C2C girls in Gujarat, India
Over our 16 years at C2C, we have learned that getting a girl into school is important, and it is only the beginning.
We work with vulnerable and at-risk girls in India, Nepal and Bangladesh, many of whom face significant barriers to education and opportunity. These can include poverty, the loss of a parent or abandonment, gender inequality, family responsibilities, and expectations about the role of girls. As girls get older, the pressure to leave school can increase. And for some, early marriage remains a real risk.
That is why staying in school matters.
For the past five academic years, we have tracked academic outcomes across our partner schools. Nearly 1,500 C2C girls appeared for their Class X or Class XII examinations between 2021–22 and 2025–26.
And the results are encouraging.
More Girls Are Passing
The overall pass rate increased from 92.4% in 2022–23 to 99% in 2025–26. Last year, 391 of 395 girls passed their Class X or Class XII examinations.
These numbers represent something much bigger than academic achievement. For a girl facing financial hardship, family pressures, or the risk of leaving school, passing an examination means she has reached another important milestone, and can keep moving forward.
Our specialized support through academic enrichment, counseling, and other programs helps girls access education and then navigate the challenges that can cause them to fall behind or leave school.
We are also seeing more girls reach the later stages of their education. In 2025–26, 140 girls appeared for their Class XII examinations, compared with 108 five years earlier. Each girl who reaches Class XII has taken an important step toward what comes next.
And we are seeing what that continued support can make possible beyond the classroom.
Pragathi is one example. After experiencing significant challenges early in her life, C2C helped provide her with access to education, mentorship, and a stable school environment. She went on to pursue higher education and ultimately began a career in the life sciences industry. Her journey is a reminder that staying in school can open the door to opportunities that once seemed out of reach.
Connecting Education to Opportunity
Passing an examination is not the final goal. It is a foundation for the future.
Our work is built around three connected ideas: Access, Elevation, and Agency.
Access means helping vulnerable girls enter school and stay there.
Elevation means helping them build the skills, knowledge, confidence, and opportunities they need to move forward.
And Agency focuses on what’s next. It means giving young women greater ability to make choices and shape their own lives.
Education can open the door to college, vocational training, employment, and greater independence. Our goal is to help girls not only reach that door, but have the support they need to walk through it.
The progress we are seeing is worth celebrating. C2C girls are staying in school, reaching important milestones, and building a stronger foundation for their futures.
They are moving forward, and that is exactly what we want to see.