By Aman Chhabra | Project Leader
Dear Donor,
Hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy!!
Breakthrough has been working with adolescents through an umbrella program idea namely, Adolescent Empowerment Programme (AEP) since 2012. This program is implemented to better the gender attitudes and behaviours at a stage of life when the views are still malleable. We are doing this across the 5 states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar and Jharkhand; states with some of the worst gender indicators in the country. We believe that improving gender equality will ensure the realisation of fullest potential of adolescent girls’ with realisation of education and health rights, as well as the agency. We currently reach over 535,000 adolescent girls and boys from the ages of 11 to 18 years. The programme aims to ensure rights and agency for adolescents; helping them demand equity in health, education and career aspirations, as well as life choices in their homes and community, for themselves and for others. A major programme focus is to reduce incidence of underage marriages.
AEP is based on the social-ecological model. Hence, besides working with adolescents it also focusses on community awareness and sensitization on gender based discrimination (GBD) & gender based violence (GBV) by working with diverse groups of stakeholders including men’s and women’s groups, Front Line Workers, teachers and PRIs so as to develop a conducive environment that will support the adolescents by transforming community mind set and norms.
COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION IN UP AND BIHAR DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD
Under age marriage is one of the most widely prevalent forms of gender based violence. During reporting a number of mobilization activities were held in UP as well as Bihar focusing on gender based violence including early marriage. Importance of intervening to stop early marriage was re-iterated as field experiences indicate a risk in its rise due to COVID generated financial and other uncertainties.
During Dec 20 and Jan 21 a total of 45 kishori melas were held amidst community in 4 AEP districts (Siddharthnagar, Mahrajganj, Jaunpur and Ghazipur) and a reach of 5618 was ensured. Ujjwal Taras (11-14 yrs), Roshan Taras (15-18 yrs), Team change leaders participated actively in different games and activities during Kishori melas. The posters prepared and theatre/songs and other presentations by these adolescents and youth related to early marriage and other forms of gender based violence were highly appreciated by community, Front line workers, PRIs as well as representatives from government departments. At many places, the Pradhan’s (Village Heads) spoke highly of the change the AEP has brought in these adolescents.
Different government officials and other sector experts (Officers from block/district level education department, department of women and child welfare, ICDS, police, principals and teachers of schools and colleges) shared valuable information related to different career opportunities available in their sectors and departments. These specialists also gave tips on how to prepare for being selected for these positions and the process of application too. Some even shared their personal motivational stories of challenges they faced and how they persevered to realize their career aspirations. Adolescents made posters on career aspirations and put forward their queries related to career aspirations. Total 1129 people including Ujjwal Taras, Roshan Taras, Team Change Leaders, Members of Nari Sanghs and other people from community were present during these 12 block level events in 4 AEP districts (Siddharthnagar, Mahrajganj, Jaunpur and Ghazipur). The purpose of the activities was to motivate adolescents and support them in career related goal setting and finding their career pathways so that they can better negotiate within families against under age marriages and pursue their dreams.
In this programme under Mission Shakti of Government of UP, 4 stories of our Lucknow intervention area were selected for honour as ‘Shakti Yoddha’. The four stories were also published in the Hindustan newspaper. The four stories were of Anuradha whom we had adjudged winner under ‘Dakhal Do’, story of Nari Sangh leader Priti related to her campaign against alcoholism, Anjali’s story of Sundarnagar and of Rashmi who had stopped early marriage. State Lead Ms Krati Prakash was also invited to this programme and she presented her views on the issue of safety and security of women and girls.
Forum theatre of oppressed was held in 30 villages of 15 gram panchayats of Konch block and 10 villages of 5 panchayats of Tekri blocks during the reporting period. The Ujjwal Taras and Roshan Taras played an active role in selecting the spots in the villages, in gathering the community and in holding discussions based on the theatre performance. The main issues that were covered in the theatre performance and discussions were-
A remarkable observation during these shows was that about 80 adolescents openly discussed the MHM issue. Women also joined the discussion. Mahamati kumari- a woman from Ker village of Ker panchayat said, ‘’Menstruation is a perfectly natural process. We have shrouded it in shame so even if by accident our clothes get stained we become a butt of ridicule – which is very wrong. We are unable to discuss problems related to it because of such behaviours’. 326 people participated in discussion by taking the role of Chanda. On seeing the theatre of oppressed, the head master of middle school of Taraari village of Adai panchayat was full of praise, and said, ‘We can clearly see the leadership that Breakthrough programme has developed in the students of our school. The difference is clear when we compare our students with students of non-intervention schools’. Altogether we were able to reach to 19338 people.
Sessions with Ujjwal Taras (11-14 years adolescents) and Roshan Taras (15-18 years adolescents) in Bihar
Keeping in mind the changed priorities and needs of the community and adolescents due to COVID, the Taaron Ki Toli chapters focused during the reporting period on health and risk of early marriage. Hence, following four chapters were focused during this period-
The first two chapters related to health, hygiene and nutrition, the third had components on how to strike intergenerational dialogue and negotiate with parents and the fourth one specifically related to conversations around the correct age of marriage. Altogether 131 sessions based on above chapters were held with 5554 Ujjwal Taras (2539 girls and 3015 boys). Similarly, 154 sessions were held with 3141 Roshan Taras comprising 2834 girls and 307 boys. The Bihar project was a school based project but due to COVID we tracked the students in communities and have been holding the sessions in communities.
This all work is happening because of support of DONORS like you. In our fight against EARLY MARRIAGE, we need your support more than EVER!!
With Hope and Gratitude,
Aman Chhabra.
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