THE CHALLENGE

Girls 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.

OUR SOLUTION

We 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.

 

THE IMPACT

The 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 core groups comprising of adolescent girls have been formed in each basti to develop a second line of leadership and add sustainability to the project. The capacities of the adolescent groups will be built significantly so that they have ownership over the project and can take it forward. The 15 shortlisted girls from the football team are receiving advanced training from a football academy and certified coaches to play interstate matches. The case studies and stories that have been documented from the field shows significant and long-term impacts on
the lives of the girls. Following is the measurable impact of the project. 

  • 400 girls and women would be empowered on gender and rights through sport and other leadership training. These girls will lead the way for other girls in the community.
  •  A Committee of 18 core group members will ensure the sustainability of the project through their intervention and influence in the community.
  • A trained football team of 60 girls would play interstate football matches and will break the gender barrier. 10% of them would be further employed as coaches to train other girls.

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.