SURREY, Canada — In the barren landscape of the Thar Desert in India lies a unique structure that empowers the next generation of women. In a region with high rates of poverty, especially among women and girls, the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School offers young girls the chance to escape poverty and gain more independence.
About the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School
Opened in November 2021, this school in Rajasthan, India, is part of the GYAAN Center, a three-part education initiative started by the nonprofit organization CITTA to help empower women and girls in India. The school teaches girls living below the poverty line essential literacy skills while allowing them to embrace their culture and learn traditional skills uniquely suited for this region. There are classrooms, a computer lab and a library, as well as school lunches and a bus program to transport students from nearby areas to and from school. Enrollment has begun with 140 girls from classes one to four, though the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School is expected to grow to 400 students up to class 10.
Designed to Stay Cool in the Desert
One reason this school stands out is the unique design that helps keep it cool in the middle of the desert. Architect Diana Kellogg built the school in Rajasthan from locally sourced sandstone walls. The material and the grid-like pattern of the walls allow cool air to flow in. Lime plaster also lines the inner walls, providing natural cooling properties and releasing excess moisture to decrease the humidity in the building. The shape of the school also functions to keep the building cool. The oval shape, combined with the outer wall being angled toward the wind, creates a corkscrew effect that circulates air around the building. The shape also symbolizes embracing femininity.
The design allows this school to stay up to 7 degrees Celsius cooler in a region that can reach almost 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). These natural cooling methods work so effectively that the building uses no air conditioning. The school reduces its carbon footprint not only by using historic cooling methods over modern air conditioning but also by using solar energy to power the building.
Educating and Empowering Girls in Rajasthan
The Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School plays a crucial role in improving gender equality in Rajasthan. Of the 69 million people who live in Rajasthan, 10 million live below the poverty line. Gender inequality contributes to this high prevalence of poverty. The 2011 census reported that Rajasthan had the worst female literacy rate in India, at 52% compared to a male literacy rate of 79%. Women in Rajasthan are generally expected to stay at home, do the domestic work and raise children instead of going to school and having careers. Families force about 32% of girls into child marriage and motherhood before they turn 18, preventing them from getting an education.
Without proper education, women and girls are unable to obtain stable employment. Most employment that women in Rajasthan get is informal, meaning they often face job insecurity and low wages. The goal of the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School is to provide girls with the knowledge they need to obtain stable careers and escape the cycle of poverty.
Rising Female Literacy
Schools like this one have already contributed to improving the lives of girls in Rajasthan. Female literacy has continued to rise since the 2011 census, though the state has not conducted a full census since, so more recent figures remain estimates. Educating girls not only improves their future prospects but their confidence as well. Kellogg noticed that many girls at the school have gone from being “quite shy” to “bright lights” eager to learn.
The Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School has become a symbol of hope and perseverance for girls living in Rajasthan. This school provides girls with the knowledge and skills needed to gain financial stability. Natural cooling techniques allow students and faculty to stay cool in the scorching desert without relying on power-intensive air conditioning. Empowering and educating women and girls fosters more brilliant minds that can benefit the economy.
– Lily Alexander
Lily is based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr