THE CHALLENGEGirls and women in India are denied equal opportunities at several levels due to societal norms restricting their freedom and factors like household responsibilities, lack of safe play spaces, child marriage, early pregnancies, and a general lack of freedom to make decisions and life choices. The pandemic and its subsequent disproportionate impact on girls and women are further widening the gender gap and a significant increase in gender-based violence is putting millions of girls and women at risk. All over the world, it has been recognised that sports can be used as a medium to amplify girl’s voices while tearing down gender barriers and discrimination. Rajabazar, Harijan Basti, Kasai Basti are one of such communities where girls face unimaginable challenges. These are urban slums situated in Kolkata, West Bengal, India and inhabited by Muslims, scheduled castes, and other minorities group. The majority of the population depends on daily wages for running their households and falls below the poverty line. The social-economic status of the targeted community is low. The women and girls in the community are victims of gender-based violence and discrimination. Their mobility and life choices are restricted by a patriarchal structure. |
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OUR SOLUTIONWe at iPartner India believe that early intervention with young girls can empower them to reach their full potential and to choose their future, therefore, iPartner India has developed a well-designed program, that aims at breaking the gender stereotypes and improving the leadership skills of young girls through various gender training and through football sport. The project is led by a young team, called “One Team One Dream” and is being implemented by iPartner India in Kolkata since early 2019, in a community that is dominated by patriarchal norms that prevent girls from living a life of opportunities. The girls in the community are not allowed to go out or access the playground, they face mental and physical abuse at home by the male members of the family. The project primarily works with the girl children and their mothers through one-to-one meetings and training on gender norms, gender-based violence, understanding power structures, patriarchy, caste class, and gender interfaces, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. The project also provides legal training and counselling to the victims of domestic abuse. Community events, film screenings, and gatherings are conducted to sensitize men, boys, and other male influential of the community. So far, the project has trained more than 500 girls and women. The attitude and behaviours of parents and the community have changed significantly towards girls, during the last two years of project implementation. Our midline surveys also indicate the progress on key indicators.
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THE IMPACTThe project empowers more than 400 girls and women through gender and football training. Through extensive legal and gender training, project also aims at reducing gender-based violence in the community.
The project has a strong peer support network and collaboration with other stakeholders which further strengthen the project and will help to scale up into other states of India. |
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