Empower 300 girls to end gender based violence

Dear Global Givers,

We are happy to share some of the progress from our current project. Despite our sincere efforts, we are still a long way from achieving our funding target which will help us to expand our existing project to empower girls from the marginalised community. We are hopeful that through your kind support we will be able to meet our funding target.

Over the past months we have been able to achieve the following in the project: 

• The management training for the core group has been completed. In total 18 core group members meet regularly to plan and implement the proposed project activities.
• Skill-building courses, such as English speaking, Microsoft excel, digital record keeping courses, and accounting courses have also been conducted for the core group members which is an essential part of organisational management training.
• A batch of 50 girls was trained with the help of external experts and resource persons on skills such as counselling, yoga, art therapy, nutrition, and disaster management. The training will further enable girls to make a career in the above mentioned sector.
• ARSHR (Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights) training: 60 girls have completed the ARSHR training. The training has several sessions, which talk about sexual identity and sexual violence. Sexual violence is very common in our intervention area; therefore, it is important to make girls aware of the same.
• Gender training for the new batch of 110 adolescents: The Gender training was conducted with 80 girls and 30 boys. This batch of girls and boys is part of the new outreach group. Post training their understanding of gender issues has improved, the same was assessed through baseline and endline surveys.
• Film screenings and community events: To build sensitivity on gender issues three community events were held and films based on gender issues were screened. More than 300 community members participated in the same.
• Legal assistance has been provided to seven women and girls who have been experiencing gender-based violence.
• 26 counselling support sessions were held with the girls and their mothers who were facing domestic abuse. A special workshop on ‘Suicide Prevention’ on Suicide Prevention Day was conducted by the counsellor.
• Two stakeholders' interaction on child rights and abuse was held. We had police personnel from the local police station attending the session. Police shared that the support of parents is crucial as incidences of crime against children are on the rise.
• In both sessions we had community stakeholders attend the session who had unanimously agreed and pledged to protest and report the cases of child abuse.
• Football: The coaches of the girls had suggested residential football training for the girls in an academy so that they can dedicate more time to practice and building team spirit. The team reallocated the budget and a 10-day residential football camp was conducted at the end of August 2022, which 22 girls attended. The camp was extremely helpful in raising the confidence and the sporting spirit of the girls. The coaches got more time to understand the girls and the challenges they face in the community to continue their sport. The parents of the girls were very proud of the fact that their girls have been selected for a special camp.
• Post camp, the coach has selected six girls from the senior team, who are practicing under a club and a senior coach. Members from this club will participate in Kolkata Women’s League and if the girls perform well they will be signed up for the league. Based on the coach’s suggestion, and the girls’ performance, one girl has also registered as IFA (Indian Football Association) player, which will allow her to be selected in future leagues/championships. The remaining five are in the process of registering themselves as IFA player.

To continue with the proposed project activities, iPartner India is seeking other funding options so that the campaign does not lose its momentum. Through this campaign, we are aiming to break gender stereotypes and give these women and girls a voice to speak out against gender disparities and claim their rights in their communities and society through sport.

Thank you, GlobalGivers!

With deep gratitude,
Team iPartner India