Empowerment of 400,000 Adolescent Girls in India

Adolescent Girls Empowered To Break The Glass Ceiling

Kajal, recalls how she could break the glass ceiling after attending the Life Skills Education (LSE) in her village that was conducted by the Institute of Health Management Pachod (IHMP).

Kajal, lives in a small rural hamlet, which has less than a hundred households. Her parents are marginal farmers. Her village school is only till the 4^th class, so most girls end up with only 4 years of schooling.

Kajal, attended the life skills education, of 6 months duration, when she was 15 years old. She also underwent leadership training conducted by IHMP. Kajal says that her self-confidence increased by leaps and bound after the LSE. During LSE she also learnt the importance of education, especially for girls and decided that she would complete schooling and go for college education.

As part of her life skills education, Kajal visited a college, bank and police station in a nearby town. Kajal’s imagination got fired. During that visit she decided that one day she would enter the police force. Her aspirations were soaring.

Kajal, was determined to complete 12 years of schooling. IHMP gave her a bicycle to travel to a neighbouring village, which had a school till the 12^th class. Kajal used to go the school with a group of girls who had all completed IHMP’s life skills education.

After completing 12 years of schooling, Kajal went to a nearby city to complete her graduation. While in college she also joined the police training academy that prepares young adults for the police force.

After her training at the police academy, Kajal went to Bombay where she was selected as a Forest Officer. She got posted in a reserve forest area in March 2024. Her community is so proud of her that they felicitated her with a grand function organised by her village council. Kajal says that she was able to convince her parents to send her from her small village all the way to Bombay because of the self-confidence she developed during life skills education. She says that all the girls that attended life skills education with her have done exceedingly well in various spheres.

Kajal, feels that Life Skills Education has improved the aspiration of girls in her village and they want to continue their education. Her friends got motivated to study beyond 12^th standard because of Life Skills Education and the leadership training that they underwent. They have completed their graduation. We have all told our parents that we will get married only after we become self-reliant. She said that if investment is made in the education of girls, it will go long way in helping them to progress and do well in life.

Institute of Health Management Pachod conducts life skills education for a batch of 1500 girls every six months and has been conducting LSE, of 6 months duration, over the last 25 years. IHMP has also scaled up this intervention through several NGOs in India. Thousands of girls like Kajal have been empowered to realise their dreams and aspirations.