Empowering the Girl Child Through Education
“To dispel darkness, even a single ray of sunlight is enough.”
With this belief, The Art of Living began a transformative journey in 2014 by establishing its first all-girls free school in the tribal village of Parola, located 20 km from Udaipur, Rajasthan.
The Beginning – Parola (2014)
In a region where female literacy rates were among the lowest in the country, Shri Shri Gyan Mandir Balika Vidyalaya was founded on the auspicious day of Guru Purnima in 2014.
What began with just three rooms and a broken table has today grown into a vibrant school nurturing confident young girls.
Our Impact
| Inception Year : | 2014 |
| Classes: | Nursery to Grade 5 |
| Type: | Tribal All-Girls Free School |
| Students: | 249+ girls (majority first-generation learners) |
| Villages Covered: | 20 nearby villages |
Almost all the students belong to Scheduled Tribe communities that face poverty, malnourishment, child marriage, illiteracy, and social isolation.
Initially, parents were hesitant to send their daughters to school. Traditionally, girls were expected to manage household responsibilities and marry young. Through consistent door-to-door outreach, awareness campaigns, and community engagement, the mindset slowly began to shift.
Today, girls eagerly wake up saying,
“Mom, hurry up! I have to go to school!”
What We Provide
To ensure no girl is deprived of education due to financial constraints, the school provides completely free: Education, Books, Uniforms, Nutritious meals, Safe door-to-door transport, Annual medical check-ups, Safety during commute and at school remains our top priority, Beyond Academics & Education here goes beyond textbooks.
Students practice: Yoga, Meditation, Mantras, Value-based learning, They celebrate festivals together, build leadership qualities, and grow into confident individuals.
Many of these girls are the first literate members of their families. Today, they dream boldly:
“I want to become a doctor.”
“I want to become a Sarpanch and bring change.”
“I want to become a teacher.”
Community Impact
The impact of educating girls extends beyond the classroom.
Girls are educating their parents about the harmful effects of alcohol and smoking.
Awareness in villages has increased, Child marriage cases have reduced & Families now aspire for higher education for their daughters.
Mothers proudly say,
“I never got the chance to study. But my daughter is getting an education.”
Expanding the Vision
What started with one school in Parola has now grown.
Today, The Art of Living runs three all-girls schools in Rajasthan, continuing the mission of empowering young girls through holistic education From hesitation to hope, darkness to light & silence to leadership.
Because when you educate a girl, you educate an entire generation.
