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Organization	Shadhika Project Inc
Region	India
Website	Website
Facebook	Facebook
Twitter	N/A
ProjectLeader	Farrah Salisbury

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"No girl should be robbed of her childhood, her education and health, and her aspirations" Michelle Bachelet- Executive Director of UN Women. Shadhika funds at-risk girls from the poorest sections of society in India so they can attend college. The project will cover all the costs including tuition, books, transportation, nutritious meals, and housing so these girls can escape child marriage and further their education.

Challenge

When a girl is married before the age of 18, she and her family are more likely to be poor, uneducated, and unhealthy. In India, 47% of girls are married before the age of 18. Child brides face an end to their education, barriers to vocational and life skills, and increased risks of domestic violence and sexual diseases. Not only is child marriage illegal, it is a direct human rights violation, one that can be corrected through education.

Long-Term Impact

This project will give young women the opportunity to postpone marriage by focusing on their education, allowing them to break the cycle of poverty, earn an income, and provide for their future families. Thus, in the long run, we hope to challenge the rigid cultural norms that promote gender discrimination and child marriage in India.