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Volunteers in action: Rewriting the destinies of girls in rural India

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For many girls in rural India, education ends before adolescence begins. The causes: illiteracy, poverty and early marriage. One factor leads to the other, forming a cycle that starts with limited access to education and ends with a lifetime of lost potential.

Bala Prasad Devaragattu along with a team of volunteers with Cognizant Outreach Hyderabad made it a mission to break this cycle. Let’s hear from Bala about how it all started and the journey that followed.

The spark that started a movement

I’ve been visiting villages around Kamareddy and Nizamabad for several years. It began with a simple intention to help. I’d spend weekends distributing groceries to people. But over time, I began to question the impact and asked myself: How long will we keep doing this? Why not empower them instead?

That question stayed with me, and I opened a small sewing center from my salary. I met many girls who were sharp and intelligent but trapped. Most of them had been married early, some were widows already. I asked them if they wanted to study and most of them said yes. That’s how our journey of educating and upskilling began.

Building bridges through education

a person standing in front of a group of people wearing masks
Giving a talk on employability to young girls

In 2019, I began working with residential colleges in and around Kamareddy through the Cognizant Outreach program. These colleges were run by the government and had girls from rural and underprivileged backgrounds. I took some of our leaders to these colleges and asked them, what can we do?

One of them replied, They’re not ready for the industry. We have to bridge this gap. That’s when we formed a team of volunteers who pitched in to train them in skills like communication, mock interviews and resume preparation. Gradually, the girls started to believe in themselves. Some of them became the first graduates in their family and went on to secure a job at Cognizant, including talented young women like Swapna and Pravalika.

Swapna’s story: from silence to strength

two women holding a certificate
Swapna recognized for her volunteer work

Swapna came from a Marathi family in Madnoor village in Kamareddy, where early marriage was a norm and education was optional. Her father was a mason and her mother a homemaker - an early marriage was on the cards. But things changed in 2019 when we visited her college. In her final year of graduation, our Outreach volunteers mentored and trained her for the AMCAT exam, and she landed a job at Cognizant from a group of more than 60 people.

“A job at Cognizant changed everything. I support my family, built them a new home and I mentor girls in my village. I feel like I’m part of the change today.”

Pravalika’s story: from scholarship to service

a person standing in front of a sign
Pravalika Bandam

Pravalika grew up in a single parent household in a rural village and never gave up on her dreams. Our volunteers helped her with coaching and motivational sessions. She earned a scholarship from Cognizant for intermediate studies and never looked back. Today, she works at Cognizant and mentors students in government schools.

“The scholarship changed my life. It gave me the courage to chase my dreams - and if I can help even one student achieve their dreams, I’ll know I had a meaningful life.”

Numbers that show the true impact

Today, our Outreach Hyderabad volunteers have helped 578 talented young women break free from the cycle of illiteracy and become a part of Cognizant. Overall, 4,000 students have been reached, many of whom now work in large organizations and are supporting families and inspiring change. But above all, communities that were once bound by old traditions now see education as transformative.

Recognition that reflects our efforts

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Our volunteers after a skills training

I felt honored when our Hyderabad Outreach Team was awarded the Social Impact Award at this year’s Impact Awards. The award belongs to every volunteer who gave their weekends to the cause and to the Hyderabad leadership team for their unwavering support.

While the award recognized our efforts, the real joy comes from seeing parents who once resisted now proudly standing with their daughters. It also comes from seeing young women becoming financially independent and supporting their families and villages.

The promising journey that lies ahead 

We’ve come a long way – from two girls in a sewing center to 578 young women rewriting their destinies. But this is just the beginning. By 2030, we aim to empower 1,000 girls across rural Telangana. We’re also planning to expand this initiative to more cities and include Generative AI, career guidance and leadership visits to further bridge the gap. With more than 2,000 volunteers contributing 7,000+ hours in 2024, I know we are not alone in this mission. 

Every weekend, every session and every story reminds me that when you educate a woman, you educate a nation. And that’s the journey we’re on.

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