Train 4600 Indian girls as peer health leaders

Dear Donor,

At Adolescent Health Champions (AHC), we believe that adolescent health is not just a public health issue — it is a matter of justice, equity, and opportunity. In many parts of rural India, adolescents — especially girls — still lack access to essential health information during their formative years. Your support enables us to change that.

In 2024–25, we partnered with schools in Jharkhand and Rajasthan to bring peer-led health education to communities that have long been underserved. In Jharkhand, in partnership with the Ugam Education Foundation (UEF), we implemented our program in 36 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) — residential schools that serve girls from historically marginalized communities, many of whom are first-generation learners. In Rajasthan, in partnership with Urmul Setu Sansthan (USS), we intervened in a total of 25 government schools in the Bikaner District on mental health education and awareness. Across these 61 schools in both states, we trained 1,190 Champions — 650 in Jharkhand and 540 in Rajasthan — who reached over 7,300 adolescents through our programming. Notably, 87% of our participants were girls, helping us address long-standing gender disparities in access to health knowledge.

Looking ahead to 2025–26, we have finalized our state-level partnerships and remain committed to reaching adolescents where systems often fall short. In Jharkhand, we launched the first phase of our curriculum on menstrual health in May 2025, with modules on mental well-being and gender equality to follow. This marks our fourth consecutive year in the region, deepening our sustained impact. In Rajasthan, implementation for the new academic year will begin in July and will include sessions on an introduction to mental health, adverse childhood experiences, discrimination, substance use, the impact of social media, and available mental health resources. This will be our third year of work in the state, continuing to build space for open, peer-led conversations on mental health topics that are often stigmatized.

In 2025–26, we will be expanding our work to 85 schools in both states, training 1,500+ Champions and reaching over 10,000 adolescents. We will also enhance our curriculum with new topics like digital wellness and climate-health linkages, while building stronger connections with parents and teachers to create more supportive environments for students. Our research and advocacy efforts will continue, including a long-term evaluation of our program’s impact, a national review of peer-led mental health interventions, and a qualitative study examining the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth in Mumbai and Bikaner.

None of this would be possible without you. Your generosity this past year helped us train over 1,190 Champions, reach more than 7,300 adolescents, and transform how schools think about health, gender, and leadership. Yet challenges remain. Many adolescents continue to face early marriage, health-related dropouts, and mental health struggles. But this past year reaffirmed what we have always believed: adolescents are not just beneficiaries — they are leaders. As we scale, we remain committed to transparency, evidence-based action, and the well-being of every Champion and peer they inspire.

We hope you will continue this journey with us in 2025–26.

With gratitude,
The AHC Team
“Empowering health leaders, one peer at a time.”