Empowering Rural Women: How Girl Up Ujjiwan is Transforming Lives Through Financial Literacy and Leadership

Girl Up Ujjiwan, a branch of the global Girl Up India organisation, is on a mission to empower and uplift women in rural areas through the transformative power of financial literacy and leadership opportunities. We strive to create a supportive environment where we can help these women build their independence and self-esteem to become agents of change within their communities. Our journey began at Ashoka University, where we connected with the female housekeeping staff, many of whom come from nearby villages in Haryana. To truly understand the unique financial challenges they face, we conducted over 100 interviews to gather insights into their specific needs and take a glimpse into their realities. This research formed the backbone for developing a series of educational modules meticulously designed and customised to address these challenges directly. 

In March 2024, with the invaluable support of Ashoka Admin, we organised a “Savings and Budgeting” workshop that brought together 50+ housekeeping staff members. The workshop provided practical tools and knowledge on managing expenses efficiently- distinguishing needs and wants, and setting short-term and long-term financial goals. Many of these women, who had previously struggled with debt and savings, were not only highly engaged but also eager to implement strategies they learned. The overwhelming positive feedback coupled with their enthusiasm underscored the profound impact of our work and highlighted the critical need for continued efforts in financial literacy. 

Now, our vision is to extend our impact beyond the walls of Ashoka University into the heart of rural Haryana. We plan to conduct field visits to these regions, leveraging the strong connections we’ve established with Ashoka’s housekeeping staff to reach more communities. Our upcoming initiatives include a series of workshops on essential topics such as loans, self-help groups, net banking, and bank account formalities- each tailored to meet the unique needs of rural women.  In the coming months, we aim to deliver 10+ workshops, parallelly in Ashoka and rural areas, to equip women with the essential knowledge and skills they need to confidently navigate the financial challenges they face. 

Additionally, we plan to collaborate with local NGOs, corporate partners and professors to strengthen our outreach efforts. Our ambitious goal is to adopt at least 2+ villages under our program each month, ensuring our approach remains dynamic and responsive by incorporating feedback from previous workshops. Through this expansion, we aim to empower more women with the financial tools and literacy they need to achieve economic independence and stability. By doing so, we hope to break the cycle of debt and prevent exploitation that so often plagues these communities.