The Veerni Project: Educating Girls, Empowering Futures
Founded in 1993 in response to the urgent health needs of women and children in the Thar Desert, Western Rajasthan, the Veerni Project evolved-by 2000, at the request of village girls-to focus on access to secondary education: a critical pathway to independence and opportunity. Since its inception, Veerni has provided life-changing support to more than 20.000 girls.
Today, Veerni supports 120 girls aged 12–18, offering them a fully funded secondary education in Jodhpur. The programme includes a safe residential home, healthcare, nutrition, computer training, arts, sports, and enrolment in one leading private school. Each girl’s education costs $2,800 per year. With increased funding, Veerni aims to reach even more girls.
Veerni welcomes girls from diverse rural communities and fosters a caste-blind environment where confidence and lifelong friendships grow. By providing a supportive space to learn and thrive, Veerni enables girls to make informed life choices, pursue higher education, and contribute to their families and communities.
This mission transforms not only individual lives, but the future of the communities it serves. As Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Veerni makes those first steps possible-one girl at a time.
The Veerni Alumni Network: Empowered Women, Empowering Others
At Veerni, we believe education is the foundation of empowerment, and our alumni are living proof. The Veerni Alumni community is a vibrant network of women who have transformed their own lives, and those of others, through the power of education. From rural Rajasthan to colleges, workplaces, and leadership roles across the state, our graduates embody the courage, resilience, and determination that define the Veerni spirit.
Since our founding, Veerni has supported hundreds of girls to complete secondary education, break the cycle of early marriage, and access opportunities once beyond reach. Our alumni are trailblazers: teachers, nurses, police officers, P.E. instructors, entrepreneurs, and community advocates. Each one represents a story of triumph over adversity, a testament to what becomes possible when girls are given the chance to learn, grow, and dream big.
Veerni’s graduates don’t simply move on; they give back. Many return to mentor current students, sharing their journeys and inspiring the next generation to follow in their footsteps. Together, they form a lifelong sisterhood of empowered women, building a brighter future for all.
