Shantani Agrawal

Visionary behind India's first affordable education model for rural girls

Shantani Agrawal (b.1975) revolutionized education access in India through her creation of Aangan, a nonprofit that provides low-cost quality education to marginalized girls. Starting in 1998 in rural Rajasthan, her model combines traditional learning with vocational training, successfully raising literacy rates from 32% to 98% in target communities. Agrawal's approach emphasizes community involvement, training local women as teachers and school administrators. The program's unique 'Education for All' model has been replicated in 12 states, impacting over 50,000 girls. Her partnership with organizations like UNICEF and WWF India has expanded services to include environmental education and healthcare programs. Agrawal's TEDx Talk "Building Schools That Build Communities" highlights her philosophy of education as a catalyst for social change. Her work has earned recognition from Echoing Green and Soroptimist International, cementing her as a leader in India's education reform movement.