Kallo is 19 years old and lives in a small village in rural Bengal, surrounded by the forests of Corbett National Park. She belongs to the Boksi tribe, and for most of her life, her world has been very small.
“Our village has no education facilities, no medical services, no markets, no transport,” Kallo explains. “I have spent all my 19 years like this.”
Even her name carries weight.
“My name is Kallo, which means black,” she says. “When people call me by my name, I sometimes feel defined by it.”
Everything changed when Kallo was invited to attend the SHINE Women’s Empowerment Conference for the first time. It was her first journey to a city, and her first time leaving the forests she had always known.
“At SHINE, I saw a different world,” Kallo says. “I saw women who were confident, educated, and achieving great things. I realised there is a world beyond my village.”
One moment stayed with her. When speakers at the conference spoke about the beauty and value of a woman’s existence, something shifted inside her.
“I understood that my life has value,” “…….That even though my name means black, I am special.”
For Kallo, SHINE was not just a conference — it was an awakening. It planted a belief she had never been encouraged to hold before: that her future could be different.
Her story reflects the heart of SHINE and the spirit of International Women’s Day — creating spaces where young women can imagine more for themselves and begin to believe they belong in a bigger world.
Kallo hopes to attend SHINE again.
“I want to come again and again,” she says, smiling. “I am very thankful for this opportunity.”
When one young woman begins to believe in herself, the future opens — not just for her, but for generations to come.
Please help us to make SHINE happen for women like Kallo.
How you can help
Sponsor a woman to attend SHINE
A gift of $15 AUD sponsors one woman to attend the SHINE Women’s Empowerment Conference — often her first experience of being encouraged, valued, and heard.Provide financial support
Donations help cover conference costs including materials, meals, transport, and ongoing support for women from rural and marginalised communities.Partner with us
We welcome partnerships with individuals, organisations, and businesses who share our commitment to women’s empowerment, education, and equality.Become a corporate sponsor for SHINE
We are currently seeking a corporate sponsor aligned with International Women’s Day, offering meaningful social impact and alignment with real, grassroots change.Share Kallo’s story
By sharing this blog, you help amplify the voices of young women who are discovering that their world can be bigger.