Warm Greetings from Grameen Foundation for Social Impact!

March 2026 has been a month of continued progress, resilience, and renewed hope. As we move forward in our mission to enable the poor, especially women to build a life free from poverty and hunger, our work on the ground continues to create meaningful and lasting change.

Across communities, we are supporting women to step into entrepreneurship, enabling access to digital financial tools, strengthening girls’ education, and working closely with farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to improve incomes and livelihoods. Each initiative is a step toward building confidence, independence, and stronger local economies that can sustain themselves over time.

At the heart of this work is a simple belief- when a woman rises, families and communities rise with her.

This is a moment where your support can truly transform lives. A timely contribution can open doors to opportunities that once felt out of reach, helping someone take that crucial step toward stability and self-reliance.

Giving is not just about addressing today’s needs; it is about investing in someone’s future. Your support can help a woman start her enterprise, a girl continues her education, or a farmer strengthen their livelihood. It creates a ripple effect of dignity, confidence, and long-term change.

Your donation is more than a contribution; it is a belief in someone’s potential and a partnership in their journey toward a better tomorrow.

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Every act of giving brings us closer to a world with greater opportunity and dignity for all. Thank you for standing with us.

Mariam – Lakshyavati Ki Udaan, funded by the Mullins Family scholarship initiative and implemented by GFSI, is designed to support young girls from underserved communities in continuing their education beyond school and stepping confidently into higher studies and career pathways. Through sustained financial assistance and encouragement at critical transition points, the programme helps girls overcome economic barriers, stay in education, and build aspirations for a more secure and independent future.

It is within this larger effort that Teja’s story begins, one that reflects both the challenges many young girls face and the possibilities that emerge when the right support is in place.

In a small home in Bhandara, Teja’s life is shaped by resilience and responsibility. With her father unable to work due to physical disability, her mother shoulders the responsibility of supporting the family by working as a house help in multiple homes. Despite limited means, her parents remain deeply committed to ensuring that their children receive a good education.

Teja has grown up balancing her studies with household responsibilities, supporting her mother in daily chores while staying focused on her goals. Grounded and determined, she aspires to become financially independent and contribute meaningfully to her family’s well-being.

She completed her 12th grade in 2025 with 61% and is now pursuing a B.Sc. in Computer Science at a college in Maharashtra. With a strong interest in coding, Teja dreams of becoming a software developer. She hopes to learn programming languages like Java and C++ and is actively saving to enroll in a professional coding course to strengthen her skills. Alongside her studies, Teja also uses her creativity to support herself. She is skilled in mehndi art and occasionally teaches and applies mehndi to earn a small income. She also enjoys reading, which continues to inspire her and expand her horizons.

Teja’s journey has been consistently supported at crucial stages of her education. During her school years, she was supported through Mariam–Lakshyavati, which helped her continue her studies without interruption. After completing school, as she stepped into higher education, her journey has been further strengthened by GFSI through Mariam–Lakshyavati Ki Udaan, funded by the Mullins Family Scholarship Initiative. This continued support has enabled her to pursue college education with confidence, covering essential academic needs and ensuring she remains on track toward her goals.

Today, Teja is steadily moving forward with determination and hope. Her story reflects the power of sustained support—how continued investment in a girl’s education, from school to college, can open pathways to opportunity and a brighter future.

In a village where opportunities for women are often limited, Namita chose not to follow the path laid out for her, she created her own.

A resident of Munnari village in the Cholapur block of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Namita is known today as a farmer, entrepreneur, and community leader. As a mother of two and a determined individual, she has steadily redefined what is possible for women in her village.

In a setting where access to digital tools remains low, especially for women- her journey was far from easy. Like many others, she initially struggled with smartphone usage, unreliable internet access, and the hesitation that often comes with learning something new. Social expectations and responsibilities added to these challenges, limiting both time and opportunity.

Her turning point came with her association with the AgriPath initiative by Grameen Foundation India.

Through a combination of in-person training and digital learning, Namita gained knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices and learned to navigate mobile-based advisory tools. What began as a learning experience soon turned into confidence and then into leadership.

Today, Namita serves as a digital agricultural extension agent and a mentor in her community. She supports fellow farmers—especially women—by helping them use smartphones, access applications, and adopt improved farming practices. With her guidance, technology has become less intimidating and more accessible.

Her efforts are also reshaping mindsets.

By encouraging women to participate in trainings and step into leadership roles, she is gradually breaking long-standing social barriers. She has built a supportive environment where women learn, share, and grow together, gaining confidence and independence along the way.

Alongside this, Namita has achieved financial independence through her village-level kirana store and agricultural consultancy services. Her work not only strengthens her household income but also inspires others to explore entrepreneurship.

Her journey reflects a powerful blend of economic empowerment and environmental responsibility. By promoting sustainable farming, she is contributing to the long-term well-being of her community’s land and livelihoods.

More importantly, she has sparked belief.

From a traditional farmer to a digital leader, Namita’s journey shows that when women are given the right opportunities and support, they don’t just transform their own lives—they uplift entire communities.

And today, because she chose to create her own path, many others are beginning to do the same.

India’s agricultural advisory systems are evolving with platforms like Bharat-VISTAAR and AgriStack but technology alone isn’t enough. The key challenge is building digital advisory services that work across regions, genders, and income groups.

At the national consultation on institutionalising digital advisory services, Grameen Foundation India shared evidence from a multi-country RCT in Uttar Pradesh. The findings were clear: hybrid models—combining digital tools with human support—drive higher adoption, build trust, and overcome behavioral and financial barriers.

Discussions also highlighted the need for gender-responsive design, addressing challenges women farmers face in access, mobility, and digital ownership. Participants emphasized integrating digital advisory into existing public systems, not creating parallel ones.

The consultation resulted in a 24-month policy roadmap, reinforcing a key message:
Effective agricultural transformation requires aligning technology with people, institutions, and real farming needs.

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