Give GIRLS in India a CHANCE at life

Dear Donor,

Hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy!! Thanks for your support for our work. Sharing some of the key highlights of our work between Oct 24 and Dec 24.

Breakthrough Celebrates 25 Years of Transformative Change through Learning Mela

Breakthrough proudly celebrated 25 years of dedicated work to challenge deep-rooted cultural norms and break down barriers that fuel gender-based violence and discrimination. Our unwavering commitment has been to make violence and discrimination against women and girls completely unacceptable in every community we touch.

To honour this remarkable journey, we hosted the Learning Mela on October 17th—a vibrant gathering that showcased powerful change stories, impact studies, and inspired meaningful conversations about Breakthrough’s achievements, innovations, and on-the-ground impact over the past quarter-century. The celebration was enriched by a robust dance performance from our Team Change Leaders and an engaging exhibition curated by Twin Seduction agency, which highlighted Breakthrough’s transformative work and the ripple effects of change we’ve fostered across communities and schools in six intervention states.

Strengthening Partnerships: Networking Meeting in Rohtak, Haryana

The networking meeting in Rohtak, Haryana marked a significant step forward in fostering collaboration with key government stakeholders to advance Breakthrough's mission of creating a gender-equitable society. Chaired by Rohtak's Chief Judicial Magistrate from the department of District Legal Service Authority, Ms Tarlum, who highlighted the link between gender discrimination and violence, underscoring the urgent need to address this issue in the patriarchal society. She appreciated Breakthrough’s 'Bell Bajao' campaign for its innovative approach to interrupting domestic violence and raising awareness to protect individuals from harm.

The meeting served as a platform to strengthen relationships and build understanding among district officials of Rohtak, Haryana, about Breakthrough's work to combat gender-based violence and discrimination.

Empowering Teachers for Adolescent Leadership: District Level Teacher’s Training in Haryana

To further the impact of the Adolescent Empowerment Program in Haryana, district-level orientation training for teachers was conducted in the Gurugram, Panipat, and Sonipat districts. The sessions marked a significant step toward building stronger relationships with the Education Department of Haryana, especially following the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Captain Indu, District Education Officer of Gurugram, offered full support in circulating necessary letters to invite school heads and teachers. The District and Block Education Officers of Gurugram also participated in the training.

During the training, teachers were introduced to the program’s initiatives, focusing on fostering gender equity and empowering students to overcome barriers in education and aspirations. The session highlighted the importance of Good School Indicators, including forming and strengthening adolescent voices through Student Councils. They also emphasized the active support received for Breakthrough’s initiatives, noting the positive changes seen in adolescents' confidence and resilience.

Community Mobilisation: Badi Si Asha in Haryana

 "Through Breakthrough’s efforts, the daughters of our communities are becoming aware of their rights, recognizing challenges around them, and raising their voices against inequality and violence." – Naveen, Sarpanch, Barsat, Karnal district, Haryana

In November, Breakthrough organised "Badi Si Asha: Badhte Kadam Sapno Ki Aur" community mobilisation events across 106 intervention Gram Panchayats of Haryana. Through vibrant street theatre performances in schools and communities, we aimed to spark critical conversations around adolescent girls’ education, aspirations, and gender-based violence reached to 98640 people in schools and communities. By engaging audiences of all ages, the performances created a platform for intergenerational dialogues, encouraging parents, elders and youth to openly discuss and address long-standing issues.

The impact of these events was evident in the immediate responses from the community. Adolescents confidently voiced their concerns, submitting demand letters on pressing issues like safe transportation and infrastructure, while parents and local leaders acknowledged the need for collective action. Stories of change began to emerge from girls aspiring to continue their education to village leaders committing to improve local facilities. These events not only raised awareness but also empowered individuals to take tangible steps towards building safer, more equitable communities, proving that intergenerational dialogue is key to driving lasting social change.

Breakthrough facilitates Adolescent Education Program with collaboration of Department of School Education Haryana

In collaboration with the Department of School Education, Haryana, Breakthrough was invited to conduct District Level Orientation Training on the Adolescent Education Programme (AEP) in Gurugram and Panipat. This initiative, facilitated through a recent MoU with the Department, enabled us to conduct sessions in intervention schools. The Department of School Education funded and organised the training for 180 teachers across both districts, guided by NCERT’s National Curriculum Framework. The training focused on life skills, health, and psychological well-being, equipping teachers—mainly from Biology and Psychology backgrounds—as master trainers to further the program’s reach.

Our team (Arty, Riju, Ritambhara, Naresh, and Nisha) developed the content and facilitated sessions, which were highly appreciated by participants and District Education Officers. Teachers valued our ability to address adolescents’ health and agency-building, aligning seamlessly with our Good School Program. This training will extend to four more districts, strengthening our collaborative efforts in Haryana.

All our work happens through the financial support we received from donors like you and are immensely grateful for the same. Request you to continue your support and, if possible, refer us to like-minded people in your circle.

With Hope and Gratitude,

Aman Chhabra.