The program works with women aged 21–35 in Bihar who have completed Class 12 and have been active in rural communities for at least two years, equipping them to advocate for constitutional values and drive change locall

What Makes Roshni Different

• Constitutional Knowledge: Participants build a solid understanding of constitutional rights and responsibilities, enabling them to advocate effectively in their communities.
• Advocacy and Leadership Skills: Participants develop practical skills in leadership, advocacy, and community organizing to influence local governance and civic initiatives.
• Social Action Projects: Each participant designs and implements a project addressing a specific community need, fostering local engagement and support.
• Awareness of Key Issues: The program centers critical issues including gender equality, caste discrimination, and sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR).
• Behavioural Change: Participants work to shift attitudes around gender discrimination and social inequality, contributing to more equitable communities.

Together, these features strengthen young women's leadership and constitutional knowledge while equipping them to lead impactful social action in their own communities — building local advocates for constitutional principles and grassroots change.

Inside the program: From Classroom to Community

CREA held a series of residential trainings to build participants' knowledge across gender, rights, governance, and community leadership — covering the social construction of gender, diversity in gender identities, power dynamics in communities, gender-based violence (GBV), SRHR, and the application of constitutional rights within Bihar's governance framework. Participants also conducted community needs assessments to inform the design of their social action projects.

CREA organized monthly learning sessions for community leaders, supported by knowledge resources and training manuals offering practical tools to refine their projects.

Meet the Changemakers

CREA worked with 12 community leaders through the Roshni program:

• Nisha Kumari Gupta (21), Janipur, Patna — holds a Bachelor's in Political Science. Working with Eva Foundation since 2022, she actively works on feminist leadership through Gaurav Gramin Mahila Vikas Manch. Nisha also trained at CREA's SELF Academy in 2016 and has prior experience with Love Matters (2020–2022) and Mobikaar.
• Roshni Perween (26), Kishanganj — holds a B.A. and M.A. in Social Work. With 7 years of experience on early child marriage issues, including stints at Child Line (3 years) and Save the Children (2.6 years), she was recognized at the World UA Summit in Geneva in 2023.
• Anchal Kumari (27), Samastipur — holds a postgraduate degree. She brings 5 years of community work experience with Quest Alliance, C3 Organization, and Nirantar.
• Sufi Pervez (20), Patna  — holds a B.Com. She has 5 years of experience contributing to community projects across various organizations.
• Anupriya Singh (34), Kankarbagh, Patna — a transwoman with a B.A., working with Dostana Safar on transgender community rights and health. She has trained on gender, early child marriage, sexuality, and transgender issues, and has represented the transgender community at government events.
• Aiman Fatima (31), Patliputra — holds an M.A. in Clinical Psychology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Guidance and Counseling from Jamia Millia Islamia. A social worker and mental health counselor focused on structurally excluded women and girls, she has worked with Aashray Abhiyaan and completed the LedBy Accelerator Program (2023).
• Deepa Paswan (26), Gopalpur, Lakhisarai — holds a B.Sc. She brings 2 years of full-time professional experience alongside long-standing community involvement.
• Mridula Kumari (25), Mansurpur, Muzaffarpur — holds a B.A. and works as a community mobilizer with Akanksha Sewa Sadan. She is also a CREA SELF Academy alumna.
• Jahanara Khatoon (24), Shahpur, Rohtas — holds a B.A. and worked as a digital trainer with Nirantar Trust (2021–2023), training women on digital literacy.
• Shabana Khatoon (30), Phulwari Sharif, Patna — holds a Master's in Rural Development. She brings 9 years of experience with the Aga Khan Foundation and Gramin Vikas Samiti, working across education, health, and women's empowerment.
• Kumari Bharti (36), Vaishali — holds a B.A. She has worked with Mahila Samakhya and Izad on initiatives including enrolling out-of-school girls and leading public awareness campaigns against violence and discrimination. In 2024, she led a menstrual hygiene awareness program.
• Mausam Kumari (23), Rajauli — holds a Master's in Sociology. She mentors with UNFPA and volunteers with Love Matters India, Jivika Foundation, and the Population Foundation of India.