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The mission of the Veerni Project arose out of an encounter with a village worker in a remote village of Thar Desert in Western Rajasthan. The project began in 1993 with the aim of bringing much needed healthcare programs for women and children. In 2000, at the demand of girls in the villages, the focus was changed to providing them with the opportunity of accessing  a secondary education. 

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Since that time, Veerni has supported and educated a large number of girls aged between 12 and 18 granting them the opportunity of exercising their human rights in one of the world’s poorest regions. Currently, Veerni provides 110 girls with a secondary education in a boarding institute where they enjoy board and lodging, comprehensive health care, arts and crafts, sports facilities, and computer training. They attend two elite private schools. The annual cost for each student is $2,800.The target of Veerni is to ensure the education of its 110 girls and increase that number if the project gets additional funding to answer the demand. The girls come from rural and diverse communities in the Thar Desert. Veerni is a caste blind project where all castes live together and form lasting friendships. Education will empower them to make their own life choices and break the cycle of poverty.

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There is still a widespread and profound neglect of women and girls’ wellbeing, health and education in India today. Lack of education, child marriage, early motherhood, poor healthcare and importantly gender selection through abortion has resulted in a 50million women deficit in India. All of these remain an obstacle to women’s development and empowerment. The female labor force in India remains very low at 27% versus near 80% for men. India ranks 120 out of 131 countries in female labor force. As we all know, valuing women and girls is a critical factor in making societies more prosperous.

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In this challenging context for women, all of the above shows how important the work of Veerni is in educating young women for a better future in India and for them to have access to higher education and the workplace. Only then will they take their rightful place in Indian society and exercise their human rights. 

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The Veerni journey is best described in the following words: “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step” – Lao Tzu. 

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Registered UK charity Prospero World is delighted to support the Veerni Project through its fiscal sponsorship programme, and to receive tax efficient donations from UK donors on their behalf.