Every 4th girl is a child bride. Help change this

Dear Donor,

Hope you are safe and healthy !!

Jan to March period saw several actions and commitments from adolescents as well as stakeholders. While the ‘Taron Ki Toli’ –key AEP (Adolescents Empowerment Program) intervention of Breakthrough brings change in gender attitudes and develops the leadership and negotiation skills of adolescents, the community mobilization efforts broadcast messaging in community on ills of early marriage, importance of education and health, hygiene concerns of adolescents and target norm change.

Following activities were conducted during this period --

1. Teachers Training

a)      Online Sessions on Child Safety with teachers: In January, child safety week was observed across India. In Haryana, Breakthrough members were invited from education department and school administration in our intervention area to facilitate the session as resource person. Breakthrough is recognised as an expert on gender and child safety. Breakthrough team members facilitated the session on POCSO, Child Safety during online sessions and linking vulnerable children to the school system, which was well appreciated by the organising schools. Breakthrough focussed on vulnerability caused to adolescents’ girls by dropping out from school, low access to digital devices due to gender discrimination and violence and early marriage. 362 teachers and principals from 11 schools attended these sessions.

b)      Strengthening School Management Committee in Karnal: One day teachers training was organised in Karnal, Panipat, Sonipat and Jhajjar in collaboration with District Legal
Service Authority and Department of Education. Discussion was focussed around concept of SMCs, mandate and role and responsibilities of members in contributing to improve education. Principals and teachers actively participated in discussion and ensured to take these learning back to strengthen the SMCs. Principal from Gadhi Khajur school appreciated Breakthrough, for raising awareness and taking initiatives to address issues of drop out and early marriage in the community. Ms. Sudesh Thakral, Block Education Officer, Gharaunda block addressed the participants and appreciated Breakthrough work which is witnessed in the ground. Principal and teachers who are part of SMC participated from 80 intervention schools.

2. Community Mobilization

a)      Kishori Melas

Kishori melas have become a platform for inter gender and inter-generational dialogue. The adolescent boys and girls in the community, through interactive games, songs and dances, spread awareness in the community about ills of early marriage and gender-based inequalities and its various forms and the need to establish gender equity and equality. Officials from the health department also spread awareness about Covid-19 and its socio-economic and health impact on individuals and the necessary precautionary measures that should be taken.

                     I. Banoga village of Bakshi Ka Talaab block of Lucknow does not have any government school beyond class 8 within a radius of 12 kms. Hence many girls of this village were forced to drop out. Once they dropped out, their families would start planning their marriage.Rinki, Parul, Rangoli, Shalu, Mohini and Alochana (all names changed) are Taaron Ki Toli (TKT) members who decided to raise this issue during the Kishori Mela. The girls presented an emotional skit on ills of early marriage. Village Pradhan (Head) also promised that he would try his best to get approval and provision for a school in Banoga. He said that if he gets to know of any case of early marriage he would take legal action.

                   II. During a Kishori Mela in Gorakhpur, a 15-year-old girl thanked our 17-year-old team change leader Akaash (name changed) and his family publicly from the Kishori Mela platform for saving her from an unwanted under age marriage. The Kishori melas were held in 4 districts of UP at 129 spots with total outreach of 30800.

3. Hyper Local Campaign

a) Following the principal, more the girls remain in school there are more chances of delay in marriage, this year’s hyper local campaign focussed on improving systems, procedures and facilities in the school. In Jharkhand the hyper local campaign focused on improving sanitations facilities in schools. In UP the focus was activation of SMCs and VLCPCs. The campaigns were led by Nari Sangh women and were supported by adolescents and other community members. The campaigns culminated in Jansunvaai at block level at 15 spots (12 in UP and 3 in Jharkhand) reaching up to 2076 (1966 in UP and 110 in Jharkhand) members in the community. As a result of the campaigns in UP, 54 VLCPC meetings were held with 1548 people and 79 SMC/Nari Sangh meetings were held with 917 people. At several places the Pradhans (Village Heads) committed to undertake drives to ensure zero drop outs in their villages. In Jharkhand the condition of toilets in several schools improved assuming that it will catalyse the retention of girls in schools and hence reducing chances of early marriage. It is hoped that improvement in education and reduction in violence against girls will reduce the risk of early marriages in intervention areas of both the states.

4. Taaron Ki Toli (TKT) Sessions

a) The aim of TKT is to bring about a shift in gender attitudes in adolescents and develop their agency and negotiation skills so that they begin to question and defy discriminatory norms and make informed decisions about marriage and pursue higher education and careers. We reached 47057 Ujjwal Taras (11-14 years’ adolescents) and 45693 Roshan Taras (15-18 years’ adolescents) through the Taron Ki Toli sessions across our three intervention states.

This all work is happening because of support of DONORS like you. We would request you to continue your support and if possible recommend our project to like-minded people.

With Hope and Gratitude,

Aman Chhabra.