The program works on the principle of
Teaching football to the girls and
drawing them out of their homes
Akhand Jyoti USA aligns with Akhand Jyoti’s women empowerment program and supports the ‘Football to Eyeball’ Girls’ Education initiative, a unique program that combines education, development, and empowerment through football.
Since 2009, the program has used the power of sport to break gender barriers and engage rural girls with limited opportunities. Football serves as a gateway to challenge social norms, build confidence, and foster trust within communities, paving the way for a brighter, more inclusive future for these girls.
While some girls go on to play professionally, proudly representing Bihar at state and national tournaments. Others use the sport as a stepping stone to build the confidence needed to pursue careers in fields like optometry, where they are being trained to fight curable blindness in rural India.
Awakening Rural Girls By The Football to Eyeball Way
Football used to challenge patrichal values
Education and skill development of girls
Awakened girls lead to change in mindsets
Our girls inspire other women to act as changes agents
Girls are empowered to lead blindness eradication efforts
This Program Involves
Shaping careers with economic empowerment
A qualified optometrist can choose to practice at Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital or explore other opportunities. With earnings exceeding 20 times the average rural household income, she creates meaningful economic opportunities for her family while advancing gender equality in her community.
Addressing gender inequalities at their root
This program plays a crucial role in addressing the exploitation of rural girls and women, breaking the cycle of harmful practices such as child marriage and domestic violence, while paving the way for their empowerment.
Paving pathways to a brighter future
Girls are given free boarding, education, vocational training and an opportunity to gain a formal academic qualification as an optometrist. They are later offered employment within Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital.
Achieving National Recognition Through Football
Some girls have excelled to the point of qualifying for the Bihar state football teams at the national level. A girl selected for the national team by the age of 17 is entitled to a government job.
Developing Role Models for Social Change
The primary goal of the program is to develop girls into role models who inspire and lead by example. By becoming social change agents, these girls spark social change, motivating other rural girls in their communities and leading to a broader social impact.
Empowering young girls from challenged backgrounds
Girls, typically from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, are inducted into the program at ages 10 to 12. This early intervention lays the foundation for their empowerment and future success.
Our Impact
Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital's impact over the last 16 years
It takes
$1,181 USD per Girl per year for a period of 5 years
To transform her into a qualified optometrist.
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Eye Health
We will always be dedicated to restoring sight for underprivileged, visually impaired patients.
Women Empowerment
We will always work to support rural underprivileged girls and women and help them get equal opportunities.
Targeted Rural Interventions
We will continue to work only in low-income geographies to support the most deprived people.
