By DEBADUTTA DASH | Secreatry, Sukarya USA
TULIKA, THE YOUNG CHANGE-MAKER
Tulika, 14, lives in the Arjun Camp slums in Delhi with her parents. Her father is daily wage labor, and her mother is a household worker. As one of the lead girls of Sukarya’s Adolescent Girls Empowerment and Leadership Program (AGELP), she wants to change many cultural misconceptions around periods, which, according to her, dictates the way women and girls are treated. When girls are [on their] periods, they face different problems,” she says. “Girls aren’t allowed in the kitchen. They are not allowed to touch any fruit or plants.”
In the slums, young women have extraordinarily little knowledge about periods. She, herself, didn't know anything about the use of sanitary towels. Many believe women should not cook or go into the town or city center while menstruating. Not being allowed to step into a kitchen means many do not eat properly. Instead, they sleep alone, often outside, until they finished bleeding. There are inadequate bathroom facilities, and many resorts to unhygienic methods to manage their monthly cycle.
Tulika has already started doing counseling with her friends about the importance of Menstrual Hygiene. She is thankful to Sukarya for empowering her to challenge these barriers by distributing sanitary wear and primary sexual education. She said women often suffer during their periods, but she wants to help them feel free. She also aspires to help Sukarya’s health education program that aims to challenge negative attitudes around menstruProgress Report: February 2021 to Mid May 2021
Between February to May 2021, a total of 800 adolescent girls has been inducted into the program, out of which 400 have been completed the 3 months module-based training on 6 specified topics [ 1. Adolescent Health, 2. Menstrual Hygiene 3. Reproductive Health,4. Family Life Education 5.Gender and gender-based discrimination issues 6. Social Threats, issues, challenges, and coping mechanism. ].
And rest 400 girls are continuing their training sessions this quarter.
Currently, 32 “ Lead Girls” are being trained and developed into the program. In addition, an exclusive 4 pieces of training were organized on Gender, roles and responsibilities, leadership skills, and personality development aspects.
Due to the 2nd wave of deadly covid 19 pandemic from the last week of April 2021, the project has switched over its training sessions into virtual sessions. Despite numerous challenges in execution and huge health and livelihood crises across the project locations, the project team has effectively conducted all the scheduled activities. The community members and parents of girls are extending their full support and help in the execution of activities. They are also showing their gratitude for this meaningful, life-changing intervention for adolescent girls.
No. of slum locations intervened - 16
No. of batches made - 16
No. of girls registered - 800
No. of Orientation Sessions conducted with parents - 16
No. of Training conducted in this quarter - 48
No. of Lead Girls Trained & Developed - 32
No. of training conducted for Lead Girl - 32
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By DEBADUTTA DASH | Secreatry, Sukarya USA
By DEBADUTTA DASH | Secreatry, Sukarya USA
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