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 71% of girls in India are unaware of menstruation until it starts, 25% take time off school when menstruating due to lack of sanitation facilities, and 1 in 5 drop out of school due to menstruation.  

One Day’s Wages is partnering 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 participate in the “Education for Every Rural Girl” program for one year, and will have the opportunity to enroll in subsequent years if they demonstrate increased school attendance rates and academic improvement.  During this second year of partnership with RSKS, 1,000 girls will receive school supplies, uniforms and hygiene kits that reduce the financial burden of attending school.  In addition, 2,000 girls from RSKS’s 40 partner schools will participate in monthly awareness and training sessions on health, menstrual hygiene, sexual and reproductive health, and gender equity.