Celebrating International Women’s Day 2026: Journeys of Courage, Confidence and Community Change When Girls Step Forward

Today is International Women’s Day. It’s a moment to celebrate the strength, resilience and courage that women and girls bring to communities around the world.

We would like to take this moment to share an inspiring story from Kapadwanj Kelavani Mandal (KKM), one of the Foundation’s TT4Change project partners in India. Through its dedicated project “Smash Barriers”, KKM is creating new opportunities for girls to step forward, build confidence, and inspire change within their communities.

This story is not only about sport. It is about families learning to trust, communities embracing new possibilities, and girls discovering their strength. The transformation following this story continues to influence more girls and families to believe in gender equality and a future where everyone can grow together.

A Community Begins to Believe

Saraswati, Roshni, and Falguni are participants in KKM’s table tennis programme in Kapadvanj. For them, the journey began simply by joining local training sessions. But in August 2025, the three girls stepped onto a stage far bigger than they had ever imagined.

With the encouragement of their mothers, families, and the KKM team, they participated in the Zonal Level SGFI Table Tennis Tournament. Competing with determination and pride, they achieved remarkable success and earned the opportunity to represent Bhavnagar at the State Level Tournament in Gujarat.

When they returned home, their community welcomed them with celebration and joy. In a powerful moment of recognition, male family members placed wreaths around their necks and everyone was happily immersed in the shared pride.

For the three girls, the experience was filled with firsts: travelling outside their district without family members, staying overnight, and competing in a high-level sports environment. Throughout the journey, KKM staff accompanied them, offering technical, emotional, and logistical support.

Yet their journey represented something far deeper than participation in a tournament. It was about breaking conservative expectations, building trust within families, and proving that when girls are supported, they can achieve remarkable things.

Changing Mindsets Through Sport

The girls come from a region where opportunities for girls in sport have traditionally been limited. Today, however, they are travelling across districts, competing at the state level, and bringing pride back to their communities. Their achievements have sparked conversations among families and community members about encouraging more girls to pursue sports and education.

Trust within families has grown significantly since KKM introduced the programme. Parents now feel confident sending their daughters to competitions in different districts of Gujarat. Even when parents cannot accompany them, girls and boys travel together with programme fellows with trust and support.

Social dynamics are evolving as well. Boys in the community now show supportive and respectful behaviour towards girls, whether during local training sessions or when welcoming visiting players from other districts. Girls and boys train and compete side by side.

The shift is visible beyond the sports field. Women and men now sit together during community meetings, something that had not happened before. Through the simple act of playing together, table tennis is quietly reshaping social norms.

Beyond the Tournaments

The girls’ participation in the SGFI tournaments marked milestones, but the deeper transformation lies somewhere more profound. Participants in the programme are beginning to dream bigger, not only in sport but also in education and life. The true impact lies in the life skills they are developing, the confidence they are gaining, and the mindset changes happening within families and communities.

Their journey has proved that when girls are given opportunities and encouragement, they do not only transform their own futures, but they help transform their communities as well.

As we mark International Women’s Day 2026, these stories remind us that when women and girls step forward with confidence, supported by their communities, they redefine what is possible.

Stories of Courage: The Girls Behind the Journey

Behind the community transformation are the personal journeys of three remarkable girls:

Saraswati Bhil, 16, studies at C.N. Vidyalay Kapadvanj. When she joined KKM’s programme a year and a half ago, she had never played a racket sport before.

At first, she found the game boring and doubted whether she would continue. But with regular practice and guidance, she began to understand the concentration, fitness, and mental strength it requires, and her interest grew.

During an inter-community mixed-gender tournament organised by KKM, Saraswati began taking the game more seriously. When encouraged to participate in the SGFI tournament for exposure, she won outstandingly at the district level and qualified for the state competition.

Her first tournament experience was emotionally challenging. She felt nervous and unsure. Staying overnight and interacting with girls from other communities helped her realise they were just like her. As friendships formed, her confidence grew.

Although losing some matches, she describes those moments as important lessons. She observed her opponents, learned new techniques, and understood that self-doubt holds one back more than defeat ever could.

In the KKM programme, playing in a mixed-gender environment helped her understand mutual respect and equality. Today, she supports younger children like her in the past in learning table tennis and building confidence.

“I can play. I can move forward,” she believes. And now she helps others believe the same.

Roshni Bhil, 15, has been part of the program since its beginning. She has represented her school and community at the state level twice. When she first joined KKM’s programme, she did not even know table tennis was a structured sport. She simply wanted to try something new. Her turning point came when she scored her first point, which brought pure joy that sparked her commitment.

Her early competitions were filled with nervousness. Her hands shook during her first match. She realised quickly that mental focus is just as important as physical skill. But each setback became a lesson.

Over time, she learned to manage her emotions, communicate clearly, and speak up during reflection sessions. She began sharing observations and expressing appreciation for others. When she realised she would not be judged, her confidence flourished.

At home, change was happening too. Although her grandmother was strict, her parents supported her and advocated for her right to play. Jyotsnaben, her mother, became more actively involved in meetings and began speaking openly about her daughter’s growth and future.

Through table tennis programme, Roshni and her family have found their voice and a new version of themselves.

Falguni Bhil, 16, has represented her district and state in tournaments twice. A defining moment for her came during a visit to Ahmedabad and Vadodara to watch professional WTT tournaments. Seeing girls from different countries compete on a big stage changed her perspective. For the first time, she believed she could one day reach that level too.

Her early matches were challenging. Thoughts about family arguments and her father’s initial resistance distracted her during play. Losing made her anxious about community reactions. But she remained proud of reaching the state level and promised herself she would improve.

Gradually, her father began to trust her journey. One of her happiest moments was when her parents watched her match via video call. That small act of support strengthened her determination.

Sport has transformed her behaviour as well. She now speaks respectfully, helps younger children, and takes responsibility in her family and community. She has learned that consistent effort leads to growth in sport and in life.

The journeys of Saraswati, Roshni, and Falguni have already inspired other girls in their community. One example is Jiya Bhil, a 14-year-old girl who qualified for the Khel Mahakumbh and reached the Gujarat State Level Tournament for the first time. And more stories like this are happening in the community.

The transformation in Kapadvanj is still unfolding. As more girls gain confidence and families embrace new opportunities, the ripple effects continue to grow.

Stay tuned for more TT4Change stories of impact and inspiring journeys from across the ITTF Foundation’s programmes by subscribing to our newsletter and following us on social media.