Give GIRLS in India a CHANCE at life

Dear Donor,

In the last 2 months what we emphasised on, apart from doing our classroom sessions in a different way, was “Training of School Teachers” as on a daily basis student interact with them the most and the influence they have is huge.

1)    Training of School Teachers:

In School Based Intervention Program, working with students in classroom through LEGION OF STARS- TAARON KI TOLI(TKT) session does not complete the cycle. We need to engage the school staff to create an ecosystem for change and support in smooth functioning of the program at the school level. Orientation around the issue of gender, Gender-Based Discrimination (GBD) and how this is impacting the process of social change is what needs to be addressed.

Schools need to promote and nurture safer spaces especially for girls so that they can exercise their rights. To build school as safer & gender-neutral space, orientation of School heads and Teachers around gender equality is highly required. Most of the school teachers & principals assign gender stereotypes responsibilities to girls & boys. This time School level teachers training was held in 26 schools in Rohtak district and 10 schools of Jhajjar district with an aim to shift the attitude towards GBD among School heads and Teachers so that they can support to build safer & gender-neutral space. During the teachers training we reached 598 teachers & principals in 36 schools. In long run teachers training helps to create conducive environment to reduce gender discriminatory practices & build safer spaces for girls so that they can exercise their rights.

2)     Classroom Sessions:

In July, we did three sessions SABKE SAMANE, AAJ KI TAJA KHABAR and SAAF-SANTULIT-SWASTH.

SABKE SAMANE session helps to build confidence and public speaking skills among the TKT stars so that they can raise their voices against gender discriminatory practices. It also helps them to negotiate with their parents to deal with issue of gender-based discrimination. Apart from this they are able to share their desires and future plans with their parents to build intergenerational dialogue.

AAJ KI TAJA KHABAR session aims to encourage students to read newspaper to build more awareness about what is happening in their surroundings.

SAAF-SANTULIT-SWASTH with class 8^th, 9^th, 11^th and 12^th aims to enhance awareness on hygiene, right to health and nutrition for a physical well-being. During the session, we observed that discrimination in accessing health and nutrition is so much normalised. This session addressed the discrimination through group exercise. After discussion, we reflected upon the kind of future implications on health due to improper & low diet especially for women and girls. Emotional and social aspects of health were also discussed.

In August, we had facilitated chapter named AAJ MEIN UPAR with class 6^th. Thishelps to identify their qualities and their dreams so that they can negotiate with their parents for career planning. This chapter also helps TKT stars to understand that every student has quality as well as dreams which are gender natural. In long run these sessions will help TKT stars to break gender stereotypes which currently exist in our society around career planning.

Outreach: Number of Schools Reached: 90 in four districts (Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonipat & Panipat) of Haryana

On an average, we have outreached -8250 students monthly through TkT sessions

We hope that these updates help you understand our work better and we look forward to your continous support to make our dream a reality.

Thanks and Regards,

Aman Chhabra.