Powered by Youth: Transforming Adolescent Health in Bihar, India 

By Dr. Ajay Khera, Mini Kurup, and Priyanka Kochar, EngenderHealth India

Transforming Adolescent Health in Bihar Through Local Partnerships 

In the heart of Bihar, India, over one million adolescents quietly rewrote their futures as they gained access to vital health services, found their voices as leaders, and built safe, inclusive spaces through Project Tarunya, a powerful collaboration between the Government of Bihar, EngenderHealth, and  local  partners, with funding from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.  

Implemented in the districts of Sitamarhi, Gaya, and Jamui, Tarunya supported the state’s efforts to strengthen the national adolescent health program, Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK). The initiative focused on improving services at health facilities, mobilizing communities through peer educators and Adolescent Health and Wellness Days, and coordinating efforts across sectors to ensure adolescents receive consistent, quality support. 

What was Project Tarunya? 

Project Tarunya was designed to strengthen India’s national adolescent health program (RKSK) by addressing gaps in service delivery and community engagement. The program combined facility-based interventions (such as enhancing Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics), community-based strategies (including peer education and wellness days), and intersectoral collaboration to create a more holistic and accessible health system for young people. 

Supporting Adolescents Through Peer Education 

At the heart of Tarunya was the belief that young people are not just beneficiaries; they are powerful advocates for their own health. Peer educators (PEs), many of them adolescents, became trusted sources of information and support in their communities. They led open conversations on menstruation, mental health, and gender equity, often for the first time in their villages. 

“Initially I was very hesitant and ashamed to talk about topics like periods, especially with my family,” said Usha Kumari, a peer educator from Riga in Sitamarhi. “However, after getting involved in the Peer Educator program, my worldview has changed. We learned about hygienic period practices, and I now work to dispel misconceptions that exist in the village around menstruation.” 

Strengthening Health Systems with Local Partnerships 

Tarunya’s success was rooted in collaboration. The program strengthened Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics (AFHCs), trained Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), supported school-based health programming, and promoted joint planning among departments of health, education, and child development. 

Local civil society organizations played a critical role in ensuring culturally relevant and inclusive programming. Their partnerships helped reach marginalized adolescents and supported long-term sustainability. 

A Scalable Model for Sustainable Adolescent Health Programs 

By investing in local systems and amplifying youth leadership, Tarunya created a model for sustainable adolescent health programs. Sitamarhi, one of the three intervention districts, was selected as a World Health Organization Learning District and shows a reflection of the program’s effectiveness and potential for scale. 

For donors and development partners, Project Tarunya offers evidence of what’s possible when adolescent health efforts are rooted in community engagement, government collaboration, and youth leadership. 

Discover the Human Stories Behind Tarunya 

To see the impact through the eyes of those who lived it, explore Tarunya’s Legacy: 14 Portraits of Health, Hope, and Change for Bihar’s Adolescents. This powerful visual collection shares real stories of young people and stakeholders in their lives overcoming challenges like early marriage, teen pregnancy, anemia, and menstrual stigma—with the help of care, collaboration, and determination. 

Learn More About Project Tarunya 

To dive deeper into the strategies, results, and lessons learned, read The Tarunya Story: Shaping Adolescent Health Programs through Local Partnerships. This comprehensive resource offers practical insights for designing effective, locally led adolescent health initiatives.