Empower girls like Priti in slums in Pune, India

The project continues to work toward its target of reducing the level of disadvantage, suffering and gender discrimination facing women and adolescent girls living in the slum districts of Pune. In order to help them to do this the project team gather information on their activities as well as the results of these activities. This allows us to evaluate what is working and what needs changing.

We are really happy the way the project is progressing. From April 2014 to September 2014:

• 308 girls visited the police station and the bank to learn vital life skills such as lodging a police complaint or opening a bank account. This will be the first time many of these girls have ventured outside the slum. The exercise builds a lot of confidence.

• The project provides English, computer and tailoring classes as part of the drive to get women into well paid employment. This gives them a degree of independence and security against being trapped in abusive family situations. 57 girls attended tailoring classes of whom 42 are now in paid employment. 34 students got jobs through the projects basic computer training.
• Anaemia is a problem in the project area. Poor and inadequate diets mean girls are often lacking essential nutrients. The project challenges this problem through health checks and educating women and girls on the importance of diet. 143 women and girls attended a nutritional recipe demonstration organised by the project team. 208 girls attended haemoglobin check-up camps.
• India has recently been in the news regarding its treatment of women. The project looks to safeguard women and girls safety through education on their rights. The project put on workshops for 46 girls on domestic violence awareness.