By Dr. Ashok Dyalchand | Director
The young champion of Brahmangaon!
The happiness of Saima (name changed) and her friends knew no bounds! They could hardly believe the news! “Can you imagine what we have been able to achieve?” Saima asked her friends. Payal’s parents had actually agreed to let their daughter get married after 18 years of age! Almost an unheard of situation just few years back! The final victorious outcome for their friend from the Adolescent Girls Group (Kishori Mandal) who was studying in 8th standard, was enough to wipe out the memory of several hopeless rounds of discussion with the parents and the anxiety about possible failure!
Although she is studying in just 9th standard, and a daughter of a farmer, Saima is the driving force behind many changes that are taking place in the lives of young girls in the village of Bramhangaon. She felt a sense of great achievement when she completed “Life skills education” in the first batch in 2013 -2014 and when she was selected as a peer educator. Saima is a born leader, encouraging other girls to attend Life Skills Education (LSE) classes, explaining any doubts they have about LSE and even assisting them in their studies!
Institute of Health Management Pachod (IHMP) recognized her potential and encouraged her to join the peer educator’s training organized in Pachod. Saima realizes that these trainings have changed her completely! She has lost her stage fright, now she can confidently give a speech and also be master of ceremony for any program organized in her school. Armed with these skills this crusader returned to Brahmangaon and organized visits to the anganwadi, gram panchayat and ration shop for other girls from her Kishori Mandal.
As a peer educator she had learnt to use tablets and she enthusiastically taught 5 other girls computer skills on the tablet given to her village by IHMP! She showed the girls how to get information to apply for different educational courses. She also learnt to stitch her own clothes through the USHA-Sewing School established by IHMP in her village.
She is determined to spread the message about the importance of education for girls, risks of early marriage and pregnancy and danger of sex selective abortion and its impact on society. She fearlessly organized skits and plays in the village to change the attitude of villagers and the social norm in her community. We are happy to report that the sincere and relentless efforts of Saima and other young girls have paid off and the parents in the village are convinced and have taken an oath to get their daughters married only after completion of 18 years.
Saima is one of several hundred peer educators that have been trained by the Institute of Health Management Pachod. Through them we hope to reach this message to 4.5 million girls in this State and change the social norm of early and child marriage. With your support this dream is becoming a reality!
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