Dive into the inspiring true stories of extraordinary girls who are igniting global change.
Splash! is a celebration of the indomitable young women in Uttar Pradesh, India, whose courageous, sovereign choices have created splashes and ripples within their families and village communities. The lives of adolescent girls in this region have been governed by myriad societal norms and controls that limit their aspirations and propel them into a lifecycle of subordination and discrimination.
Since its inception, the People’s Action for National Integration (PANI) has pursued a vision to create inclusive societies where individuals have greater control over their life situations and can take responsibility for building a mutually rewarding world. PANI’s program for the empowerment of adolescent girls in Eastern Uttar Pradesh has reached over 22,000 girls in eight years, helping them connect with their aspirations and break free from the rigidly defined gender roles that curtail women and girls’ dreams, mobility, education, and economic opportunities, to pursue their goals.
Splash! introduces you to twenty-five of those girls who have conquered immense obstacles and whose stories bear witness to the untapped potential within every young woman. Their journeys are a testament to the power of the human spirit to rise above limitations of gender, environment, culture, and society. As these remarkable girls excel in sports, work in companies, join the armed forces, pursue careers in music, and secure higher education at prestigious universities, they serve as a powerful reminder that we all possess the capacity to challenge the status quo and shape our destinies.
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People’s Action For National Integration (PANI)
PANI, a social organisation based in northern
India, is dedicated to crafting transformative and
sustainable solutions for global challenges such
as poverty, inequality, and climate change. Our
strategic approach revolves around empowering individuals and communities with the knowledge and skills required to actively address these challenges.
With a dynamic and empathetic multidisciplinary team, PANI collaborates with governments, organisations, and local communities to implement initiatives focused on poverty alleviation, empowerment of women and girls, health and nutrition improvement, and environmental sustainability. Our mission is clear: contribute to the creation of a more equitable and resilient world.
Founded in 1986 by a group of committed Gandhian social activists, the organisation embodies Gandhian principles of rural reconstruction and nation-building with people’s actions at its core. We believe in the inherent agency of people to drive the change they need.
Over nearly four decades, PANI has directly impacted the lives of more than 2.5 million households in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar. Through
initiatives that promote awareness, education, and self-determination, PANI remains unwavering in enabling communities to take greater control of their lives and drive positive change in the world around them.
