On Giving Tuesday, our community comes together to give generously and to stand for girls who are too often unseen, unprotected, and undervalued. One of those girls is Nandini* — a little girl whose life changed because people chose to act.

This is her story.

A Childhood Shaped by Discrimination

From the moment Nandini was born, she was not welcomed as every child should be. Her birth was met with anger instead of joy, simply because she was a girl. As she grew, the environment around her became increasingly hostile. She was excluded, dismissed, and treated as though her life did not hold value.

Her mother, Meena, knew this feeling all too well. Born with a physical disability, Meena had spent her own life being made to feel invisible and unworthy. Still, she carried a fierce love for her daughter and a deep desire to protect her, even when her physical limitations and circumstances made that nearly impossible.

For years, Meena and Nandini lived under control and abuse, trapped in a situation that continually threatened Nandini’s safety and stole her childhood.

The Moment Everything Changed

At the end of 2024, when Nandini was just nine years old, the situation reached a critical point. Her grandparents attempted to sell her to a man seeking to purchase a girl child. When Meena tried to intervene, she was beaten so severely that she nearly lost her life.

A neighbor who had witnessed the ongoing abuse could no longer remain silent. She helped Meena escape and alerted a local social worker, who immediately recognized the gravity of the situation and contacted our local partner working alongside Invisible Girl Project.

That phone call saved Nandini’s life.

Because of the generosity of previous Giving Tuesday supporters, we had the resources and infrastructure in place to respond swiftly. Together with our partners, we stepped in to rescue Nandini, secure legal protection, and provide Meena with much-needed counseling and support.

Nandini was brought into safety and care, where she began to receive consistent education, healthcare, nutrition, and the protection every child deserves.

One Year Later

Today, Nandini is ten years old, and her life looks completely different.

She is thriving in school. She is growing in confidence. She is beginning to see herself as capable, valuable, and worthy of love. In just one year, her story has shifted from fear and instability to hope and possibility.

This transformation did not happen by chance. It happened because people chose to give, to show up, and to stand for a girl they may never meet but whose life mattered deeply.

Why Your Giving Matters

Nandini’s story is not an isolated one. There are many girls across India still living in situations marked by danger, discrimination, and neglect. The work of rescue, care, and prevention remains urgent.

Your generosity on Giving Tuesday ensures that when the next call comes, we are ready — with trained partners, safe shelters, counseling services, and the ability to act immediately.

You will help change the direction of a child’s life and restore her dignity and hope.

And because of you, more girls will grow up safe, seen, and supported.

Thank You for Standing With Her

Nandini’s life is a testament to the power of compassion in action. Her future is brighter because of you. And as she continues to heal, learn, and grow, she carries with her the knowledge that she is valued — not despite being a girl, but fully because she is one.

From all of us at Invisible Girl Project, thank you for standing with Nandini and with every girl who still needs someone to fight for her.

*Name changed to protect identity.