Gender Development Solutions (GDS) is has a long history in China focused on rural community capacity building. It partners with local non-profit organizations to institute programs that empower rural women, girls, and their communities through education.
In the Ningxia Province Hui Autonomous Region, girls often drop out of school in primary and middle school due to early marriage, migrant work, and difficulties in school. GDS works with local non-profit agencies in Ningxia to develop programs that promote students’ mental health and social skills. They train and place social workers in schools who provide one-on-one support to students and also implement career counseling initiatives.