Andhra Pradesh, India reports 60% girls enrollment in secondary education as against 96% in primary school (ASER Report). The girls dropout rate in Kadapa district is 34.34%, third highest in the state (DISE, GoAP 2016). Parents treat girls as burden and force them into marriage at early age. We seek your support to ensure the girls stay in school and continue higher education. This prevents not only school dropouts and child marriage, but also eventual child labour and potentially trafficking.
A girl not in school is an eventual child labour - worse forced into child marriage, and prone to be trafficked. There's a traditional notion among the communities that girls are not fit to get educated, but should be married as soon as they attain puberty. Besides this, lack of access to menstrual care, and safety and mobility to go to school are the main reasons for girls to discontinue school. Education is their only way to change the situation, and RAIDS is making it a reality!
We seek to reduce the rate of child marriage and child trafficking, while increasing access to secondary education for girls. We will provide education materials, sanitary napkins and other basic necessities to remove barriers for them to continue their education. We will also facilitate access to easy and safe transportation - providing transport expenses, bicycles. Girls can focus on their studies without a worry to pursue their educational goals and achieve their higher education dreams.
Since 1988, RAIDS has been working to promote equal rights and opportunities for girls and young women, running Childline and 'Girls Advocacy Alliance-India' campaign in Kadapa. We understand that educated girls will be able to pursue higher education and job opportunities of their choice and also eliminate Gender Based Violence. Together, we can give these girls an opportunity to achieve their dream and thereby improving the development of their families, communities and the world at large.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
