RISE
India
Partnering with government schools to lead a learner-centred programme that builds life skills, deepens social-emotional learning, and transforms gender stereotypes.
Partnering with governments across India
In partnership with district governments we primarily reach first generation-learners.
We design one- and two-year programmes for implementation in school and community settings, aligned with the objectives of the Indian government’s National Education Policy.
We collaborate with innovative community-based organisations to design and deliver programmes that are locally-informed and built for lasting impact.
Kusum's Adventurous Innings
Stories like the Ruksana film and the Kusum comic book open up opportunities for discovery and learning. The RISE curriculum builds:
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Social-emotional skills to nurture confidence, resilience, and agency
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Critical thinking to empower young people to analyze information, challenge biases, and make thoughtful decisions
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Financial literacy for informed decision-making and independence
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Digital literacy to prepare young people for a rapidly evolving world
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Storytelling skills to foster a greater sense of identity, build confidence, and amplify their voices
In 2025 Girl Rising and Yuvaa created Kusum’s Adventurous Innings, a comic book about a courageous young girl who defies gender stereotypes to follow her love for the sport of cricket.
Kusum’s journey is more than a sports story. It’s about courage, resilience, and challenging the barriers that hold girls back. This comic is a vibrant part of our RISE curriculum, igniting conversations about gender, identity, and equality in classrooms and communities across India.
"From the Girl Rising program, I learned that we girls can do anything boys can do. We can do work equal to them."
Kaveri, 17
With the RISE curriculum, we are reaching 2 million students through in-person and on-line programming to try to change that.
In India only
1 in 3 girls completes secondary school.
And India is near the bottom of the Gender Gap Index
Program Implementing Partners
