Students working together in May 2024.

Enabling Change for Rural Women

While BE Change was founded with a specific focus on supporting primary schools, we believe in the power of education to change lives at any age. In 2024, we saw an opportunity to expand our impact in rural Bihar to encompass women in the village of Rajaundha, about 20 kilometers from Bodhgaya.

Many women in Rajaundha lack employment opportunities. This impactful program, which is overseen by the founder of our partner school, Bhavishya Me, is teaching approximately 30 women how to sew.

The program builds on the success of a similar sewing program that has been operated at Bhavishya Me for over ten years—teaching hundreds of women this important skill.

Students proudly share some of the items they’ve sewn through the program.

Fast Facts

  • This program was founded in 2024. It’s located in Rajaundha Village, approximately 20 kilometers from Bodhgaya.

  • The program teaches about 30 women how to sew over a period of 6-7 months each year. Many women use the skills they learn to support their families and communities, and some will go on to obtain paid positions with businesses or the local government.

  • The program is operated by Rajesh Kumar and Kamalshila Welfare Foundation, the registered Indian charity that also operates our partner school, Bhavishya Me.

  • BE Change funded the cost to start the program, including sewing machine purchases. We now fund annual costs to rent a classroom and salaries for a local program administration and a teacher, a woman from a local village.