By Anuradha Chatterji | Director, Resource Development
It’s My Body: Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Adolescent Girls through Sports
A community-based program led by CREA and co-implemented with 12 partner CBOs* in Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.
During this reporting period, CREA and its partner organisations – Gramonnati Sansthan and Mahila Swarozgar Samiti, had organised a five-day residential leadership camp for 32 girls of age group 15 – 17 years in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Leadership camps are designed to build the perspectives and leadership skills of selected girls who have completed 10 month long curriculum based trainings as part of It’s My Body (IMB) programme and who are better placed to take leadership roles in their personal lives and communities.
The camp was designed and conducted with the main objectives to build understanding and skills on leadership, which included - building perspective on women and leadership; learning about the power of collective leadership; building confidence on effective communication; identifying issues, analysing and reflecting on life problems; problem-solving and finding solutions to issues in their lives and communities; strategising and planning for action etc.
Most of the girls who participated in this leadership camp were travelling out of their villages and districts for the first time and were quite excited to participate in the camp. They actively participated in all the sessions and shared their experiences within their families and communities throughout the camp.
Many activities were conducted to build their perspective so that they not only reflect on their own lives but also get the broader understanding of their communities and contexts. Girls analysed and reflected on some of the crucial questions related to leaders and leadership especially by women and girls –
The discussion on these questions helped them understand the broader context of leadership.
At the end of this leadership camp, many of them shared that this camp has helped them to gain courage and confidence to speak and gain better understanding on the importance of girl’s participation in decision making and taking initiatives. Here’s few quotes from the girls:
“I have gained courage to speak up and make others understand why girls need to come out. Earlier when other girls were not studying I used to think that it doesn’t matter if they don’t study. But, I don’t think this way anymore. “– a participant from Uttar Pardesh
“I was scared to speak in front of so many people, I used to be quite. I have started speaking now, I have gained courage here.” – a participant from Uttar Pardesh
“I have gained courage to speak up. I could speak to my parents about continuing my studies because they want me to get married. I could make them understand why I want to study further.” – a participant from Uttar Pardesh
In one of the activities, they learnt the skills of identifying issues of importance in their lives. Some of the issues for which they would like to raise their voices included safe public transportation, more safe spaces for girls, basic facilities like electricity, toilet, and hospitals; to include playgrounds, more female coaches, more female doctors & teachers, access to schools and colleges for higher education in their communities, attaining scholarships for girls from economically poor backgrounds, more facilities for disabled girls, more access to centres for technical training etc.
At the end of the leadership camp, girls were also encouraged to develop a six-month long community based ‘action project’ so that they would continue to be leaders and bring changes in their communities. One of the ideas of the ‘action project’ included building awareness about girl’s participation in sports and gender equality. All of them also plan to teach other girls the skills of playing football and also talk to more girls about gender equality and girls rights. CREA will regularly follow-up with the partner organisations to ensure that girls are getting required support from them to complete their action projects.
Overall, the camp was a huge success as it helped these girls to enhance their self-confidence and skills for taking up leadership roles in their communities.
*List of IMB partners:
Bihar:
Jharkhand:
Uttar Pradesh:
By Anuradha Chatterji | Director, Resource Development
By Anuradha Chatterji | Director, Resource Development
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