Soumya Dabriwal is a pivotal figure in the Generation17 initiative, a collaboration between Samsung and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) aimed at empowering youth to contribute towards achieving the Global Goals.
Since its inception in 2020, Generation17 has provided Young Leaders globally with Samsung Galaxy technology, mentorship, and networking opportunities to enhance their visibility and the reach of their solutions.
Soumya, at the age of 21, was volunteering as a math teacher in rural areas of India and Ghana when she noticed a significant gender disparity in school attendance. Girls were notably absent more often than boys, a discrepancy that puzzled her until she discovered the lack of basic sanitation facilities was forcing girls to miss school during menstruation.
Innovation in Menstrual Hygiene Management
In response, Soumya co-founded Project Baala in 2017, a social enterprise addressing menstrual hygiene and reproductive health using innovative solutions. Project Baala aligns with the United Nations Global Goals, specifically targeting quality education (Goal 4), good health and well-being (Goal 3), gender equality (Goal 5), and economic growth (Goal 8).
- Community workshops form the core of Baala’s strategy, promoting education and open dialogue to dismantle entrenched taboos.
- Soumya developed a prototype of cost-effective, sustainable menstrual products, which have now reached millions of girls globally.
- The enterprise trained local women as ‘Baala Bosses’, empowering them to provide health education and distribute hygiene products, thereby generating income and fostering leadership.
Technological integration has been instrumental in scaling Baala’s impact. Social media facilitates outreach, online training enhances the capabilities of Baala Bosses, and digital data collection enables impact measurement and program improvement.
Quantitative Impact and Growth Trajectory
Over an eight-year period, Project Baala has trained over 4,500 Baala Bosses and reached 1.8 million women and girls. The project has engaged more than 10,000 men to further dismantle women’s health stigmas and distributed 5.1 million reusable menstrual products through over 260 partnerships with grassroots organizations.
Baala faces and overcomes challenges, from initial credibility issues of a young female founder to navigating cultural taboos, reinforcing Soumya’s conviction that sustainable change originates within communities.
Strategic Vision for the Future
Looking forward, Soumya, now 30, aims to expand Baala’s reach to 10 million women and girls by 2030, leveraging product innovation and technology-driven solutions.
The Baala Action Lab, an online platform created in collaboration with universities, aims to advance global women’s health by integrating academic research with practical insights for informed policy-making and investment in women’s health.
Soumya envisions her ultimate success as the day when Baala’s initiatives become unnecessary, indicating that women and girls globally have access to the knowledge, opportunities, and support essential for their independence and growth.