<p>For <a href="https://www.sps.nyu.edu/explore/degrees-and-programs/ms-in-global-affairs.html">MS in Global Affairs</a> student Marala Baijal, the <a href="https://www.sps.nyu.edu/join/graduate-admissions/graduate-scholarships/cga-fellows-program.html">CGA Fellows Program</a> afforded her a powerful chance to shape her graduate experience around understanding and advancing equitable education for girls in India. Baijal’s fellowship project grew out of six months she spent in Rajasthan, India, where she conducted field research and taught English at Bodh Shiksha Samiti (Bodh), a civil society organization dedicated to expanding educational access.</p> <p>“My research focused on how civil society organizations, specifically Bodh, advance accessibility to equitable education and social mobility for girls in Rajasthan’s rural areas,” explains Baijal. Baijal began integrating empowerment‑focused modules into her English lessons, including “interview preparation, career roleplay, public speaking, financial literacy topics, and women’s rights discussions.”&nbsp;</p> <p>The girls themselves shaped the direction of the project, contributing ideas and helping develop the initiatives reflected in Baijal’s final report. This collaboration inspired a documentary Baijal is producing as part of her fellowship, capturing “the empowerment stories of our team members and how Asha Beauty came to be.”</p> <p>During Baijal’s fellowship experience, she met with international teammates during an SPS x University of Monterrey event, forming what she calls the “Asha Beauty Global Team.” The company seeks to create high‑quality makeup products that emphasize cultural storytelling and support girls’ education. “Once the makeup products hit the market, a percentage of sales will be reinvested back into the girls’ education funds in India and Mexico,” Baijal shares. The team is also building skills for future philanthropic initiatives centered on women in Jaipur and Monterrey.</p>

<p>“Overall, the empowering environment and diverse projects of my peers is incredibly motivating.” She emphasizes that the experience has taught her how to “build ethical and sustainable financial frameworks,” manage complex responsibilities, and collaborate across global contexts.&nbsp;</p> <p>“I urge my peers to apply [to the CGA Fellows Program],” she adds, “as it is an incredibly empowering initiative that truly allows the student to explore how their combined academic and career interests can become a creative project.”</p>