Maarga was established in 1999 and has worked in the urban slums of Karnataka for the past 9 years to promote the education of children, especially first generation, from deprived dalit and Muslim families. The grant will help them expand their work from 40 to 80 girls enabling them to pursue higher education through daily after-school sessions, football coaching, social education workshops, art and craft workshops and exposure visits. It will also help make mothers more aware of the benefits of supporting the educational and professional growth of their daughters.