empowHER Foundation

Rakesh Jain Madhyamik Vidyamandir (RJMV), a government-aided semi-English medium school in Panvel, has been a beacon of hope for girls for the past 23 years. EmpowHER India champions the cause of girls' education, aiming to eliminate gender discrimination and provide equal opportunities. With a holistic approach, RJMV nurtures talents in arts, culture, sports, and vocational skills, creating a safe and inclusive environment. Achieving a pass percentage of over 90 per cent in the Secondary School Certificate exams, RJMV demonstrates the transformative power of education in shaping a brighter, more equitable future.

With three decades of grassroots-level initiatives, empowHER recognized the importance of starting early to empower women fully. Thus, the SETU programme was developed to influence and mould mindsets during adolescence. The initiative focuses on imparting vital life skills such as financial literacy, gender equality, safety, critical healthcare, and other intangible yet essential abilities. SETU aims to ensure that girls evolve into strong, resilient adults with the confidence to advocate for their well-being as they navigate life.

Having constructed more than 2500 individual household toilets, empowHER shifted its focus to building sanitation facilities in Government schools, specifically targeting girls' continued education, particularly during adolescence. Since 2021, the organisation has successfully erected six toilets, offering sanitation access to over 1100 children. The School WaSH Programme strives to guarantee that girls remain in school by providing secure spaces for them to maintain personal hygiene with dignity, concurrently promoting their overall health and well-being.

Ensuring access to a toilet is a fundamental right for every individual. Women face greater challenges in the absence of proper sanitation facilities. empowHER made a significant entry into the WaSH sector by constructing over 2500 individual household toilets, benefiting more than 13,000 individuals across 100+ villages. A third-party impact assessment conducted three years later revealed an impressive 84% regular usage of the toilets. As empowHER India shifted its focus from women to girls, this programme seamlessly transitioned from households to government schools.

Financial inclusion serves as a transformative avenue for empowerment, breaking down social barriers hindering women's progress. empowHER India's Self-Help Group initiative exemplifies this impact. Over 12 years, the programme engaged with 3000 rural women, facilitating access to low-interest capital. This initiative empowered women, granting them independent financial support without reliance on male family members. Consequently, numerous women utilized the funds to finance their children's education and initiate micro-enterprises, ensuring a lasting, intergenerational impact.