Educate 100 orphan girls in rural India

“I was a bold and active sports person right from my childhood. I had more than 50 certificates as award for my achievements in sports and my desire was to become an IPS officer. But everything changed, when I was married at the age of 16 years and within 3 years, I also came to know HIV has affected our family too. I thought that was the end ,but now in 2017 I am taking the oath of educating my two daughters, well to ensure a bright future for them” - expressed by a widow woman on the commitment they take on Being Bold for Change

The International women's day was commemorated at Buds of Christ Charitable Trust at Tiruchengode with the theme "Be Bold for Change" with 30 widowed mothers of young girls. The meeting was completed organised and co-ordinated by the mothers themselves with presentations on the status of women around them. The issues highlighted included the challenges women face being a woman and a widow and in the context of HIV/AIDS. Following this an empowering testimony was shared by a woman mother of young girls, of how information, support groups have given confidence and  that has helped her move from the isolated life to be a inspiration to many others like her.

This was followed by a skit depiction by the women in depicting the need for making decisions by women themselves to make a change in their personal life situations particularly in ending Child marriages and an oath taking by each women of how they would make a change in their own personal life situations boldly. Majority of the women expressed that they would be bold to voice their opinions in reversing the cycle of subjection and oppression on young girls in their family through better education and employment opportunities.

The meeting also concluded with the need to organise themselves as a mother's group to focus on empowerment and economic stability of women.