Background

Teenage years are a crucial time for neurological and emotional development, but for young girls going through puberty in low-income areas, this time is often met with systemic silence. In many marginalized groups across Gujarat, people still see talking about adolescent mental health, emotional changes, and forming an identity as taboo. Without safe ways to express themselves or formal emotional support systems, young girls often hide their anxiety and identity issues, which hurts their self-esteem and mental health.

Grassroots efforts rightfully pay more attention to academic support, but they often ignore emotional development. Girls before and during puberty are very likely to feel alone because there aren't many mental health tools available and the culture around them doesn't like acknowledging the changes that come with puberty. To really give young girls power, it's important to create welcoming spaces that confirm their lived experiences, help them make sense of their complicated emotional language, and give them easy access to professional psychological support.