ODW + RSKS
Project #317 | Education for Every Rural Girl
Our Partnership with Rajasthan Samgrah Kalyan Sansthan (RSKS)
In India’s northern state of Rajasthan, 30% of people live below the poverty line. The barriers faced by people living in poverty are disproportionately experienced by women and girls. Gender discrimination has led to approximately half of all girls in Rajasthan dropping out before entering secondary school. Families with already strained resources tend to prioritize school supplies and uniforms for their sons. Among the factors that contribute to drop out is the onset of menstruation. UNICEF studies reveal that 25% of girls in India take time off school when menstruating, and 1 in 5 drop out due to menstruation.
One Day’s Wages partnered with Rajasthan Samgrah Kalyan Sansthan (RSKS) to address the unique needs of adolescent girls in Ajmer District. Girls at risk of dropping out of school were selected to participate in the “Education for Every Rural Girl” program. During this second year of partnership with RSKS, 1,025 girls received school supplies, uniforms, and hygiene kits that reduce the financial burden of attending school. In addition, 2,100 girls from 42 partner schools participated in monthly awareness sessions on gender equality, menstrual hygiene, and sexual and reproductive health. As a result, 91% of the girls who received school and hygiene supplies had increased school attendance rates, and 99% felt confident that they had the supplies they needed for the school year!
Our Collective Impact
GIRLS RECEIVED UNIFORMS & HYGIENE SUPPLIES
GIRLS LEARNED ABOUT MENSTRUAL HEALTH & HYGIENE
PARTNER SCHOOLS SUPPORTED IN RURAL RAJASTHAN
Meet Faiza
A bright 14-year-old enrolled in 8th grade, every day Faiza* walks from her small village to the local government school. Her parents, both daily wage laborers, work tirelessly to put food on the table but their earnings barely cover the family’s basic needs. For years, Faiza walked to school in worn-out shoes with a tattered bag carrying nothing more than a pencil and notebook. Learning was difficult without proper school supplies. Yet Faiza loved school and dreamed of a better future.
In 2024, something unexpected happened. Staff from RSKS visited Faiza’s school and spoke with teachers about which girls needed the most support to stay enrolled. Faiza’s name was chosen. A few days later, the team returned carrying large bags filled with new school supplies: notebooks, pens, pencils, colored pencils, a geometry box, drawing books, and hygiene supplies. Each girl also received school shoes, socks, and a winter jacket. For Faiza, these items were more than supplies; they were a symbol of hope and a reminder that she was not alone in her journey.
The most exciting part of being enrolled in the program for Faiza was the opportunity to participate in workshops about gender equality, health, and menstrual hygiene. The sessions were filled with fun games, discussions, and visual aids. To Faiza, RSKS’s presence at her school each month felt like having a team of mentors cheering her on.
Today, Faiza walks to school with confidence, carrying her new bag and wearing her school shoes with pride. She can now focus more than ever on achieving her dreams!
* Faiza is a pseudonym
Thank you for making this possible!
Our movement is grassroots. The projects we support are led by local leaders, and all the funds we raise are through ordinary donors who give a day of their wages to support those experiencing extreme poverty. Will you consider giving $25, $100 or $250 to make our partnerships possible?
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One Day’s Wages exists to alleviate extreme poverty by investing in, amplifying, and coming alongside locally led organizations in underserved communities.
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Members showcasing their soy-bean yield
Chifundo Kamwana EG – Emmanuel Mwale showing his maize harvest
Emmanuel Mwale in his grocery shop business he received from Zoe
Emmanuel Mwale with his pigs bought from his initial grocery shop business
