17-Year-Old Empowers Women in India with Financial Literacy Initiative
A 17-year-old from Dubai is making strides in financial education for women in India through his initiative, The Prosperity Project.
Mumbai, October 22 (Daily Kiran) : Seventeen-year-old Rehan Chaudhary, studying at Nord Anglia International School in Dubai, is dedicated to enhancing financial literacy among women in India. Through his initiative, “The Prosperity Project,” launched in 2025, he has reached 420 individuals in West Bengal and Maharashtra.
The idea for this initiative emerged during discussions with Shampa, who has cared for Rehan since birth. After learning about his family’s experience with financial fraud, Rehan realized that increasing financial awareness could help people protect their savings and make informed financial decisions.
Initially, Rehan’s interest in finance focused on expanding his knowledge. However, it evolved into a practical educational initiative. He developed a ten-module course titled “Knowing Your Money,” which simplifies financial concepts using relatable scenarios and easy-to-understand examples.
“I wanted to make financial education practical and relevant to everyday decisions,” said Rehan, founder of The Prosperity Project. “It’s not just about understanding how money works, but also about asking the right questions, grasping the associated risks, and making informed decisions regarding finances.”
The curriculum covers budgeting, salaries, saving, borrowing, investing, digital payments, recognizing financial fraud, and planning for emergencies. Workshops provide practical guidance on managing household expenses, comparing loan terms, evaluating financial proposals, safeguarding banking information, and understanding the risks associated with various financial products.
The initiative began in Baruipur, West Bengal, with workshops supported by Bandhan-Konnagar and Bandhan Bank. It later expanded to Asansol through Bengal Srishti Infrastructure Development Limited and FEED, and reached Kolhapur, Maharashtra, where 200 women participated in the workshops.
According to data from The Prosperity Project, the initiative has directly engaged 420 participants: 40 through Bandhan-Konnagar, 70 via Bengal Srishti, 110 through FEED, and 200 through Indo Count.
A key aspect of the program is the “Community Resource Person” (CRP) model, designed to sustain the learning process beyond the workshops. Rehan has trained 40 CRPs in collaboration with Bandhan and Bengal Srishti to disseminate educational materials to others. These CRPs are included in the 420 direct participants, while those who learn from them are not counted in that figure. The project also offers instructional videos, study materials in various languages, and a website for participants and trainers to revisit the course content.
Workshops are tailored to the language and context of different groups, conducted in Hindi and English, with local teams providing language support when needed. At Indo Count, local collaboration facilitated Marathi translations.
Assessments are conducted before and after training to evaluate participants’ understanding and identify concepts requiring further clarification. Rehan has developed a supportive system for matching participant responses, calculating assessment scores, and organizing data.
Follow-up assessments will determine how well participants retain information and apply what they learned in their daily lives. A report on the program’s impact is in progress, with detailed findings to be shared separately and published on the project’s website.
The Prosperity Project aims to expand its efforts by collaborating with additional community organizations and employers. The focus will be on tailoring education to local needs, training instructors, and emphasizing ongoing learning after training sessions. The long-term goal is for organizations working with women to utilize these resources, enabling local trainers to continue financial education within their communities and workplaces.
This initiative highlights a crucial aspect of financial inclusion. Access to financial services is just one part of the equation; using these services, assessing associated risks, and making informed financial decisions are equally important. Through workshops and a community-based approach, The Prosperity Project strives to provide women with practical knowledge to better understand their financial options and manage their money effectively.
