Empower disadvantaged girls in Indian slums

At OSCAR Foundation, we believe every girl deserves the chance to dream, learn and lead. Through our Buland Project, we are empowering adolescent girls in underserved communities of India with education, football training and life skills. Buland meaning “fearless voice”, helps girls grow in confidence, challenge gender stereotypes and shape their own futures.

In recent months, girls participated in sessions on Social-Emotional Learning to build empathy and manage emotions and sexuality education workshops that encouraged safe, healthy conversations around respect and relationships. Forty girls also completed self-defence training, equipping them with practical skills and the confidence to protect themselves.

One shining example is Kritika, a 15 year old from the slums of Mumbai. Despite limited resources, she excelled academically, scoring 80.8% in her 10th-grade exams. When she joined Buland, she was shy and hesitant to speak. With encouragement from mentors, she grew into a confident leader, organizing activities and events. Her school principal was so impressed by her leadership that he offered her an internship in event management, bringing her closer to her dream career. Today, Kritika not only excels academically but also inspires other girls in her community to believe in themselves.

Kritika’s journey reflects what is possible when girls are given opportunities and guidance. With your support, Buland continues to transform shy teenagers into confident leaders, ready to raise their voices, challenge inequality and create a brighter future for themselves and their communities.

Yamini, once a reserved and hesitant girl from one of the communities where OSCAR works, has emerged as a powerful voice and changemaker through her participation in OSCAR Foundation’s Life Skills and Leadership programme. Initially uncomfortable discussing sensitive subjects like Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH), she often avoided public speaking and preferred to remain behind the scenes.

Over the past year, regular training, mentorship and community engagement helped her grow into a confident young leader. Today, she heads the Learning Community (LC) initiative in her locality, a platform for adolescent girls in Mumbai to share, learn and build leadership skills through educational activities, empowering them to participate in public life and overcome social barriers.

A defining moment came when she spoke at an event, sharing her MHH experiences with poise and conviction, marking her emergence as an advocate and public speaker. She then collaborated with 14 other girls and mentors to organise three community events and performed a street play on menstrual hygiene, challenging taboos and encouraging dialogue.

Yamini also led an initiative with BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) to install two incinerators in public toilets, offering a lasting menstrual waste solution. With support from Mahila Mandals (Women's Groups in English) and peers, she now addresses wider issues like clean water, drainage, girls’ education and sports. Her dedication was recognised when she emerged as the top scorer during the Annual Day celebration.

Yamini’s story is a powerful reminder of the potential within every young girl when given the opportunity, support and space to lead.