Chuppi Todoh: A Shiv Nadar School Student’s Mission to Break Barriers and Drive Change

Shiv Nadar School is a vibrant learning ecosystem that lives its vision and values in practice every day. Our agile and adaptive learning community believes in evolving with the changing times. We nurture students to think critically, act compassionately, and drive meaningful change.

For Priyanshi Bagga, a Grade 12 IBDP student, this ethos became the foundation for a transformative journey. Through her project Chuppi Todoh, she hasn’t just learned about leadership and social responsibility—she is actively implementing her learnings to make a difference.

The Catalyst for Change
It all started when Priyanshi came across a staggering statistic: One in five young women drop out of school upon reaching menstruation due to inadequate infrastructure. For her, this wasn’t just a number—it was a call to action. Determined to address this issue, she founded Chuppi Todoh (Break the Silence), an initiative focused on menstrual hygiene and education.

What began as a series of observations and conversations quickly grew into a movement. Teachers and school staff shared distressing stories of girls in rural areas forced to miss school or drop out entirely due to menstruation-related challenges. These stories fueled her determination to create tangible solutions, combining her academic insights and an innate drive for justice.

The Role of the IB in Shaping a Leader
The IBDP program at Shiv Nadar School encourages students to apply learning to real-world challenges. Her endeavour became the perfect platform to bridge the gap between academic rigour and community impact. She learned to research, collaborate, and innovate—skills that became the backbone of the initiative.

Her initial efforts involved installing sanitary pad vending machines in schools and hosting workshops on menstrual hygiene. However, her approach went beyond providing resources. She sought to challenge deep-rooted taboos, fostering open conversations about menstruation and empowering girls to stay in school.

From Classroom to Community
Through the project, she and her team have distributed over 300,000 sanitary pads to 10,000 girls and established pad vending machines in multiple schools. Yet the project’s impact extends far beyond these numbers. By connecting self-help groups of rural women to government loan schemes, she has created a sustainable ecosystem where women can support each other, achieve financial independence, and challenge societal norms.

Workshops under the initiative address more than hygiene. They emphasise gender-sensitive infrastructure, the importance of education, and economic empowerment, fostering a ripple effect. This holistic approach reflects the interdisciplinary mindset encouraged by the IB program.

The Challenges and Triumphs
She has had her fair share of obstacles, particularly with funding. Early attempts at crowdfunding fell short, but the problem-solving skills honed through her IB experience helped her adapt. She pursued grants and partnerships that believed in her cause, eventually raising over ₹5 lakhs to expand Chuppi Todoh.

Recognition soon followed. She was honoured with the UN GirlUP Project Award and became a finalist in the Taco Bell Ambition Accelerator, co-hosted by Ashoka University. Yet, despite these accolades, her focus remains on the work itself—empowering girls, building communities, and breaking the silence into action.

Education Beyond Academics
The IBDP’s emphasis on reflection and self-awareness has been pivotal for Priyanshi. Balancing her project and her academic responsibilities has taught her the importance of teamwork, time management, and resilience. Her future plans include integrating her university education with Chuppi Todoh to deepen its impact.

For her, education is more than a pathway to personal success—it’s a tool for societal transformation. This initiative exemplifies how the Shiv Nadar School shapes students into changemakers, encouraging them to blend knowledge with purpose and impact the world in meaningful ways. Her journey proves that even one person can ignite a movement that touches countless lives.

Shiv Nadar School is building a generation of knowledgeable and socially conscious global citizens, supporting a more just and equitable society through cultivating understanding, stimulating involvement with contemporary concerns, and instilling responsibility.

Dec 17, 2024 by Shiv Nadar School