Engage&Empower girls & boys for Girl Effect-India

Dear donors and supporters,

Wish you all Merry Christmas and a very happy new year!

End of the year means time to look back and review whether we are on the right track. We feel proud to see girls like Prema acquiring new skills and entering new professions. It gives us immense strength and vigor to continue our intervention to reach out to those in need.

Typically, children residing in slum communities go to schools and colleges and perform well like any privileged child. But when it comes to entering a job market they lack skills. These children share their feelings of how they lose confidence and command over language while interacting with others. IDEA is trying to fill this gap by continuous flow of life skill sessions relevant and important for their future. This year especially in past three months they were involved in various sessions like gender sensitivity, sanitation, stress management, study skills and adolescents’ health.

Prema is a classic example of how they use their hidden potential.

Prema spent her childhood in a small village in Mulshi, near Pune. Her mother had an accident when Prema was in 10^th. Prema being the eldest among the siblings had to stay home to take care of her mother. As a result, she dropped out. Prema is still carrying the grief of not being able to reenroll in school. She worked as a labor in a chocolate factory for a couple of years after which she got married.

Post marriage she worked in a garment store as a salesperson. After having two children she preferred to stay home for few years. She lives in a joint family with 2 brothers in law, 1 sister in law, father in law, mother in law, her husband and 2 children living together. They have their own house (4 small rooms) in Sutardara slum community. Her husband is a salesperson in an electronic equipment store. She has always had an urge to work and earn for the family. She grabbed the opportunity when she heard about IDEA’s beauty parlor course. She managed household responsibilities and completed the basic course successfully. She was motivated to join advance beautician course as well which she completed with determination. There were many hurdles in the process. Her brother in law passed away in the beginning of the course. It was a great shock for the family. But Prema very strongly pursued the course. It is rightly said, “Where there is will, there is a way”. We are glad to have given her an educational opportunity which made her stand on her own feet.

She completed that course with A grade. Today she is working part time in a beauty parlour and earning Rs. 2500 per month. The amount may be small but she has immense satisfaction with it. Prema is very proud for being able to contribute towards family income. Life skill sessions added value in her. She was well prepared for the interview. She even requested IDEA to conduct similar life skill sessions for other ladies in her community. Her desire to uplift other women like her is appreciable.

She has received a beauty kit from IDEA. Her future plan is to set up a beauty salon of her own. She has already tied up with her friend who also completed a beautician course through IDEA. Both of them are designing a plan and mobilizing resources for their joint venture. Wish you all the best Prema! Thank you for spreading the word in the community.

Prema says, “There are many illiterate women like me. They should also get an opportunity like me to get a respectable job.” She further says, “It is a pleasure to groom others. It gives me immense satisfaction as I play a key role in developing someone’s personality”.

Thank you donors for giving an opportunity to Prema through IDEA and make her believe in herself. Please continue your support to groom many more girls like Prema in the upcoming years.