The “Let Her Decide” project empowers adolescent girls and boys in tribal communities of Barwani to prevent child marriage, continue their education, understand their rights, and develop the confidence and leadership skills needed to make informed decisions about their futures.

The “Let Her Decide” project, implemented by Aim for the Awareness of Society (AAS) in Barwani, Madhya Pradesh, addresses the social and economic pressures that contribute to early child marriage among adolescent girls in tribal communities. The project seeks to ensure that girls have the opportunity to continue their education, understand their rights, and make decisions about their own lives and futures. The program trains adolescents as “Jagriks,” or Active Citizens, using interactive and gamified learning modules such as “My Life, Mere Faisle (My Life, My Decisions).” Through these sessions, students learn about constitutional rights, gender equality, leadership, communication, and decision-making. Task-based activities help adolescents translate what they learn into practical action within their schools, families, and communities. The project has also demonstrated its impact through individual stories. A 17-year-old participant, Shivani Mujhalde, used communication skills gained through the project’s Jamghat sessions to speak with her parents about her planned early marriage. She successfully convinced them to cancel the marriage so that she could continue her education. Her experience also encouraged another 16-year-old girl, Sharadha Chouhan, to speak up about her desire to study. Within six months, the project directly trained 208 adolescents, including 153 girls and 55 boys, as change agents. Six government schools incorporated the leadership sessions into their schedules, while more than 500 parents, teachers, and village leaders participated in community discussions on delaying marriage and supporting girls’ education. Students also completed 525 action tasks focused on fundamental rights and duties. By equipping young people with knowledge, confidence, leadership skills, and practical tools to advocate for themselves, the project aims to challenge harmful social norms, prevent child marriage, support girls’ education, and enable adolescents to become agents of positive change in their communities.