Girl Rising

08/21/2026

In the room. At the table. And making sure women are heard.

Our Girl Advisory Council member Zainab Bie is a powerhouse in climate justice...bridging policy, philanthropy and campaigns to make climate action more inclusive, equitable and effective.

In her latest piece, she asks a question that matters: Are women truly being heard in climate negotiations, or are we simply being counted?

From Bonn to the global climate stage, Zainab is pushing for women to have not just a seat, but the skills, confidence, resources and power to shape the decisions that affect our future.

We couldn’t be prouder of Zainab...leading, challenging and changing every space she enters, and showing us what leadership should look like.

Read her piece: https://bit.ly/3U8O2ZK

08/20/2026

Abigail and Allison, our young Board members, do it again!

Featured in the Women in Leadership publication, these two incredible young women are showing us what it means to lead with purpose, use your voice and create space for others to rise.

From Abigail’s work advancing child rights through law, policy and advocacy to Allison turning her passion into action for girls’ rights and helping young people speak up against sexual violence, they are already creating change far beyond their years.

And they’re not just leaders of tomorrow. They are leading today.

We’re incredibly proud of Abigail and Allison, and of the powerful role models they are becoming for girls everywhere. https://bit.ly/4xcf699

08/20/2026

Shalini didn’t just take 5 wickets on August 11. She took up space.

And not just any space.

For generations, the cricket pitch in her village had belonged to boys. Until now.
A Class 12 student from GHSS Daganiya and a player for Daganiya ke Dhurandhar, Shalini stepped onto the pitch at the RISE Premier League in Bilaspur and delivered a stunning five-wicket haul…earning her first-ever Player of the Match award.

But the award wasn’t her biggest win.

“This is a moment I will always remember. This wasn’t only about the match. I feel confident when I play a sport,” she said.

For the first time in Bilaspur, 300+ villagers watched girls and boys walk onto the same pitch, play on the same teams and play as equals.

When Shalini smashed through the batting line-up, the cheers said it all.

Because this wasn’t just cricket.
It was girls claiming space.
Boys cheering them on.
A community watching old rules get rewritten.

And a generation discovering what equality looks like when you actually play it out.

This is what happens when the skills girls build in classrooms - confidence, leadership and agency, get to show up in the real world.

Shalini didn’t just bowl out batters.

She challenged an old idea of who belongs on the pitch.

And she’s just getting started.

Swipe >> to watch her in action.

Supported by

08/19/2026

Five years ago, Afghan girls lost their classrooms, their choices and futures they had dreamed of.

Robina Azizi was one of them.

At just 16, with one device and a determination to keep learning, she founded , turning a denied education into a movement that has now reached thousands of girls.

Today, Robina is in Berlin. But her work remains rooted in the girls still waiting to learn.

Five years on, their dreams are still alive. And so is their fight.

Read Robina’s story. Because when a girl gets the chance to learn, she doesn’t just change her own life. She finds her voice, and uses it to create change for others.

This is probably one of the deepest questions I have ever been asked, and honestly, one of the hardest to answer. There are two parts to it: growing up in Afghanistan, and growing up as a girl in Afghanistan. Both carry a lot of pain.When people think about childhood, they often think about playing....

08/18/2026

Can a cricket match rewrite the rules of gender equality?

In Bilaspur, we just witnessed something historic: the first-ever mixed-gender match as part of the RISE Premier League.

Across government schools in Chhattisgarh, our curriculum equips young girls and boys with 21st century digital and social-emotional skills. But leadership isn't just a lesson. It’s a muscle.

On the pitch, there were no "boys' roles" or "girls' roles." There were only teammates.

Every pass required critical thinking. Every setback demanded resilience. Every play was built on mutual respect.

We often talk about making youth "future-ready." Bilaspur showed us that when you take learning beyond the classroom and challenge gender norms, the future arrives a lot faster than you think.

Swipe through to see these life skills brought to life >>>

Supported by
Foundation

08/14/2026

Sometimes, rising means logging off.

Our teams have been showing up for girls, doing the work, and helping create spaces for girls to learn, lead, speak up and rise.
Now, we are pausing to rest and refresh!

Some are off to the mountains. 🏔️ Some to the beach. 🌊 Some are spending time with their kids, parents and loved ones. And some are finally catching up on that TV show. 📺

Different ways to recharge. Same goal: rest, reset, return refreshed.
Because when we take care of ourselves, we can show up with even more energy for the girls we rise with.

08/13/2026

Sweet sixteen deserves a celebration.

Join us in New York City for an unforgettable evening of powerful stories, live music, dance, community, and our signature Sweet Sixteen cocktail, with special thanks to Fort Hamilton Distillery.

As we mark this milestone for Girl Rising, we'll also welcome an exciting new chapter: the coming together of Girl Rising and She's the First, alongside the extraordinary girls and young leaders at the heart of our global community.

Far more than a gala, Sweet Sixteen is an evening of joy, connection, and the future girls are creating together.

We can't wait to share it with you.

📍 New York City
📅 September 8, 2026"

08/11/2026

From boardroom seats to grassroots voices, it’s time to ask the big question: Is India ready for women in leadership?

No clichés. No sugarcoating. Just a real, candid chat on the barriers, shifts, and big opportunities ahead.

The Details:
Panel: What does it take for India to truly embrace women in leadership?
On the mic: Nidhi Shukla Vagmita Singh Nikkhil Advani Saiyami Kher is in conversation with Nikhil Taneja !

In association with Girl Rising & Girl Rising India
Supported by HP foundation

Reposted Yuvaa

08/11/2026

Chhattisgarh.
Girls.
Boys.
One team.
One cricket field.
No separate sides.
No different rules.
For. The. First. Time. Ever.
One match.
One historic first.
The future starts here.
Watch this space.
hashtag

Supported by HP Foundation

08/07/2026

The biggest lessons aren't found in textbooks.

They're found in the moment a girl speaks up, dreams bigger, chooses herself.
Meet Jyoti, Shruti, Pallavi, Reshma, and Satni — five girls whose stories remind us that when girls rise, the future rises with them.

Read more about them: https://bit.ly/4gf52Ga