#nutritionsupportprogramme

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Girl Education Ngo India - Plan India

Girls from disadvantaged communities in India lack opportunities. Help them flourish by supporting "Because I Am A Girl" initiative. Your donation empowers girls in education, health, livelihood, and safety and tackles negative gender norms for lasting impact. Donate & make a difference!

#sponsorachild #sponsorachildeducationinindia #donatetocharityindia #donateforindianpoorchildren #nutritionsupportprogramme #charityfoundationinindia #onlinecharityinindia #donateforgirlchildeducation #ngoforchildeducation

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Child marriage isn't ceremony, it's a violation of rights with lasting consequences. At Plan India, we're actively contributing to change by empowering communities, and providing support to girls at risk. Join us in our mission to ensure every child has the right to a safe and fulfilling future. https://www.planindia.org/get-involved/make-a-donation/because-i-am-a-girl-2/

#sponsorachild #sponsorachildeducationinindia #nutritionsupportprogramme #ngoforchildeducation #donateforgirlchildeducation #onlinecharityinindia #donateforindianpoorchildren

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BaalVivahAbhiNahiKabhiNahi awareness Campaign by Plan India launched in Bihar, UP, and Jharkhand on 8th March, Friday to prevent child marriage to empowers girls and prioritize their childhood. Join us in the comment section to stand against child marriage by saying #BaalVivahAbhiNahiKabhiNahi https://www.planindia.org/get-involved/make-a-donation/because-i-am-a-girl-2/

#sponsorachildeducationinindia #charityfoundationinindia #donateforindianpoorchildren #sponsorachild #nutritionsupportprogramme #ngoforchildeducation

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Sponsor a Child Education - Planindia

Embarking on a journey of empowerment, Plan India engaged over 1100 school-going students in story-telling sessions across Delhi's disadvantaged communities. With a focus on integrating story-telling-based pedagogy into classroom transactions, these sessions aimed at fostering self-confidence, overcoming inner fears, and embracing self-love. Guided by the principles of the National Education Policy 2020, each story was carefully selected to spotlight female empowerment and equality. Through interactive activities, students discovered their strengths and pledged to nurture them with a growth mindset. Additionally, the sessions provided a much-needed respite from exam stress, offering a holistic approach to education. Join us in championing this initiative and supporting the holistic development of our future leaders! Support our cause and make a difference today.

Donate now - https://www.planindia.org/get-involved/make-a-donation/because-i-am-a-girl-2/

#sponsorachild #donateforgirlchildeducation #nutritionsupportprogramme #ngoforchildeducation #donateforindianpoorchildren #sponsorachildeducationinindia #donationforpoorchild #charityfoundationinindia #donatemoneytopoorinindia #donatetocharityindia

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Nurturing a Future – Feminine Leadership

In 2011, when I planned to change sectors and move from being a Senior HR Advisor managinga large team at a thriving and booming IT company, to be the Manager HR at a relatively lesser known non-profit organisation at New Delhi, my well-wishers and peers advised me against the move.

“You will stagnate in a dirty slum or remote village – carrying the quintessential “jhola” and wearing “hawai chappal” said a well- meaning friend trying to dissuade me. Another one deplored the fact that my salary will fall below the “poverty line” and move south in comparison to my juniors, who will soon overtake me in the corporate rat-race and earn big bucks and fancy titles. Despite the advice, I persevered, convinced of my conviction to be part of the social development space and serve the community in my own small way.

What egged me on, were my daily encounters with the street kids on the way to the office – the despair one saw in their eyes…of myriad dreams that remained unfulfilled…the hopelessness of their situations and knowing fully well that I may not be able to change anything while sitting in my plush office in a global corporate.

Fast forward to today – 2022 – As the Director of Human Resource, organizational development and operations for Plan India, I have the opportunity to be a part of the country management team, which sets the course for our deeply impactful programs that work at the grassroots across rural and urban communities, influence and change the lives of millions of young children especially girls in the most marginalized communities across India. The road was not smooth, in fact, it was riddled with potholes and speed breakers – challenges included raising funding, getting the best talent, and acquiring technology among others. The key motivation was the cause our organisation Plan India worked for – vulnerable children and young girls, and that helped me soldier on the chosen path and the fact that I could see my contributions were able to bring cheer and smiles to young lives.

