Documentary on girls’ education campaign in rural India wins UN SDG award

Mothers of Courage, a documentary chronicling a women-led grassroots movement for girls’ education across rural India, has won the 2026 UN SDG Action Award in the Creativity category, bringing global recognition to a community-driven initiative that has mobilised more than 1.19 million citizens of rural India. The award was presented at the Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony, held in Rome on 29 October, 2026. Mothers of Courage was selected from more than 7,000 applications representing 190 countries and territories.

Part of Shikshagraha, a national movement to strengthen public education championed by Infosys Co-founder and former CEO S. D. Shibulal, the documentary tells the stories of women challenging deeply entrenched social norms that often prevent girls from continuing their education.

While some mothers are advocating for their daughters to remain in school, others are defying convention to support their daughters-in-law in returning to education. S. D.