Girl Rising's RISE Curriculum Encourages Adolescents Across India to Dream Bigger

NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- When 17-year-old Kusum Kaushik first read the Girl Rising comic book, "Kusum's Adventurous Innings," part of the RISE curriculum, she saw more than a character on the page. She saw a mirror. The story of a girl fighting for her education with the support of her brother - and sharing her very name - felt achingly familiar. "If that Kusum could speak up, so can I," she thought.

Naturally quiet and observant, Kusum often hesitated to speak up in her Class 12 classroom. But through the RISE curriculum, co-led by Girl Rising and partner Samarpit, she has been building the confidence and tools to express herself.

With her teacher's support, Kusum is building self-awareness, empathy and resilience - skills that shape her classroom experience and outlook on life. Through the program, she also discovered her dream of becoming a nurse, inspired by her brother, who is already in the profession, and driven by her love for biology and helping others.

Yet barriers remain. Cultural norms in her community suggest that a "good girl's place" is in the home. Girls are expected to return home early and take on household responsibilities, while boys are not held to the same standards. Still, Kusum continues to pursue her education. Her parents, both tailors, and her grandmother remain steadfast supporters, cheering her on every step of the way.

The RISE curriculum has given Kusum the tools and confidence to overcome obstacles and pursue her dreams. By teaching critical life and digital skills and promoting gender-equitable mindsets across communities, RISE creates lasting ripple effects.

To expand this impact in India, Girl Rising recently conducted a series of teacher training sessions across Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, reaching 235 teachers. These educators are now prepared to engage more than 50,000 adolescents across 131 schools in socio-emotional learning, gender equity, climate change resilience, 21st-century life skills, digital literacy, and leadership.

This initiative marks the full rollout of the Girl Rising RISE curriculum, a program built on more than a decade of work fostering voice, agency, and confidence among adolescents globally. RISE equips teachers to guide students, especially girls, as they navigate adolescence, overcome barriers to education, and prepare for a future full of opportunity.

"At Girl Rising, we believe education is the foundation for gender equity and lasting change," said Nidhi Shukla, President of Girl Rising. "Through RISE, we are helping adolescents—especially girls—gain the confidence, skills and outlook they need to imagine bigger futures, challenge social norms and thrive in a digital world."

About Girl Rising

Girl Rising is a global nonprofit that uses storytelling and education to empower girls and adolescents, helping them build the confidence, skills, and mindsets needed to create positive change for themselves and their communities. The RISE curriculum combines social-emotional learning, gender equity education, and life skills training to prepare students for a future of opportunity and equity.

Contact: Virginia Terryi, Girl Rising
[email protected]
6463690442

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SOURCE Girl Rising