Empower 300 girls to end gender based violence

Dear Global Givers,

The One Team One Dream (OTOD) active in the Mallikpur and Hariharpur Gram Panchayats in the South 24 Pargana District of West Bengal, has been making significant strides over the past months. This initiative focuses on women and girls from economically disadvantaged families, aiming to build their leadership skills and awareness around critical gender issues. The project also trains young girls to become footballers and challenge gender norms related to sports. 

We are happy to share an update on the achievements we have accomplished between March 2024 and May 2024.

Achievements and Activities

1. Gender Awareness and Education:

One of our primary objectives is to educate women and girls about gender concepts, stereotyping, equality, and gender-based violence. During the reporting period, regular sessions in village communities, using participatory toolkits and discussions were conducted. The topics included understanding violence against women and girls and its impact on families. These sessions often started with hesitation but gradually fostered open discussions about personal experiences with violence. One young woman shared, "We face sexual violence and abuse but have never discussed it or thought about how to prevent it in our lives."

2. Collaboration with Local Schools:

Local government schools have shown a keen interest in partnering with the OTOD project. The project has now become a collaborative effort with Mallikpur Girls High School where girls have been introduced to hockey and are being trained by a professional coach. Weekly sessions on gender schools. This collaboration has also allowed us to engage with teenage boys in these schools.

3. Sports Training and Development:

Our sports initiatives have seen tremendous growth. After our football camp in December 2023, the number of girls wanting to join football coaching increased from 35 to 60, leading us to limit participants due to capacity constraints. Sports coaching is conducted twice a week, with a special group of 17 girls receiving advanced coaching at a sports club.

4. Psychological Support and Counseling:

Recognising the need for psychological counseling, especially for our core group of girls aged 9-14, we have conducted two group sessions focusing on stress management. Another session used dance as a form of self-exploration, helping girls express their inner fears and stresses.

5. Skill Development for Women:

We have established a unit to engage women in various skill development activities. Three batches, totaling 35 women, are undergoing handcraft training, including embroidery. They are learning to create traditional hand embroidery designs on different fabrics and products.

Impact

A total of 220 girls and 60 women are actively participating in OTOD project activities through community and school initiatives. Our efforts have empowered these women and girls with knowledge and skills and also provided them with platforms to express and address their concerns.

We are grateful to donors for their on-going support. We aim to expand our initiatives, reaching more women and girls and providing them with the tools and opportunities to lead empowered and violence-free lives. Thank you for being a crucial part of this transformative journey with One Team One Dream.

With heartfelt appreciation, 

Team iPartner India