Pardada Pardadi Educational Society (PPES) is an organization that is committed to helping girls in rural India. The organization has created a school called the Pardada Pardadi Girls Vocational School which is a registered school in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Specifically, it’s located in the village of Anupshahar in the Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh, one of the least-educated and least-literate sections of India. It is also one of India’s poorest and highest crime rate areas. PPES was founded in 2000 by Virender Singh and began with the aim of women empowerment. It now strives to improve the living standards of these girls through the use of academics, vocations, and health education. Starting with only 45 girls, it’s now a growing institution with 1100 girls, first generations from their communities.

The Pardada Pardadi Girls Vocational School (PPGVS) was established to achieve social and economic empowerment and independence in their students. PPES provides the girls with free education from grade school to high school. In addition, they provide uniforms, 3 meals a day, and bicycles for girls. The girls get paid ten rupees a day and in total they will earn 30000 rupees (approximately $670), vocational skills, and a second-degree education. In addition, PPES guarantees jobs for girls after they graduate. PPGVS has two components: academics and vocational work. PPES has a program titled “Rags to Pads,” which provides the girls with sanitary pads and hygiene products.

Each year, REAL has been donating more money in the form of grants each year. To date, REAL has donated over $25000.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, PPES started having online classes over WhatsApp and Zoom for their students. Some of the girls didn’t have access to electronic devices as their parents took their cell phones to work, so PPES had to take some classes offline. The teachers personally delivered notes and homework for the students to complete and continue learning!

– Archana Venigalla