MUMBAI (India CSR): In a pioneering step towards bridging the gender gap in education in India, Educate Girls, a leading non-profit organisation, announced its listing on the Social Stock Exchange (SSE) of the National Stock Exchange (NSE).
A Historic Event
The event, marked by a bell-ringing ceremony, distinguished Educate Girls as the first organisation dedicated to girls’ education to be listed on the SSE. Among the first 10 NGOs listed on this innovative platform, Educate Girls joined the ranks of SGBS Unnati Foundation, Ekalavya Foundation, and Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, all embracing the SSE to further their missions.
Innovative Funding for a Crucial Cause
Preceding the listing was the successful issue of Educate Girls’ Zero-Coupon Zero-Principal (ZCZP) bonds. These bonds aimed to raise funds to mobilise over 7,000 marginalised children for enrolment, retention, and enhance learning outcomes in foundational literacy and numeracy in some of the most remote, rural, and educationally backward villages of Bahraich district, in northeastern Uttar Pradesh at the Indo-Nepal border.
Supporters and Participants
The bell-ringing ceremony witnessed the participation of notable supporters of girls’ education, including EdelGive Foundation, Zerodha, and A.T.E. Chandra Foundation.
Leadership Statements
“A listing on the Social Stock Exchange is a significant milestone, not just for Educate Girls, but for every girl fighting for her right to education,” said Safeena Husain, Founder and Board Member of Educate Girls. “With the SSE listing, we are setting a precedent that opens many doors for focused investments towards creating gender equality in education. We are immensely proud to be at the heart of carving out the path towards an equitable future.”
Maharshi Vaishnav, CEO of Educate Girls, added, “The SSE initiative is an innovative financial avenue endorsed by the Honourable Finance Minister, aimed at connecting social enterprises with impact investors. We are excited to be one of the first 10 NGOs to be listed in this initiative, which unlocks new possibilities for nation building. The introduction of Educate Girls into this network reflects a maturing ecosystem that values social returns on investment, setting a benchmark for future listings.”
A Call to Action
As Educate Girls continues to champion the cause of accessible education for all girls, this listing on the SSE is a call to action for investors and policymakers to view education through a lens of sustainability and social impact. The success of this initiative is a testament to what can be achieved when innovation is harnessed to serve humanity’s most pressing needs.
| Event | Educate Girls listed on the Social Stock Exchange (SSE) |
| Date | May 15, 2024 |
| Location | Mumbai, India |
| Host | National Stock Exchange (NSE) |
| NSE Leadership | Ashishkumar Chauhan, Managing Director & CEO |
| NSE Representative | Dr. Harish Ahuja, Head, Sustainability, Products & Strategy Development |
| Notable Attendees | Gayatri Nair Lobo, CEO, A.T.E. Chandra Foundation |
| Supporters | EdelGive Foundation, Zerodha, A.T.E. Chandra Foundation |
| Listing Significance | First organisation dedicated to girls’ education on SSE |
| NGOs Listed Alongside | SGBS Unnati Foundation, Ekalavya Foundation, Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement |
| Innovative Funding | Zero-Coupon Zero-Principal (ZCZP) bonds |
| Fundraising Goal | Mobilise over 7,000 marginalised children for education |
| Target Area | Remote, rural, and educationally backward villages of Bahraich district, Uttar Pradesh |
| Founder’s Statement | Safeena Husain: Listing sets a precedent for gender equality in education |
| CEO’s Statement | Maharshi Vaishnav: Reflects a maturing ecosystem valuing social returns on investment |
