Overview
Mothers of Courage, a documentary produced by Butterfly Effect Media that records women leading a grassroots movement for girls’ education in Bihar, has been selected as a finalist in the Creativity category of the 2026 Heroes of Tomorrow: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Action Awards. The awards ceremony will take place in Rome on 29 October 2026.
Impact and Reach
The film showcases a community‑led effort that has mobilised more than 1.19 million citizens across 14 districts of Bihar. Since October 2024, over 44,892 Shiksha Chaupals—community gatherings where mothers and other residents discuss barriers such as child marriage—have been convened, resulting in collective commitments to keep girls in school and protect them from early marriage.
Awards and Recognitions
Mothers of Courage was India’s sole entry shortlisted in the Sustainable Development Goals Lions category at Cannes Lions 2026. It subsequently won Best Inspirational Film at the Los Angeles Film Awards 2026, secured a Silver at the ABBY Awards 2026, earned the Platinum SABRE Award for Best in Show and the Gold SABRE Award for Public Education at the SABRE South Asia Awards 2026, and also received a Gold SABRE Award for Public Education at the SABRE Asia Pacific Awards 2026. Additionally, the documentary was named a finalist at the 7th Mumbai International Film Festival 2026.
Voices from the Movement
Khushboo Awasthi, Co‑Founder of Mantra4Change and Chief Curator of Shikshagraha, expressed that the global recognition validates the courage of the women documented and underscores the movement’s community‑driven ethos. Director Vandana R highlighted the authenticity of the stories and the significance of their resonance on an international platform.
Support and Partnerships
The initiative is supported by S. D. Shibulal, co‑founder and former CEO of Infosys, along with Bengaluru‑based non‑profits ShikshaLokam and Mantra4Change. Shikshagraha collaborates with more than 43 partner organisations across 16 states and Union Territories, aiming to strengthen all 1 million public schools in India.
Scale of Shikshagraha
Currently, the movement involves 35+ civil‑society, industry and philanthropic partners that are collectively working to improve over 1.17 lakh schools across 33 districts in 14 states and Union Territories. The programme focuses on empowering parents, women and youth to demand quality education, equipping teachers and school leaders with tools for micro‑improvements, and shifting societal norms that impede educational outcomes.