Atlas-Supported Education Programme Helping Girls Create New Opportunities in Jharkhand
At just 16 years old, Pinky and Arti (names have been chaged) are helping to reshape expectations for girls in their communities in rural Jharkhand. Both girls recently passed their Class 10 board examinations, a milestone that reflects years of determination and hard work alongside support from Khelo Rugby’s education and rugby programme in the Dumka district.
The girls have been involved with Khelo Rugby for the past six years, participating in both rugby activities and the organisation’s education support programme. Supported by Atlas, the programme brings teaching and learning opportunities directly into rural communities.
For Pinky, her achievement was particularly remarkable. She ranked ninth across the entire Dumka district, an outstanding result for any student, but especially for a young girl growing up in a rural community where educational opportunities are limited.
Over the years, coaches and teachers have watched Pinky grow in confidence, discipline and ambition; qualities she brought not only to her studies, but also to the rugby field.
“I was so happy when my results came. All the help I got made a big difference. Maths was my strongest subject, and now I have to decide what to do next.”
Following her outstanding results, Pinky’s family have encouraged her to continue her education, moving away from traditional societal expectations of young women.
Arti’s success carries a different, but equally powerful, significance. She became the first girl in her village to pass the Class 10 examinations.
“I didn’t know what to expect after the exams. No girls in my community had ever passed Class 10 before.”
Photo: Arti, Khelo Rugby Participant
Breaking New Ground
In communities where girls face pressure to leave school early, and where the threat of trafficking remains a reality, achievements like this are about far more than exam results.
Arti’s success sends a powerful message to younger girls and families throughout her village: education is possible, and girls deserve the opportunity to continue learning and build independent futures.
Both girls have balanced their studies with regular rugby participation and the challenges of daily life in rural Jharkhand. Through the support of local coaches, tuition classes, and a safe environment in which to learn and grow, they have demonstrated what young people can achieve when given opportunity, encouragement and consistent support over time.
Their stories are a reminder that long-term investment in children does more than develop stronger players on the field – it helps young people believe in themselves, stay in education, and imagine futures that may once have felt out of reach.
Today, Pinky and Arti are not only celebrating academic success. They are becoming role models for the next generation of girls growing up in their communities.
The Atlas Foundation is proud to support projects like Khelo Rugby that empower young women and girls to imagine futures beyond those that have too often seemed pre-determined for them. Inclusion is one of our three core pillars, and this story shows what can be achieved when it is prioritised.
