Empower girls like Priti in slums in Pune, India

Name of Beneficiary:  Komal Bhagnath Satbhaiyya.

Age:  15 years.

Class: 10^th Standard.

Name of Community: Katarvasti.         

Since last year the project team has been working in our community. We were curious about life skills classes. The staff did a survey and conducted home visits. They also called a 'parents meeting' to introduce their programme to our parents. Thanks to this, my mother and father allowed me to go for life skills class. All the girls present were very happy and enjoyed the class very much. Apart from the subjects which we learn in our schools, we received information about important issues in our daily lives. i.e. nutrition, hygiene, communication skills, and self-confidence.

We also had the opportunity to visit a police station, bank and an orphanage. These visits allow us exposure wider society and to have confidence to face certain situations. Before this, we only thought about the world that surrounded us and what we knew, but after participating in the different programes I have started thinking beyond these boundaries. For the first time in our lives we entered a police station. We had a chance to interact with the police and allay the fears we previously had about them. In future if we should have reason, we are now capable and confident enough to ask for the help of the police. We also learned what a bank is, and how it functions. We have decided to open savings accounts in future.

We girls like this class very much. Every day we eagerly wait the arrival of our teachers so we can learn something new.