Empowering Girls as Change Agents

India is home to the largest adolescent population in the world, with nearly 120 million adolescent girls, making up almost half of the country’s adolescent demographic. Despite their immense potential, many of these girls continue to face systemic barriers, including patriarchy, poverty, and limited access to basic rights and opportunities.

The Girl Icon Program is committed to breaking these barriers by equipping girls with the leadership skills they need to drive change in their own communities.

How the Girl Icon Program Transforms Communities

Launched in 2015, the Girl Icon Program is an 18-month leadership development initiative that works with adolescent girls from underserved communities across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. Through a structured curriculum focused on leadership training, life skills education, and mentorship, the program prepares girls to step into leadership roles and take action on issues that directly affect their lives.

What Makes Girl Icons Different?

Leading Self

Leading Others

Leading Change

This girl-led leadership model is built around achieving five key outcomes that address the most urgent challenges adolescent girls face

Building Agency and
Voice

Enabling girls to stay
in and complete School

Strengthen Adolescent
Health & Well-Being

Prevention of
Child Marriage

Prevention of Violence
Against Women & Girls

The Impact

Independent Impact Assessment by Verian Group

Delaying Early Marriage

98% of Girl Icons are unmarried.

Advancing Girls’ Education

94% of Girl Icons are pursuing their education.

Strengthening Legal Awareness

94% of Girl Icons are aware of laws against violence towards women and girls.

Normalising Menstrual Health

85% of Girl Icons view menstruation as a normal, healthy process.

Real Results from Real Girls

Adolescent Girls Reached

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Districts Covered

Community Members

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The Girl Icon Program develops and fosters a series of self-positive behaviours that are essential for continued resilience and future leadership. Empowerment is a personal journey, as unique and diverse as the individuals themselves. Self-positive traits of independent mobility, knowledge of resources and services, awareness of gender inequity challenges, and the ability to express oneself are examples of interim outcomes that support the development of resilience, identity development, and empowerment. Milaan’s Girl Icon Program provides essential empowerment training for girls as a stepping stone, exposing girls to structural gender challenges and encouraging girls to believe in their own abilities and foster a sense of self.

University of California, Berkeley

Our Commitment to SDGs

Want to connect with us?

Join us in building a world where girls lead change, whether you wish to collaborate, partner, support, or simply learn more, we’d love to hear from you.