Splash! (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781956072211)

Dive into the inspiring true stories of extraordinary girls who are igniting global change.

Splash! is a celebration of the indomitable young women in Uttar Pradesh, India, whose courageous, sovereign choices have created splashes and ripples within their families and village communities. The lives of adolescent girls in this region have been governed by myriad societal norms and controls that limit their aspirations and propel them into a lifecycle of subordination and discrimination.

Since its inception, the People's Action for National Integration (PANI) has pursued a vision to create inclusive societies where individuals have greater control over their life situations and can take responsibility for building a mutually rewarding world. PANI's program for the empowerment of adolescent girls in Eastern Uttar Pradesh has reached over 22,000 girls in eight years, helping them connect with their aspirations and break free from the rigidly defined gender roles that curtail women and girls' dreams, mobility, education, and economic opportunities, to pursue their goals.

Splash! introduces you to twenty-five of those girls who have conquered immense obstacles and whose stories bear witness to the untapped potential within every young woman. Their journeys are a testament to the power of the human spirit to rise above limitations of gender, environment, culture, and society. As these remarkable girls excel in sports, work in companies, join the armed forces, pursue careers in music, and secure higher education at prestigious universities, they serve as a powerful reminder that we all possess the capacity to challenge the status quo and shape our destinies.