Kishori Sashaktikaran Pariyojna
The Kishori Sashaktikaran Pariyojna (Adolescent Empowerment Project) is a transformative initiative aimed at empowering adolescent girls in the Uska Bazar block of Siddharthnagar District, Uttar Pradesh. The project, led by Swabhiman Samiti in collaboration with Grameen Vikas Sansthan and the Prajim Premji Foundation, addresses critical issues such as sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), education, early marriage, leadership, and menstrual health. Through education, skill-building, and community engagement, the project seeks to equip girls with the tools to overcome challenges and lead better lives.
Key Highlights:
- Target Group: 400 adolescent girls
- Key Activities:
- Formation of 20 Adolescent Groups (AGs) across 10 villages for empowerment and training.
- Community engagement through awareness campaigns with parents and local leaders.
- Sports and leadership development to encourage physical health and self-confidence.
SS
Project Overview
The Kishori Sashaktikaran Pariyojna (Adolescent Empowerment Project) is an initiative led by Swabhiman Samiti, in collaboration with Grameen Vikas Sansthan and the Prajim Premji Foundation, aimed at empowering adolescent girls in the Uska Bazar block of Siddharthnagar District, Uttar Pradesh. The project focuses on addressing key issues faced by these girls, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), education, early marriage, leadership development, sports engagement, and menstrual health. Through a combination of community mobilization, education, and skill-building activities, the initiative seeks to equip adolescent girls with the knowledge and tools to overcome these challenges and build a better future for themselves and their communities.
Objectives
The key objectives of the Kishori Sashaktikaran Pariyojna are to:
- Increase Knowledge on SRHR: Educate adolescent girls about sexual and reproductive health, rights, and safe menstrual hygiene practices.
- Prevent Early Marriage: Conduct awareness campaigns to prevent early marriages and encourage education for girls.
- Promote Education: Motivate girls to continue their education, reducing the dropout rate in rural areas.
- Encourage Participation in Sports: Promote physical activity and sports as part of holistic development.
- Develop Leadership Skills: Empower girls to take on leadership roles in their communities.
- Improve Menstrual Health and Hygiene: Raise awareness about menstrual hygiene and encourage healthy practices.
Background and Rationale
In rural areas of Siddharthnagar, adolescent girls face numerous challenges, including limited access to education, health services, and leadership opportunities. High dropout rates, early marriage, and poor menstrual health are significant barriers to their personal development. The Kishori Sashaktikaran Pariyojna aims to address these issues by providing adolescent girls with essential knowledge, skills, and a supportive environment to help them overcome these challenges. By focusing on education, health, and leadership, the project aims to create a foundation for the empowerment of girls, enabling them to be agents of change in their communities.
Planned Outreach
- Coverage: 400 adolescent girls
- Number of Villages: 10 villages in Uska Bazar block
- District: Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh
- Target Area: Rural villages with limited access to education, health services, and recreational activities
- Program Duration: 3 years
Key Strategies
- Formation of Adolescent Groups (AGs): Create 20 groups in 10 villages for empowering adolescent girls through education and peer support.
- Capacity Building of Volunteer Leaders: Select and train peer group leaders who will mentor fellow group members on health, education, and leadership.
- Field Staff Training: Train 26 staff members on SRHR, gender issues, health, and leadership to effectively implement the program.
- Community Engagement: Organize meetings with parents and local leaders to raise awareness about the importance of education and preventing early marriage.
- Advocacy for SRHR and Education: Conduct advocacy campaigns and community meetings to ensure girls and their families are aware of their rights and entitlements under government schemes.
- Sports and Physical Activities: Promote sports activities and physical health as part of overall development.
Core Activities
- Formation of Adolescent Groups (AGs): Establish 20 groups across 10 villages, providing girls with a platform for learning, discussion, and empowerment.
- Peer Group Leader Selection: Choose 40 leaders (2 per AG) who will mentor and guide their peers on SRHR, education, and leadership.
- Training of Field Staff: Equip 26 staff members with the necessary skills to train girls and community members on health, nutrition, and leadership.
- Exposure Visits: Organize exposure visits for staff and group leaders to learn from successful models of adolescent empowerment.
- Community Engagement and Awareness Campaigns: Facilitate meetings with Panchayati Raj Institutions and local leaders to raise awareness about SRHR, education, and the importance of delaying marriage.
- Regular Meetings and Sessions: Hold bi-monthly meetings with each AG to discuss health, education, and life skills, ensuring continuous engagement and learning.
- Stakeholder Meetings with Frontline Workers: Conduct quarterly meetings with frontline workers (FLWs) to strengthen collaboration and ensure effective service delivery.
- Baseline and Endline Surveys: Conduct surveys at the beginning and end of the project to measure knowledge, behavior change, and the effectiveness of the program.
- Special Day Celebrations: Celebrate events like International Women’s Day and Youth Day to raise awareness and encourage leadership development.
Expected Achievements and Outcomes
- Increased Knowledge on SRHR: By the end of the project, 400 adolescent girls will have increased awareness of SRHR, including safe menstrual hygiene practices and gender equality.
- Reduced Dropout Rates: The program will help increase the retention rates of girls in education, with a significant reduction in dropout rates.
- Prevention of Early Marriage: Through awareness campaigns, there will be a noticeable reduction in early marriages in the target area.
- Improved Menstrual Health Practices: 80% of the girls will demonstrate better understanding and practices related to menstrual health and hygiene.
- Active Participation in Sports: 50% of the girls will engage in physical activities and sports, enhancing both physical health and leadership abilities.
- Leadership Development: 40 adolescent girls will be trained as youth leaders, equipping them to mentor others and lead initiatives in their communities.
Conclusion
The Kishori Sashaktikaran Pariyojna is a transformative initiative aimed at empowering adolescent girls in Uska Bazar block, Siddharthnagar district. By addressing key issues such as SRHR, education, and early marriage, and by fostering leadership and engagement in sports, the project has the potential to make significant strides in improving the lives of these girls. Through collaboration with key stakeholders, continuous training, and exposure visits, the project aims to create a ripple effect that will extend beyond the girls directly involved, benefiting their families and communities. The success of this project will set the stage for further interventions in rural empowerment and gender equality.
