Engage&Empower girls & boys for Girl Effect-India

Hi Friends, 

One of the main focus area under our project is health & nutrition of poor young girls.   

Adolescence is a difficult time in any young girl’s life. This is when the body and the mind both are going through many changes which can be confusing for anybody. These changes are physical, emotional, mental and hormonal which have a direct bearing on how a girl starts to perceive herself and the world around her. At this difficult juncture in their lives, it is important that we provide safe space to our girls where they can avail information on various important topics, ask questions about their problems and discuss them with a mentor. IDEA’s Life Skill Sessions are planned keeping this in mind. Last month, our social worker conducted a session for 25 girls from the underprivileged areas of Dighi. This spirited bunch has been with IDEA since the last 2 years learning various skills like tailoring, beautician and handmade crafts. Every month we conduct Life Skills sessions to create awareness on various important topics related to Health, Hygiene and Women rights for all girls/ women enrolled in our many skill development courses.

                In many low-income families in India, girls are considered a burden and therefore their Health and Nutrition are not given much importance. They usually have food after their brothers, no one takes them for yearly health checkups and the many taboos around menstruation mean that they have no one who will give them correct information about what their body is going through and how they must take care of themselves during such times. As they are on the cusp of adulthood, they are also going through emotional upheavals and mood swings. It becomes necessary at these trying times to have a mentor who will guide them through the growing up process. Our social workers are trained to deal with these adolescent concerns and queries.

This particular session covered topics like Anemia awareness, Importance of balanced Nutrition and Menstrual health guidelines. Anemia in girls goes largely undetected due to lack of awareness. The girls were asked to check if they are suffering from common symptoms of Anemia like constant fatigue, dizziness, and headaches. They were told that the main cause of Anemia is low iron levels in the blood – iron-deficiency anemia. Reduced iron levels mean low hemoglobin, which in turn denotes diminished carries oxygen carrying capacity. On the topic of Nutrition, they were advised to eat balanced meals at the right times and were explained the importance of the 7 different nutrients – carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins, fiber, and water. The social worker also discussed menstrual problems and told them the Dos and Don’ts when it comes to menstrual health. They were told about what is normal and what is not during a menstrual cycle and what can cause a cycle to change.

All girls are urged to go for regular health-checkups. They are advised and reminded to look after their own health. Good mental and physical health during adolescence makes the growing up years a lot easier. We at IDEA want our girls to be aware individuals who take charge of their health and be in a position to decide for themselves. All we have to do is provide the correct information which is the key to understanding and accepting self and this knowledge is a critical component in the journey to empowerment.

FRIENDS, PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. LET’S EMPOWER MORE AND MORE GIRLS!

Links:

• IDEA website

Dear Friends,

Greetings from IDEA!

India is finally celebrating the girl child! Neglected and considered inferior so far, the daughter was always expected to play second fiddle to her brother. Her education and ambitions were considered a pastime, something which she should do after all the house chores are done.

It has taken years of work and advocacy but we can see the positive changes. We now see more school enrolment and career support for the girl child. We at IDEA wholeheartedly support girls to complete their education and ambitions by offering them sponsorship support.

We also run various skill development courses for girls so that they can turn their hobbies and skills into a source of livelihood. We feel happy to introduce to you all today – Rasika, our Home chef course student and a budding baker.

Rasika is a bright young girl who has seen poverty from close quarters. She has spent her childhood seeing her mother prepare snacks in their little kitchen, which she would later sell in the community. The meagre earnings from the snacks sale brought some relief to her father who was always struggling to make both ends meet. Little Rasika would come home after school and help her mother in preparing the snacks. During festival time, when the orders poured in, Rasika proved to be a good helper. This childhood experience, instilled in her a love for cooking and became her chosen career path.

When she heard that IDEA had started a HOME CHEF cooking and catering course, she enrolled immediately. Fast learner that she was, she excelled in preparing many food items. After completing an internship with a local eatery, Rasika came to IDEA again to discuss her possible future in this profession. She was counselled to take up baking as a profession as she is really good at it and enjoys baking a lot. She is very creative with the presentation of the cakes, which look and taste mouth-watering!

Rasika bakes from her home currently and she is always busy baking and delivering orders all around Pune. Her father is very proud of her and encourages us to have a piece of her freshly baked strawberry cake as we listen to her story.  She has tasted success and is not going to stop now. Rasika dreams of opening her own bakery in some years. Bakeries have always been male dominated this part of the world so no doubt she will have to work hard to break the invisible glass ceiling. But we have full faith in her and support her dreams.

 Rasika is already a role model in her community and a campaigner for GIRL EFFECT! Friends please continue to support us as we encourage and empower more and more girls.

THE TIME IS NOW – DONATE TO SEE “THE GIRL EFFECT”

Links:

• IDEA website
• IDEA Annual Report 2016-2017