Bengaluru, Aug 19: Aahwahan Foundation, in collaboration with Steelcase, through its Project Udaan, distributed bicycles to schoolgirls at Karnataka Public School, 2nd Floor, 6/1, MN Krishna Rao Road, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka - 560004, to support them in continuing their education. The initiative aims to help girls over 3 manash.gohain@timesgroup.com come challenges related to long distances and limited transportation facilities, making their journey to school easier and more accessible. Under the Project Udaan initiative, Aahwahan Foundation has distributed 5,986 bicycles to date. At Karnataka Public School, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Aahwahan Foundation has distributed 100 bicycles so far. Project Udaan is an ongoing and continuous initiative. Going forward, Aahwahan Foundation plans to extend the initiative to other government schools across Bengaluru, Karnataka, and other cities across India, with the aim of helping more girls overcome transportation barriers and continue their education. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Braja Kishore Pradhan, CEO & Founder of Aahwahan Foundation, said,“Every girl deserves the opportunity to pursue her education without having distance or lack of transportation stand in her way. Through Project Udaan, we want to give girls not just bicycles, but confidence, independence, and the freedom to dream bigger. We are grateful to Steelcase for supporting this effort and helping us create meaningful opportunities for girls”.
For many girls in underserved communities, long journeys to school, limited transportation options, and financial constraints can make continuing education difficult. By providing bicycles, Project Udaan seeks to make daily travel to school easier while helping girls save time and transportation costs. The bicycle distribution reflects the initiative’s commitment to making education more accessible. Each bicycle is intended to serve as a practical solution to mobility challenges while also representing freedom, dignity, confidence, and opportunity for the girls who receive it.
Mr. Rohit Sharma, Associate Director - Sales, South Region, Steelcase, said, “We are committed to advancing women’s empowerment and creating opportunities for girls to continue their education. We recognize that travel and transportation barriers can often prevent girls from reaching school and pursuing their studies. Supporting Project Udaan is an important step for us toward helping girls overcome these challenges and build a more confident, independent future.”
Project Udaan is built on the belief that a girl should not have to discontinue her education simply because her school is too far from home. Improved mobility can help girls attend school more regularly, remain connected to their education, and pursue their academic aspirations with greater confidence. The initiative also seeks to encourage families and communities to recognize the importance of girls’ education. When girls are supported in completing their education, they are better positioned to develop skills, pursue economic opportunities, become self-reliant, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
The collaboration between Aahwahan Foundation and Steelcase demonstrates the potential of responsible CSR partnerships to address practical barriers to education while contributing to broader goals of girl child empowerment, gender equality, community development, and inclusive growth. Through Project Udaan, Aahwahan Foundation remains committed to creating pathways that enable girls to move toward a brighter and more independent future. Because every bicycle can be more than a means of transport- it can be a bridge to education, opportunity, and the freedom to pursue one’s dreams.