Support A Young Girls Leadership Academy in India

“The first and most important thing is that girls must have the information about what their rights are. If they knew that football is also meant for girls, is when they will demand or ask to play the sport too. If she also thinks that it is not for girls and has been told constantly by everyone else; she also has no idea that girls can also play football. She will start believing in this and will not be able to question it. I got the chance to know; I play football and want every girl of my area to know this. “- Neha (name changed), SELF 2019 participant from Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh.

 “I am the first girl of my area and home who has come out to stay out of her village/home for 15 days. I live in a joint family, my mother and father had no problem sending me but, my uncles were asking many questions. I lied that I had applied for a course and got selected and going for it. I had no confidence to tell them the truth and why I wanted to go. Here, at the SELF academy, I have gained tremendous confidence to speak my mind, what I want. I feel confident enough to tell my uncles what I have learnt here and what I want to do in my life.” – Jiya (name changed), SELF 2019 participant from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh.      

These are some of the experiences and understanding of young women leaders who participated in the SELF Academy 2019 organized in Lucknow from 15 – 30 November. Forty-two participants between the ages of 18-22 years attended the two-week long residential academy.  They were from the districts of Bareilly, Lucknow and Mahoba of Uttar Pradesh state.

 This Academy focused on building perspective - on the issues of gender-based discrimination, sexuality, patriarchy, feminist leadership and rights; and skills - of sports, digital literacy, comics and storytelling, theatre and body movement, designing campaigns and leadership of young women to critically reflect and challenge gender-based discrimination and violence, widespread in their context.

 “We all have brains but, we don’t use it.” – Jyoti (name changed), SELF 2019 participant from Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh.

This is a simple statement and a reflection by Jyoti but it speaks volumes on the context of young women and the kind of expectations people have from girls and women. They are not expected to think critically, ask questions, have an opinion and take decisions for themselves. The Academy aimed towards strengthening the voice and agency of young women; facilitated by different faculty members, the sessions helped the participants to learn skills and understand the politics around gender, patriarchy, body, pleasure, consent and violence.  

 “I try to stop myself from asking questions, I don’t feel confident to ask. When I ask questions people, even the girls taunt me. They say that I ask so many questions. They make fun of me. I feel bad that they do not like it. Although, my questions are not related to them, they judge me for asking questions. I write poems but, tear the paper after writing and throw them. Girls say that I copy my poems from the internet, they don’t believe that I can write poems.” – Salma (name changed), a SELF-participant from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. During the academy, she wrote and showed her poem to us. Her poem was simple yet so powerful, speaking about the freedom, choice and rights that she must have in relation to the decision about her marriage and life.     

 The Academy provided a safe space to the participants to discuss, hold debates, share experiences, learn, find new friends/allies and freely voice their opinions. Over the course of the Academy, young women leaders discussed the ideas and the plan for campaign, which they plan to run in their communities during the 16 days of Activism campaign after they go back from the Academy. Overall, the Academy was successful in creating a pool of young, strong, confident women leaders who are ready to bring the change, not just in their own lives but also for other girls in their communities.