Lifeskill,Sexuality Education for 1000 girls-India

Centre for Women’s Development and Research
Life Skill and Sexuality Education for 1000 girls-India (14480)
Update- March 2018

January to March is important period for us and the girls particularly for the girls who are preparing themselves attend the 10^th and 12^th standard board examinations.  These examinations will determine their future studies and career. Last 3 year because of continuous disasters like floods and cyclones the slums affected the in turn the slum girls, most of them could not prepare well for the examinations, even though most of them passed their examinations, they scored less marks or just pass marks. That that them and us to find college seats.  Most of the girls secured seats in private colleges and not in government colleges, that means huge college fees, most of them could not able to join the colleges.  We have been supporting few girls by providing scholarships, for us also it is very difficult because the government college annual fees is Rs.6000 but in private colleges is Rs. 30,000-40,000.   So, during January to March we concentrate on providing supplementary education support for these girls so they score higher markets in their board examinations.

We have organized weekend workshops for the girls to face the board examinations like time management, preparation and facing board examinations, and academic subjects like Mathematics, Science and English.   In addition to that in our working are in 3 high schools we have organized tuition classes English, Science and Mathematics. After school hours the school teachers conducted tuition classes in the school itself.  We have paid a small honorarium for school teachers for these 3 months. Weekly once we have also provided snacks as supplementary nutrition. Nearly 450 girls from 10^th and 12 standards benefitted these activities.  We have been also continuing the lifeskill and sexuality education for adolescent girls, weekend workshops were conducted in our 3 learning centres and 320 girls were benefitted from this.

On 14^th January Pongal festival (Harvest festival of Tamilnadu) adolescent girls organized Pongal festival in the PVR mall Velcherry to educate the public and also to raise funds locally. They have organized folk dances, painting and drawing for children. Hundreds of people watched and participated in the programme.  In addition to that the adolescent girls also participated in the International women’s day. In most slums they helped women to organize the day and participated in that.

Last 3 months the crimes against women and girls  are increasing in Tamilnadu,  We have been discussing it with adolescent girls and their mothers and planning to take up some advocacy campaigns to end the violence against women and girls in the coming months.