Bhubaneswar - USA-based internationally acclaimed author, media entrepreneur and CEO of the World Woman Foundation (WWF) Rupa Dash, recently conducted a series of workshops on Financial Independence of Girls at selected schools in Odisha.The initiative is part of World Woman Foundation’s Grand Mission to ensure financial freedom and ownership for 80 million teen girls of India as the Nation celebrates 80 years of Independence.The schools witnessed engaging discussions on demystifying money, making financial concepts accessible to teenagers and equipping young girls with practical skills to achieve financial independence. Entitled "KEEP IT. GROW IT”, the one-hour long interactive sessions for students of Classes IX and X emphasized on the importance of saving and investing the small amounts of money girls often receive as gifts, pocket money, scholarships and rewards. Global head of WWF’s Youth wing and Founder cum Creative Director of Keep it Grow it initiative Aayati Dash Kar was the Co-Conductor of the Workshops.
Drawing on the power of compound growth, the workshops demonstrated how even modest savings, when invested consistently over a time, can grow into substantial financial assets. Students also explored about how financial confidence can lead to better educational opportunities, perfect career choices, Productive entrepreneurship and long-term economic security.
Conducting the Workshop Aayati Dash Kar, inspired students through interactive activities, relatable real-life examples and engaging discussions to view saving, investing and financial planning as essential life skills. As a young entrepreneur and creative leader, she encouraged girls to develop the confidence and discipline needed to become financially independent and future-ready leaders. Highlighting the importance of financial literacy, Ms Kar noted that India's household savings remain one of the country's greatest economic strengths, contributing nearly 30% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). With more than 250 million adolescent girls in India, cultivating saving and investing habits from an early age has the potential to unlock billions of rupees in future household wealth, strengthen domestic investment, reduce financial vulnerability and accelerate India's journey toward becoming a developed economy by 2047. She emphasized that saving even ₹20–₹50 a week can instill lifelong financial discipline and help build a generation of financially resilient women.
The workshops received an enthusiastic response from students, teachers and school management authorities. Around 600 girls participated in the interactive sessions across Two schools in Odisha like Delhi Public School, Dhenkanal and Venkateswara English Medium School in Chandrasekharpur of Bhubaneswar.
At Delhi Public School, Dhenkanal, Principal Subrahmanya Kumar Sripada, Administrator Manas Sahu and Academic Co-ordinator Omina Rajhans hosted the event. At Venkateswara English Medium School in Chandrasekharpur of Bhubaneswar Rupa Dash and Aayati Dash Kar were accorded a warm welcome by school authorities.The workshop here was held under the supervision of Chairman of School Management Committee Dr Surya Prakash Pati, Co- Chairman, Jashaswinee Mohapatra, Principal G Rama kishore,Vice Principal Mahesh Kumar Mishra and teachers like Minati Rath,Kalpana Sahoo, Binita Dash, S.S. Mohapatra,Girija Meher, Anupama Hota, Swati Mishra and Srimanta Barik.
