning programme combines storytelling, games,¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯sport¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯and digital learning to help girls build life, STEM and enterprise skills while¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯remaining¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯engaged in education.¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯
Working through government schools, girls¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯identify¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯local climate challenges, develop¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯solutions¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯and share their ideas through creative projects,¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯videos¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯and podcasts. Boys also take part, learning how to become allies and champions of gender equality.¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯
The Education Innovation Awards provide more than financial support.¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯As a cohort five winner, Going to School gained access to a package of leadership coaching,¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯masterclasses¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯and strategic guidance, alongside a £40,000 grant, to help strengthen and scale its work.
20,000 adolescents and parents reached so far
The impact is already visible.¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯In¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯the first half of implementation, the programme reached almost 10,000 adolescents and the same number of parents in Bihar. Support from the award has also helped Going to School secure new partnerships and expand its work into Mumbai and Bengaluru.¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯
Across all three locations, participants have developed digital literacy, problem-solving,¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯teamwork¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯and leadership skills through hands-on learning experiences. The programme’s football initiative,¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯operating¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯in 12 schools, has further supported girls’ confidence,¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯resilience¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯and leadership development.¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯
By combining local¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯expertise¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯with strategic support for growth,¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯¹ú²úÊÓƵ¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯is helping¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯¹ú²úÊÓƵ˜Going¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯to School¹ú²úÊÓƵ™ scale a proven model that equips girls with the skills they need to stay engaged in education, lead change in their communities and build brighter futures.
Building future leaders
For sixteen-year-old Noor in Kishanganj, the programme has helped transform a dream into a plan.¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯ She'd always dreamt of becoming a police officer but previously had little understanding of the skills and steps needed to get there.¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯Through the programme, she has developed communication, teamwork, decision-making,¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯problem-solving¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯and time management skills that will help her study, pass the¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯exam¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯and achieve her goal.¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯
Noor¹ú²úÊÓƵ™s¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯new confidence has already sparked change.¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯Now she knows what she needs,¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯she¹ú²úÊÓƵ™s¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯going after it.¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯Today, Noor wakes early to train for the fitness requirements she knows she will face and takes part in every sport available at school.¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯
For girls like Vaishnavi and Noor, the programme offers more than education. It helps them see themselves as leaders, innovators and changemakers.¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯
Before it was an idea from another village. Now I've begun with what I can do, with what is in my reach right now.
Help keep girls learning
By investing in innovators like Going to School, we can help more girls stay in education, build critical¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯skills¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯and create brighter futures for themselves and their communities.¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯
Support the next generation of education innovators. Your contribution can help local organisations scale proven solutions and reach more children and young people with the opportunities they deserve.¹ú²úÊÓƵ¯
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