The Journey of Pratigya Adolescent Girls Group

In September 2024, Bareilly Diocesan Social Service Centre (BDSSC) started working in Mirjapur Sarsa village, a place where the basic infrastructure like drainage and roads was in very poor condition. To create sustainable change, BDSSC formed a Child Parliament and Adolescent Girls Group (AGs) to empower young voices and build leadership skills. Regular trainings were conducted on topics like leadership, career guidance, health and hygiene, and how to raise one’s voice for community issues. Among these groups, the Adolescent Girls Group “Pratigya” showed remarkable leadership.

On December 13, 2024, the 18 girls of Pratigya AGS held a meeting to discuss a serious problem: a road leading to their school was always waterlogged due to poor drainage and broken pathways. Many times, girls slipped and fell, and reaching school safely became a daily struggle, affecting their studies and morale. Determined to find a solution, the group decided to take action.

On January 6, 2025, five representatives from the Pratigya group submitted a written application to the village Pradhan, requesting urgent construction of the road and drainage system. The Pradhan listened carefully and assured them that action would be taken soon.

Showing persistence and leadership, on March 3, 2025, six girls from the group again met the Pradhan for a follow-up. Their continuous effort and courage impressed the village leaders.

Finally, their determination bore fruit: on March 28, 2025, the construction work on the road and drainage system officially started.

This achievement filled the girls with pride and boosted the energy and confidence of the entire group. It proved that when young girls are empowered with leadership, knowledge, and courage, they can bring real change in their communities.

The story of Pratigya AGs is not just about building a road — it is about building hope, confidence, and a better future for all the children of Majra Sarsa.