Girl Up

Overview

Girl Up India

Since 2018, Girl Up has expanded and grown to include a robust community of more than 12,000 passionate youth changemakers in 600 clubs in India spanning 25 states and union territories in the country. Since the launch of the movement in India, our youth members have engaged in conversations and advocacy actions rooted in feminist and democratic values. This expansion has been a result of dedicated on-the-ground efforts and sustained virtual interactions over the past four years. This has resulted in youth members taking up gender equality as a goal in their schools, colleges, and communities, driving over 2,500 local-level efforts and actions to advance girls’ skills, rights, and opportunities.

Girl Up Clubs regularly undertake activities in their communities to create change at the micro and macro level. They have been involved in creating and distributing resources for girls to continue their education by providing refurbished mobile phones, stationery kits, sanitary pads while also creating systemic changes for sustainable impact. In 2019, Girl Up Sakhi organised the Menses Not Offences campaign at the Delhi High Court and successfully fundraised more than INR 2.5 Lakhs (US$ 3100) to support 350 menstruators with one year’s supply of menstrual kits.

25
Indian States & Union Territories with Girls Up Clubs
600+
Clubs
13,400+
Community Members

Girl Up India Leadership Summit 2023

about the girl up india leadership summit

The Girl Up India Leadership Summit was a day-long event packed with inspiring conversations and workshops led by experts and champions in the gender justice space in India. Designed to provide youth with the tools, skills, and knowledge they need to become effective leaders in their communities and beyond, the Girl Up India Leadership Summit offered an exciting opportunity to be trained by renowned experts and inspired by industry leaders.

This in-person event was part of our regional Leadership Summit Series, which brings Girl Up events worldwide.

Date: October 8, 2023

Venue: Vivanta by Taj, Dwarka, New Delhi

CHECK OUT THIS YEAR’S SUMMIT PROGRAM HERE!

View some awesome moments from the 2023 summit!

PARTNER WITH US

Become a partner for the Girl Up India Leadership Summit and support girls’ leadership in India.

Email hsyed@girlup.org

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Issues We Care About

Menstrual Equity
Awarded the Vedana Award for our work in spreading menstrual awareness and equity in 2022
Entrepreneurship
Girl Up India partnered with the US Consulate, Kolkata, to launch a 10-week long Apprentice Hub
Gender-Based Violence
Organized virtual events and online campaigns to raise awareness and inspire action against GBV
Mental Health
Partnered with YMH to host the Global Mental Health Fest and Confab in 2020 and 2019, respectively
Storytelling
Hosted an offline bootcamp in Kolkata with the U.S. Consulate to train youth in storytelling skills
Leadership
Trained youth in leadership skills through the Leadership Bootcamp in December 2021

Club Spotlight

During the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, Girl Up Manipur ran donation and mask distribution drives, positively impacting over 400 individuals in Manipur, India. The team amplified SOS calls on social media, as well as collated and verified COVID-19 resources for community members, including contact information for pharmacies, oxygen suppliers, and State helplines. Within just a span of 1.5 months, Girl Up Manipur successfully raised funds for their ‘Free Meals Project’ to support affected and isolated individuals by providing over 825 meals to 135+ patients.

It was a challenge to balance relief work alongside academic responsibilities, but our team members contributed as many free hours to verify resources and create learning opportunities for people. We knew we had to help however we could.
Brinda, Girl UP Manipur PResident

Clubs can apply for up to $1,000 to support their Girl Up projects and activities throughout the year. Learn how you can apply here.

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Our Team

Aditi Arora (she/her)

COUNTRY DIRECTOR

Aditi started her Girl Up journey in 2018 as the Country Manager for India. Throughout her journey, she was met with raised eyebrows when attempting to make connections with schools and colleges, and was constantly asked “why not Boy Up?” Despite this, Aditi has grown Girl Up India school by school, club by club, with now more than 600 youth clubs across 25 States and Union Territories. Girl Up members have helped her understand leadership, the meaning of community, and working with kindness and compassion.
Anushka Maheshwary (they/them)

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Anushka’s first introduction to feminism and the movement for gender justice was through bell hooks’ book ‘Feminism is for Everybody,’ This book helped them embark on a journey of constant learning and unlearning, which led them to pursue a Master’s in Gender Studies. This then brought them to Girl Up in June 2022. They’ve had the chance to learn, grow and connect with the community whether through curating micro-campaigns on our social media platforms or through events.
Hameeda Syed (she/they)

ASSOCIATE – PROGRAMS

Hameeda’s experience over the years in the social impact sector exposed them to many faults in the system, but has emboldened them to work with it as well. As a Associate-Programs, they create pathways to collaborative action to build more representation for girls and young women in South Asia and create a feminist future.
Kunalika Gautam (she/her)

ASSOCIATE – YOUTH ENGAGEMENT & IMPACT

Kunalika’s journey with Girl Up started in April 2019 when she set up a club in her college. Girl Up allowed her to recognise the impact young leaders could create when supported by a passionate community of like-minded peers. She continued with Girl Up after her graduation as a part of the Coalition Leaders cohort (2020-21) and Regional Leaders cohort (2021-22). Presently, Kunalika works as an Associate – Youth Engagement & Impact.