School closures caused by the pandemic are anticipated to further widen gender disparities in access to education, having a disproportionately negative impact on girls from disadvantaged families. Already at a high risk of dropping out, parents will be even more reluctant to send their girls to school as a result of this on-going crisis, heightening the risk of forced, early marriages and exploitation.  With only 27% of Indian households having internet access, the digital divide renders marginalised girls with no means to learn remotely.  
With prolonged academic disruptions caused by COVID-19, education has come to a standstill for marginalised children, especially girls, thereby exacerbating learning deficits. Even upon their return to school, these girls require support to have a meaningful learning experience and bridge learning losses.

Project Nanhi Kali (which means ‘a little bud’) is one of India’s largest programs that enables underprivileged girls to complete 10 years of schooling with dignity. With the opportunity to re-write her future, every girl is provided with 360-degree support which includes daily academic support and an annual school supplies kit including feminine hygiene material. In our response to protect vulnerable girls from falling further behind due to the COVID crisis, Project Nanhi Kali has invested in developing a personalized adaptive learning software for girls in government schools, which will allow them to learn with understanding at their unique learning level and pace.
Project Nanhi Kali is seeking funding support to procure the hardware (digital tablets) which will be the means to deliver personalized, uninterrupted education to girls even in remote locations. The cost of a tablet is INR 7,500/USD 100 and our goal for this campaign is to raise funds to procure 200 tablets. We will be grateful for your contribution to procure these tablets, which will be instrumental in transforming girls’ education in India. Project Nanhi Kali is currently supporting 170,000+ girls from 4,000+ government schools, across 21 locations in 9 states of India.

Shravasti is characterized by numerous socio-economic challenges including poverty, patriarchal mindsets, abject gender discrimination, low female literacy levels and early marriages. While Gita was in Grade 3, her parents decided to get her married to a man much older than herself. As is the case with many families in her village, getting their daughter married was more important to Gita’s parents than sending her to school. Despite her unwillingness to marry, and her determination to continue her education, her parents began preparations for the wedding, compelling Gita to miss school and her Nanhi Kali classes. Gita’s Nanhi Kali tutor grew concerned about her absenteeism and conducted a home-visit to check on her wellbeing. During this visit, a terrified Gita confided in her Nanhi Kali tutor about the marriage. With the support of local authorities, the Nanhi Kali team took immediate action and managed to prevent this instance of early marriage. With renewed enthusiasm, Gita soon returned to the classroom to pursue her dream of completing her schooling.  

As schools across the country continue to remain closed, this crisis threatens to undo the progress that we have collectively made in the advancement of girl child education. While an increase in the dropout rates of underprivileged girls is expected when schools re-open, the girls who do return to school will experience significant learning losses. Your support will ensure that girls do not fall further behind due to the COVID-19 crisis and would enable them to grow into empowered young women in the post COVID world.