Empower 300 girls to end gender based violence

Dear Global Givers,

Thank you for choosing to support iPartner India’s campaign to empower 300 girls to end gender-based violence. Your support is crucial for these girls who come from extremely resource-poor communities to get a chance to achieve their potential. Through this campaign, iPartner India aims to empower girls to know their rights and also break gender barriers through various leadership and skill-building programs.

We at iPartner India have been working tirelessly to keep the girls motivated through numerous initiatives and at the same time seeking offline donations to make the campaign a success.

In the last quarter, the following activities were undertaken through this campaign.

• The core group members have regular meetings with the counsellor who helps the group members to find solutions to any challenges that may arise within the group. Some of the core group members have completed their computer and accounting courses. These courses were aimed at capacitating the members on organisational management skills.
• 50 girls participated in various activities such as counselling, yoga, art, nutrition and disaster management. Post the training, 33 girls have formed 4 batches and are conducting sessions with children between 6–9 years. From mobilizing children to planning session to team planning meetings, the girls are using their skills to interact with children. As part of the weekly meeting activities, yoga and meditation, preparing nutritional salad, art and craft with recycled items are conducted.
• Out of the 60 girls who completed the Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (ARSHR) in the previous session, 40 girls are now receiving skills training based on their interest areas. External experts in counselling, yoga, nutrition, and art/story-telling are training the girls which will enable them to pursue it as a profession at the same time share the skills with their peers in the community.
• 110 adolescents who attended sessions on understanding gender are now trained on reproductive health and rights. This batch has already been trained on puberty, menstruation, conception, through interactive tools like audio visuals, and games. They have also received an orientation on communication skills, assertiveness skills, and other life skills through day-long camp sessions.
• During this period, 130 more new adolescents have been reached out by the mobilising team. The new group is meeting on weekly basis. Sessions on understanding the difference between sex and gender, how society discriminates girls and women, understanding how and why women face different forms of violence, are some of the topics discussed to sensitise them on gender equality.
• 22 women and girls have completed a two-month certified course on ‘Assistant Decorative Painter’. After completion of practical and theoretical classes, the women have received their certificates and are ready to take up independent or group wall and decorative painting assignments.
• A community sporting event was held recently where more than 200 girls and women participated in various games such as relay and running races.
• Three women received legal assistance related to domestic violence. Couple counselling are also being held regularly.
• 14 counselling sessions have been held for six girls. A support session was designed and held by a counsellor for students appearing for their board exams to help them cope with stress along with strategies for exam preparation.
• Six girls from the One Team One Dream special football team under the guidance of a senior coach have registered in the Indian Football Association. Five of them played at the Kanyashree Cup, Kolkata Women’s League and signed up with two football clubs. The remaining fourteen special football team girls are getting trained at the Football Academy while thirty more girls will attend basic training under a
  professional coach.

Gender-based violence is a human rights violation and often goes unseen, untreated, and unchecked. Poverty, lack of education and healthcare increases both vulnerability and the likelihood of exposure to gender-based violence. iPartner India remains fully committed to ending gender-based violence by empowering young voices, as agents of change for a future free from violence.

Thank you Global Givers, for your unwavering support towards this campaign.

With deep gratitude,
Team iPartner India