Empower girls like Priti in slums in Pune, India

The following project update is from some of the beneficiaries. It lets us know some of the activities that people have been engaged in and how this has been of help.

1) Testimonial Name of beneficiaries: - Shivani Dhende Name of community: - Shanti Nagar

I am a student living in the slum of Shanti Nagar with my mother and grandmother. The name of the project were involved with is ‘Women`s Empowerment.’ I have attended life skills classes every day and enjoy the activities very much. My teacher Mrs Manisha Pathole has imparted a lot of practical knowledge on how to face various problems which has given me confidence to face them. I visited a bank to find out about bank accounts and how to open one and also a police station to find out about making reports if we need to. I also learnt to swim in a place called sang am which I enjoyed the most. Our group name is jagruti-jagruti which means the knowledge we have and that which we get. I have gone for Wenledo which is self defense training in a place called Shramik Vasahat. Our project director brought Teachers from other places they came to teach us specialist knowledge. One teacher whose name was Preeti taught us meditation. She told us that when we have a serious problem or tension we can use meditation to help us feel some relief, even just 5 minutes of meditation. Another Teacher Dr Manda Mune gave us information regarding our body and its health. My teacher Mrs Manisha Pothole taught us that we should always be neat and tidy and practice Hygiene. This has helped me a lot. I’m thankful to the ‘Women`s Empowerment’ project`s team for their guidance and feel very lucky to have such positive influence at the start of my life.

2) Testimonial Name of beneficiaries: - preeti subhash Jadhav Name of community: - Burma cell

I am Preeti Subhash Jadhav and live in Burmacell with my parents. I have 3 sisters and 1 brother. In the community in which I live girls don’t have a strong Identity. We don’t have rights to take our own decisions. We have a high rate of gender discrimination with a girl seen as a burden for the parents. If a boy makes a mistake no one cares but if a girl does she’s punish. When the Women`s Empowerment Project came to our community many parents protested. Dr Manda Mune the project director handled it gently and communicated the importance of the life skills classes. Now even more girls have started coming for classes since the project is now seen to help girls to progress. The project has arranged various activities for the girls, to learn about computers for instance. Mrs Manisha Kharat taught us about nutritious food as well as how to communicate with our elders. We learnt mehendi which is henna art, and also got Wenledo training which is for self defence. I learnt to swim in sang am and that experience was really great. Now difficulties in day to day life are more manageable. Also we have kishori panchayat, youth leadership, and my group name is Magic Group. We arrange various community activities for instance we maintain clean Boudh Vihar every Saturday. The magic group is also arranging street plays that address our communities’ problems to raise awareness in the whole community; for instance girls that are being married at around 7 years of age. Thanks to the women`s empowerment project team we have learnt to fight against bad practices. 3) Parents testimonial Name of parents:-Shobha Raju bachute Name of community: - Bhimnagar Age: - 32

I am Shobha and my daughters name is Komal. I can honestly say that now I am observing my daughter she is changed. Use to give back answer and I was worried about her. Now she is listening to me and behaving like a mature child. I am greatly thankful to women`s empowerment project team.

3) Parents testimonial Name of parent:-savita manic sonawne Name of community: - Bhim nagar Age: - 45

I am Savita and my daughter name is Vidya. Before she was not talking frankly to anybody. Now she is doing her work in time. I observe her she is speaking confidently I am very happy about her. Thanks to women`s empowerment project.