Everyone has dreams — for themselves, for their families, for a better future. But sometimes, circumstances beyond our control interrupt those dreams. Twenty-year-old Dipmala Kumari knows all too well how quickly difficult situations can place those dreams on hold. Hailing from a humble family in Bihar, India, with two sisters and two brothers, where financial […]
From Setback to State Rank: Dipmala’s Story Read More »
What does hope sound like? For Ishrat, a teenager from India, hope sounds like the voice of her teacher, providing instruction in the school room where she has a place to belong. It sounds like the thrumming of the tires on a bike that she is no longer too weak to ride. And for Laxmi,
This story was written by Duncan Hospital, PWS&D’s partner in India, with minor additions and edits by PWS&D Communications. In the village of Karkhola, in the state of Bihar, India, 18-year-old Raunak Khatun’s life has been filled with challenges. Raunak’s mother died of pneumonia while giving birth to her. After her mother’s death, her grandmother
How a Sewing Machine Changed a Life Read More »
By Maria Carmona Maria is PWS&D’s Asia program coordinator. From March 10-21, 2025, Maria attended the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) at the United Nations. She attended as a representative of the Ontario Council for International Cooperation. The General Assembly Hall of the United Nations was abuzz with voices
Voices from the Grassroots Read More »
In India, Indral Kumar and Golu Kumar are two friends who regularly attend group meetings and awareness-raising sessions on gender issues conducted by PWS&D’s local partner in their villages. The boys, who are 13 and 14 years old, come from families that believe household work is to be done only by women and that men doing
Understanding Gender Roles and Advocating for Equality Read More »
In Bihar, India, an alarming 80 per cent of girls are forced into early marriages. Not only does this reduce the likelihood that they will complete school, but it makes young girls—married as early as 12 years old—more susceptible to trafficking for child labour and sexual exploitation. Bihar region also ranks among the states with
Lilawati Stands Against Child Marriage in India Read More »
