Empower girls like Priti in slums in Pune, India

• A total of 1,188 girls have attended sessions on the importance of good nutrition, maternal and neo-natal health and raising awareness of anaemia, including 104 girls who attended haemoglobin check-up camps.
• A total of 638 girls have attended sessions and workshops increasing their awareness and knowledge of hygiene and health. Of these, 248 girls attended health check-up camps.
• 438 girls learnt about their bodies, with a particular emphasis on their reproductive systems, and the effects of early pregnancy. 41 of these attended pre-marriage counselling workshops. 
• 1,627 girls have greater self-confidence, communication skills and are better equipped to respond effectively when they face violence, after: a number of life skills sessions, communication workshops, increased awareness around domestic violence and sexual abuse, and visits outside the slums, to banks, orphanages and police centres. 206 of these girls have undertaken computing or tailoring courses which will allow them to take steps towards financial self-sufficiency. 

Name:        Prachi Kamble.

Age:           18 years

Education: 10^th STD

Background:

I know the project well because my mother did a fashion design course and told me about it. I was interested to do something similar which would allow me to get a job, so I could help the family.

There are 5 of us in the family. My father works as a servant in a bungalow in Koregaon Park. He also does maintenance work there. My mother is a house wife. I have one younger brother and he is in the 9^th STD. My grandmother is very old. My father’s income is not enough to fulfill our family needs, and so I decided to find a job to support the family. This was how I came to enroll on a computer course.

 Feelings and feedback:

This was my first time, in my life, sitting in front of a computer. In addition to these computer classes, I also learned a number of other skills important in our day to day life like communication skills, awareness on HIV and AIDS, knowledge about our bodies and reproductive systems and so forth. 

I am really satisfied with how this course as gone, especially because the teachers were very cooperative and helpful. After finishing the course I got a job at the Videocon call centre. I feel confident enough to do my job well, and I am very happy to the foundation for supporting me.

Prachi’s Mother says:

After joining the computer course there was a tremendous change in Prachi. She learnt how to respect her elders, how to behave with family members; listening to them and trying to understand what they are saying. Before joining the course she did not listen to us. She has changed now. Her father too is very happy with her and her achievements.