Union County students expand nonprofit to empower girls worldwide

Two high school seniors from Union County have expanded their nonprofit organization, Girls With Power, to empower young girls globally, WBTV reported. The nonprofit was founded in May 2025 by Ria Vaishnav and Eleri Pratiknjo while they were sophomores at Marvin Ridge High School in Waxhaw.

Girls With Power aims to help girls build leadership and entrepreneurship skills through interactive workshops tailored for elementary, middle, and high school students. These workshops focus on boosting confidence, setting goals, and providing mentorship opportunities.

The founders identified gaps in their community where girls lacked role models in leadership and business. To address this, they invited guest speakers from various entrepreneurial backgrounds to inspire participants.

Vaishnav emphasized the importance of face-to-face interaction, saying it helps girls realize their potential and the opportunities available to them. The organization also offers $500 Future Leaders Scholarships to support young women pursuing leadership roles.