Standing alongside a group of enthusiastic teenagers in a classroom in Uttar Pradesh, singer, broadcaster, and UNICEF UK Ambassador Jessie Ware found herself deeply moved. While their day-to-day lives are worlds apart, the candid conversations she had with local students hit remarkably close to home.
“The children taught me so much," Jessie says of her recent visit supporting the Dove Self-Esteem Project in partnership with UNICEF.
"Our lives may look very different, but so much of what we talked about felt completely universal: wanting to feel confident in who you are, finding your voice, and not worrying too much about what other people think."
Known for her award-winning music and her hit podcast Table Manners, the mother-of-three is a passionate advocate for mental wellbeing and positive body image.
During her trip, Jessie joined interactive workshops where students use comic books - specifically the Aadha Full series - role-play, and creative discussions to navigate appearance pressures, gender expectations, and self-esteem.
© Prashanth Vishwanathan"I was struck by their creativity and ambition," Jessie reflects. "Hearing that some of the boys and girls hadn't always felt confident enough to speak up, and then seeing them bring the comic book stories to life and so openly share their experiences, was incredibly inspiring."
For the teenagers taking part, the lessons are already making a tangible difference. Gauri, 13, shared how the workshops helped her embrace gender equality: "It's shown me that girls and boys should be treated equally. It’s not that girls can't do what boys do, or vice versa."
Anushka, a 17-year-old girl, spoke about the pressures young people can experience around their appearance, including “body image or skin tone judgement at home”, and said the programme had taught her the importance of focusing on her own self-development.
Meanwhile, 14-year-old Ayush revealed how the stories reshaped his perspective at home: "Learning from the comic books has shown me that girls and boys are equal. I now help my mum and sister with house chores because I can, and it's not just a girl's job."
© Prashanth VishwanathanIn a statement, Dr Philip Goodwin, Chief Executive of UNICEF UK said: "How a child sees themselves shapes everything - whether they speak up, seize opportunities or dare to dream big. Every child has the fundamental right to grow up feeling valued and heard. Investing in youth wellbeing isn't optional; it is one of the most powerful ways to empower young people to build their own futures."
"Our partnership with Dove demonstrates what can be achieved when organisations come together with a shared commitment to helping children reach their full potential."
"The Dove Self-Esteem Project has helped millions of children, across countries, including India, strengthen their self-confidence and develop the skills they need to navigate adolescence."
© Prashanth Vishwanathan
© Prashanth VishwanathanTo date, the global partnership between UNICEF and the Dove Self-Esteem Project has reached over 160 million young people across 153 countries - including more than 21 million children in India alone.
For Jessie, seeing the students reclaim their confidence was the ultimate takeaway - proof that when young people are given the right tools, their potential is limitless.
