"There are more than 300 million people living below the poverty line in India. The majority of these people are rural and female. Girls are a critically vulnerable group and a keystone of development in the country. Freedom from Hunger believes an investment in girls is an investment in the future." Alay Barah, CEO, Reach India (Freedom from Hunger's India-based office).
Did You Know?
- More than 300 million people in India live in absolute poverty-a number equal to all the people living in the United States of America.
- More than half the girls in India marry before the age of 18. The younger the bride the greater her chance — and her child's chance — of being trapped in poverty and becoming malnourished, anemic and at risk for maternal mortality.
- More than 45% of women in India have no say in decisions about their own health.
- 70% of the school-aged children who are not enrolled in school are girls.
A New Path to Self-Reliance
Freedom from Hunger strives to empower girls to make health, education and financial changes today that will have lasting impact and give them real options for their futures. This special program gives young women access to:
- the opportunity and discipline to save money,
- education to build life skills, and
- social support—something critically important if they are to stand up for their rights and make their own choices.
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