We Built Healthier Communities in 2025

I was born and raised in Pharping, the very community where the Rukmini Foundation works. As a child, I was extremely shy, so nervous that I avoided speaking even with my teachers, and I knew little about my own hometown. Programs like LitClubs, World Read Aloud Days, and mentoring sessions offered by the Foundation became my first window into new possibilities beyond what I had imagined for myself.

After high school, I never expected that this same Foundation would one day invite me to join its team. When I was offered a role as a Finance Assistant and Mentor, I was terrified but instinctively said “yes.” On my first day, those fears quickly faded. I was welcomed into a sisterhood where we learned together, united by a shared mission, to empower the girls in our program as their supportive older sisters, their Didis.

My journey since then has been one of deep learning and growth. Nervous home visits opened my eyes to the challenges and resilience within my own community. Seeing firsthand the struggles families faced moved me deeply and strengthened my commitment to support them. Through organizing street dramas to raise awareness about child marriage and gender discrimination, I witnessed tangible change, fewer early marriages, more girls completing their education, and a gradual shift in community attitudes.

Each year, our work extends far beyond the classroom. In 2025 alone, we provided 150,000 healthy school meals, trained women in organic farming to improve both income and nutrition, and equipped teachers with essential mental health skills. We continue to stand with our community in times of crisis, a commitment that has endured from the 2015 earthquake through the pandemic and the floods this year. Perhaps the most powerful testament to our work is the circle of empowerment it creates. Today, three of our former Bahinis, Sirjana, Roshani, and Yojana, are now my colleagues, inspiring the next generation of girls. I feel a profound sense of pride when a young girl in the village points to me and says, “That’s my Didi from Rukmini.”

This report is a celebration of that transformation. It reflects what your support made possible in 2025, not only programs delivered, but futures built, a community strengthened, and confidence discovered. Every meal served, every training conducted, and every girl who begins to see a path forward is part of our shared story. Thank you for believing in this mission and for empowering girls like me to grow into mentors, leaders, and sources of hope for our community.

With sincere gratitude,
Sabina