Read Our Story
In 2008, a personal journey to India sparked something much bigger. That first trip led to annual visits to a local girls’ home in Kolkata, where we became deeply involved—getting to know the girls, their caregivers, local leaders, and a growing circle of global supporters. When that home unexpectedly shut down in 2012, leaving many girls without support, we couldn’t walk away. That same year, Girl2B was established as a nonprofit in New York, with the goal of continuing to provide education, safety, and opportunity for girls we already knew and cared about.
We launched programs in partnership with trusted nonprofits on the ground. We designed and funded the work, and our local partners executed it—offering education, nutrition, and dignity. Soon after, we opened a home of our own, providing safety and stability for 30 girls.
In 2016, we encouraged the establishment of The Girl2B Foundation Indian trust, a registered nonprofit in Kolkata run by trustees in India. Since then, our relationship has continued to evolve into a strong collaboration, with both teams supporting shared initiatives. Over time, the first group of girls we helped grew up, graduated, and broke the cycle of poverty. The home eventually closed as our mission sharpened: to focus on education, not housing.
As each group moves forward, new girls continue to arrive—bringing fresh energy, new stories, and the same need for support. We continue to evolve, learn, and remain committed to long-term change through collaboration. We remain rooted in our original mission: to help girls learn, live, and grow.
Disclaimer:
Girl2B in the U.S. and the Girl2B India Trust operate as two separate organizations with a shared mission. While we fund several programs shown on the India website, not all content or initiatives featured there are funded by our U.S. nonprofit.
Who we are
Christine & Alfonso Paradinas
Co-Founders
Girl2B was founded after a girls’ home in India that Christine and Alfonso had been supporting was suddenly forced to shut down. The closure left more than 80 girls without access to care or education. Moved by the urgency of the situation, Christine and Alfonso knew they couldn’t turn away. They stepped in to continue the work, and Girl2B was born.
What started as an urgent response has grown into a mission to help girls reclaim their futures. Christine and Alfonso believe that with education, safety, and support, every girl can rise above poverty and build a life of dignity and purpose.
Both founders spent years in the fashion industry, leading global teams in merchandising and product development. Their creative backgrounds and shared commitment to making a difference inspired them to invest their skills in a cause that changes lives. Together, they are helping girls learn, live, and grow, one girl at a time.
Daniel Bermejo
Strategic Advisor
Daniel Bermejo is a Swiss-Spanish entrepreneur, executive, and startup advisor with over 20 years of international experience across technology, investment, and media. He has co-founded several startups and led Swiss Startup INVEST as managing director, supporting hundreds of founders across Europe. Earlier, he held roles at IBM, Roche, Accenture, and PwC, focusing on digital transformation and innovation.
​Daniel’s career began uniquely—as a TV presenter for the Disney Club on Spain’s national broadcaster. That early experience shaped his lifelong belief in communication as a powerful tool to engage, inform, and connect. This thread runs through his leadership across tech, strategy, and media.
​As a strategic advisor to Girl2B, Daniel brings deep insight and a strong personal commitment to educational equity. He believes access to education should never be determined by geography or circumstance—and supports Girl2B in helping unlock opportunity for girls who need it most.
Priyanca Rao
Creative Advisor
Priyanca Rao is an award-winning branding and wedding photographer based in New York City and Westchester, known for her vibrant, deeply human images that capture authenticity with elegance. With a background in luxury personal branding, Priyanca helps entrepreneurs, executives, and creatives visually tell their stories and connect with their ideal audiences. Her wedding photography is often described as cinematic and heartfelt—a celebration of culture, family, and individuality.
Born in India, raised in the United Kingdom, and now settled in the United States, Priyanca’s creative journey spans continents. In her personal work, she returns to India to photograph stories of resilience and everyday beauty in underserved communities—a way of honoring her roots and giving back.
As Girl2B’s creative advisor, Priyanca helps shape our visual identity—through photography, video, branding, and content—so our mission can be seen, felt, and shared with clarity and heart.
Pooja Das
Advisor for Alumni Engagement & Grassroots Impact
Pooja Das is a proud first-generation college graduate whose journey was made possible by the support of Girl2B. When she was in high school, Girl2B stepped in during a critical time in her life and gave her the opportunity to continue her education—a gift that changed everything.
With the support of Girl2B, she earned a degree in English Honors from a public university in Kolkata and began tutoring younger Girl2B girls, becoming a mentor and educator. In 2019, she was awarded the Global UGRAD scholarship and spent a transformative year studying at St. Ambrose University in Iowa.
After returning to India, she worked as a Program Manager at another nonprofit, which inspired her to pursue leadership and business more seriously. In 2023, she returned to the U.S. to pursue an MBA at Quincy University, fully self-funded. She also completed an MSW and worked as a Finance Intern at a pharmaceutical company.
Today, Pooja holds both an MBA and an MSW and serves in a corporate management role. Her heart, however, remains with Girl2B. The organization gave her strength, direction, and hope—and now, she is honored to give back as an advisor, helping guide communications and strategy while staying grounded in the grassroots impact that shaped her life.
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