Empowerment of 400,000 Adolescent Girls in India

Sunita (name changed) is a brilliant girl who was studying in the 10^th class when an unfortunate incident occurred in her slum.  An adolescent couple who wanted to get married decided to run away from home but eventually ended up committing suicide. After this incident many parents were scared and reluctant to send their girls to school; Sunita’s grandmother was one of them.

Sunita’s grandmother thought that her grand-daughter might also have an affair and may run away with a boy. Anita’s schooling was stopped. To make it worse when she turned 16 yrs; her parents and grandmother decided to marry her with a boy who belonged to their own kinship. They were determined to arrange her marriage as soon as possible.

Sunita was enrolled in the life skills education being conducted in her slum by Institute of Health Management Pachod (IHMP). She told her grandmother about the risks of early marriage that she had learnt during life skills education and tried to convince her that she would never think of running away with a boy.

The adolescent girl’s club members visited Sunita’s house and met her family members. Initially her parents and grandmother were adamant and refused to discuss the possibility of continuing Sunita’s education. The girl’s club members made Sunita’s grandmother and parents realize that with the moral values that they had received during the life skills education; she will not even think of running away with a boy if she were allowed to continue her education. They convinced the family that their fear created from the actions of a neighbors’ daughter would unnecessarily deprive Sunita of education and the potential for a better life.

The next day Sunita’s grandmother visited IHMP’s community health worker’s home to inform her of the family decision to continue with Sunita’s education and delay her marriage till as long as she wished to continue studying.

Sunita shared her happiness by distributing chocolates to all girls in her life skills education class and the girl’s club members. She continues to go to school, and is now in the 12^th class. She is happy with her achievement.

Every year about 5000 girls like Sunita get empowered as a result of IHMP’s life skills education. Thousands of girls have been able to negotiate with their parents and family members to continue with their education and delay their marriage.