Maitrayana runs its programme in schools and communities where girls face gender discrimination, in general in combination with other judgments regarding sex, sexuality, caste, creed, religion, geographical location and/or economic background. The flagship programme is YPI Pragati, a 54 sessions netball and life skills programme led by young female coaches that focuses on girls’ sexual reproductive health, understanding about gender, their rights and gender-based violence and their aspirations for the future. It usually follows the cycle to the academic year. Values that are incorporated in the programme are female leadership, (emotional and physical) safeguarding of children in sport and child participation. It works intensively with parents and other stakeholders in the girls’ lives.

Once girls have graduated from YPI Pragati they can continue playing in the Maitrayana netball clubs and leagues, sessions for older girls and/or the Economic Justice Programme that aims at supporting young women to pursue their career goals through trainings, mentoring and internships in companies or as Community Sports Coaches in Maitrayana itself. Many of our staff members have grown through the system and are now role models who are passionate about empowering their juniors and peers.

Maitrayana has established itself very fast as an organisation with impactful programmes, processes and systems that are fully compliant with the regulations, with strong leadership and governance and in a position to influence in the sector in specific thematic areas such as sport for development, safeguarding children in sport, female leadership and female economic justice.

• Maitrayana is a girls and women’s rights organisation that uses sport as a tool. Sport offers a multitude of leadership roles and Maitrayana has built a unique female leadership pathway that has resulted in the fact that 95% of the sessions are being conducted by young women hence ensuring a safe environment and a high approval rate from girls and their parents.
• As an organisation working on girls and women’s rights, Maitrayana walks the talk. The Maitrayana team currently consists of 27 employees from which 81% is female and 56% is below the age of 25.
• Maitrayana works with parents, communities and other stakeholders to create ecosystems that enable girls and young women to exercise their rights. This is through direct interactions/interventions but – and this is what not many organisations that are using sport as a tool do - also through advocacy.
• Maitrayana has strong systems in place to safeguard girls in sport and works with others in the society to build their capacity and advocate for the same. As member of the Board of UNICEF’s Universal Safeguards of Children in Sport, Maitrayana is an influential partner at the global stage in this regard and on its way to spearhead the same in India.

• Because of the cause:

1. Addressing gender equality is working towards social justice. It is the right thing to do…! Increasing women’s economic participation will contribute to building India as a strong nation. It would amount to a 27% increase in GDP or 770 billion by 2025.
2. Progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 is a prerequisite for improved scores on the other SDGs and would enable India to score better on a variety of human rights and gender gaps indexes.

• Because Maitrayana makes impact on the ground
• Maitrayana has a track record of building assets in more than 140,000 girls and young women that allows them to access their rights and influence/make decisions regarding their lives
• It has systems and processes in place and it is compliant with laws and regulations:

1. With sound financial & institutional systems
2. Recognition as a Great Place To Work
3. It is a learning organisation that institutionalizes best practices

• It has a strong leadership & governance structure and people in place

1. Functioning and gender balanced board
2. Senior leadership with 60 years experience
3. Programme alumni as female role models in staff positions
4. Organisational values and culture imbedded in every aspect

• Maitrayana has influence in the sector through advocacy and knowledge sharing on child safeguarding, female leadership, child participation, female Economic Justice and ecosystem building
• Maitrayana has an ambitious strategic plan 2023 – 2028 to work towards a more gender equal society. In order to be fit for its purpose, it has developed the following goals:

1. GOAL 1: To stablish Maitrayana as a credible girls & women’s rights organisation by implementing a strong strategic workplan
2. GOAL 2: To increase the institutional capacity of Maitrayana to become fit for purpose and financially sustainable by focusing on critical areas to ensure the sustainability of the organisation.                        
3. GOAL 3: Strengthen the implementation of diverse and impactful initiatives that are girl & women centric and responsive to the dynamic context by reviewing and strengthening the quality of existing programmes and responding to emerging trends.                                                           
4. GOAL 4: Build Maitrayana as an inclusive and people centric organisation prioritising the growth of all staff and ensuring self and collective by developing a People & Culture strategy with a focus on organisational culture, learning & professional development, and collective care.
5. GOAL 5: To position Maitrayana as a sector shaper driving forward girls and women’s rights through network building, advocacy and thought leadership and engaging with critical influencers.                        
6. GOAL 6: To evolve Maitrayana as a Learning Organisation that leverages internal insights and local & global trends by establishing and institutionalise a learning culture.    

• Maitrayana is currently waiting for FCRA approval since Maitrayana it started its operations in October 2021 only. Currently it is fully depending on Indian funds. Therefore, a company can make a difference in Maitrayana’s life’s span as CSR funding can lay the foundation for Maitrayana to grow from a ’start-up’ into an organisation that will take up a larger role in India as well as at the global ‘girls and women’s rights stage where sport is used as a tool for achieving development and social justice’.