Be the Change Girls
Saphara Girls Champions equips and inspires girls to reach their full potential
"If one girl with an education can change the world, just imagine what 130 million can do"
Saphara echoes these words of Malala Yousafzai, but we know first-hand that many girls in poor communities are put under pressure to leave education to earn money or to get married. While it is illegal for a girl in India to be married under the age of 18 years, many poor families see this as their only way to survive. Child marriage violates girls’ human rights and robs them of their childhood. Girls who are married before they turn 18 are more likely to experience domestic violence and are often forced to have children before their bodies are ready, resulting in much higher risk of dying during childbirth.
We are committed to keeping girls in school and safe from child marriage and abuse through the Saphara Girl Champions programme which has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of girls over the past decade, more recently working with tribal NGOs in communities where child marriage is still common and where sex trafficking is a serious risk.
Here is how we do it:
Emotional Resilience
We want every girl to know her value and worth, able to speak up for herself and others. As girls learn together with their teachers in informal settings, they create affirming communities where they can support each other.
Menstrual Health Education
A shocking 71% of girls know nothing about menstruation until after they have their first period. Enabling the girls to understand the changes to their bodies during adolescence is vital – so they know they are not ‘unclean’ or a ‘curse’ – and helps protect them from sexual abuse. Here is Lakshmy speaking about her work as a menstrual health educator.
Period Poverty
Only 42% of women and girls in India have access to sanitary pads – so we partner with Eco Femme, who produce organic cotton pads enabling us to provide over 5000 washable pads to girls in the past three years. 70% of reproductive diseases are caused by poor menstrual hygiene – so these pads are vital in improving the health of adolescent girls as well as reducing environmental impact.
Follow Us
Our Programmes
Support us
Saphara believes that every child is of immense value and worth and that education is key to enabling disadvantaged youth to overcome poverty. The charity focuses on educational projects which build capacity, and strategic interventions which empower young people. Saphara works in partnership with local schools and NGOs that can demonstrate buy-in and ownership from local communities. These are uniquely placed to effect long-term and sustainable change.
Our Programmes
SAPHARA
Be The Change Schools
Each year we partner with secondary schools across NI to deliver Be the Change Award to 150 sixth form students.
SAPHARA
Be the Change India
We partner with schools and NGOs in India to support their vital work providing education for all.
SAPHARA
Be the Change Colleges
Equipping teaching students from Stranmillis and St Mary’s to deliver affirming education to marginalised children in NI and India.
Latest News
Saphara in 2024
At Saphara we are passionate about the power of education to transform lives.
In India we work with some extremely poor and marginalised children and see how the education they receive at our partner schools is bringing powerful change into their lives.
Donate to our Christmas Gifts Appeal 2023
At Saphara we are passionate about the power of education to transform lives.
In India we work with some extremely poor and marginalised children and see how the education they receive at our partner schools is bringing powerful change into their lives.
Colleges India Team 2023
The first Saphara College team since 2019 began their India experience with a wonderful day in Delhi. Clothes shopping was followed by a relaxing and