“The soul of education is not just in curriculum, but in conviction. And conviction lives in every teacher who refuses to give up.”
In the serene, often rugged terrains of Tehri, Haridwar, and Uttarkashi, where towering peaks meet remote villages, a quiet revolution is underway. Not one with banners or rallies, but one far more powerful — a classroom, a chalkboard, a determined girl child, and behind her, a teacher who dares to believe.
This is the story of the unsung heroines of the Mount Valley Development Association (MVDA) — the teachers of the Girl Child Education Program (GCEP). These women aren’t just educators. They are change-makers, warriors, and dream-weavers working tirelessly to ensure that every girl, no matter how forgotten by the system, gets her right to education.
Beyond Teaching: A Mission in Motion
Since its inception in 1995, MVDA has been at the forefront of girl child education. GCEP was launched in 2013 and has expanded to 139 learning centers across three districts. But the real story isn’t in the numbers — it’s in the lives changed, the dreams awakened, and the spirit of perseverance shown by teachers like Rajani from Haridwar.
“At first, society and caste barriers made it hard,” Rajani shares. “But seeing girls like Avani, Rashi, Sheetal, and Mansi grow into confident young learners — that makes it all worth it.”
Innovation in Teaching, Courage in Action
Priyanka Saini, also with MVDA since 2018, knows the uphill battle of re-enrolling dropouts all too well.
“We teach through play. Kits for maths, language, even environment — they help girls understand instead of memorize. Still, many parents are unaware. I’ve had to find my own ways to convince them.”
Her efforts bore fruit. Students like Hina, Mantasha, Heena, Samneer, and Ayesha are now proudly holding first-division marks in their 10th board exams.
Training the Mind and the Heart
Dipa Saini, with the program since 2018, sees it as her life’s purpose.
MVDA isn’t a one-size-fits-all learning setup. Its strength lies in multi-grade, multi-level teaching, with personalized learning and practical tools like the Jodo Gyan Kit, Agastya environmental kit, and language kits.
Dipa Saini, with the program since 2018, sees it as her life’s purpose.
“Teaching girls is not just a job — it’s passion. Unlike schools where students are expected to memorize, we focus on activity-based understanding. MVDA’s training really helps us manage every challenge.”
Her pride shines when she talks about Urvashi, Sarika, and Lakshmi, who are now pursuing their BSc — a dream once too far-fetched.
Learning by Doing, Changing by Believing
From Haridwar, Rachanna (joined 2022) teaches through the principle of “learning by doing.” Her students use kits and projects to grasp concepts deeply — and it works. Anshika and Samiksha, her star students, scored an impressive 59% in 10th grade despite social opposition.
“Parents still force girls to drop out. But this program — it gives us tools to help girls stand tall and keeps us strong in the face of adversity.”