“I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT IF YOU’RE IN A POSITION OF POWER, PRIVILEGE AND INFLUENCE, YOU CAN OPEN DOORS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY LEFT BEHIND, IN FACT YOU HAVE A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THAT…”

Even in this day and age, the underprivileged still need men in power or more advantaged women, to vouch for their legitimacy to be at the table and not be dismissed or ignored just for being of a particular gender or lower caste, community or just being poor.

The times are changing rapidly and this is one urgent norm that needs to change soon. We need to shift the paradigm and create a more egalitarian society, where one can find a place at the table and rise to leadership rank purely based on merit and performance. To be able to access good education, health care and nutrition live safely and develop one’s agency to take decisions of life and build a better future.

Plan India (India Chapter) has been championing this cause for past many years now. Our long-running advocacy on “Because I am a Girl” have set the tone and campaign on “Girls Get Equal” have brought many like-minded institutions, embassies, government organizations and corporate citizens together to power the popular Girls Takeovers on the occasion of “International Day of the Girl” celebrated on October 11th each year.

While the takeovers seem to be symbolic, of young girls entering public spaces and taking on positions of power associated with leadership for a day, like for instance – District magistrates, Chief Minister’s office, CEO’s of Corporates or Ambassadors of different countries – they shatter many barriers are social or psycho-social that prevent the girls from visualizing their roles outside those of a home-maker in their family or a mother and a wife. We now regularly hear stories of young women, who have after this experience, gone on to build a stronger future, they convinced their families to let them hold jobs or be entrepreneurs or build community self-help groups of like-minded youth and really thrive. They are the real change makers, who are the beacons and models for others around them, to see the change and be emulated.

“WHAT ONE NEEDS AS A LEADER IS OPTIMISM AND POWER TO DREAM OF A BETTER TOMORROW… TRUST IN SELF AND IN ONE’S TEAM CAN BRING OUT THEIR VERY BEST”

Today Anjali a young change maker took over my role for a day.  It’s self-actualizing to see things coming full circle for me – contributing to the growth of girls as youth leaders, who are seizing opportunities to shape the conversations, as they should be and bring about a transformative change in the society we live in.

It is well-known that social empowerment is a slow and gradual process of change, but one that is slowly gaining ground and spreading beyond to influence others through the power of social media. Our girls are becoming champions of change – budding leaders who are confident and ready to take on the world.

#sponsorachild #ngoforchildeducation #sponsorachildeducationinindia #charityfoundationinindia #nutritionsupportprogramme #donateforgirlchildeducation

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The Sarthak project was implemented with a dual approach of addressing prevention and response for children who have experienced sexual violence, recognizing that both are essential for impact and change. The three-year project in Mumbai & Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) is working with schools and communities to increase awareness of Gender Based violence and sexual violence, as well as understanding of referral and response services, and with key stakeholders to build a child-friendly approach to prevention and response. It also works closely with child survivors to offer them a holistic range of support services, including health, psychosocial support, legal and social care.

#girleducationngoindia #ngoforgirls #nutritionsupportprogramme #genderinequalitycasestudyindia #donateforindianpoorchildren #donationforpoorchild #donateforgirlchildeducation #adoptaschoolindia #girlchildeducationdonation #ngoprogrammingforchildrenindia #bestngoforchildreninindia

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Feminism in this day and age not nearly as shocking as sexism

It’s been over half a decade since the #MeToo movement began making waves and three years since flexible working simplified keeping a career postpartum. So why are we still campaigning for gender equality?

Simply put, in spite of appearances, there has been little change.

Online movements denouncing the, often sexual, abuse of women and girls have become driving forces in the fight to be heard but, as our own #CrimeNotAComplement initiative demonstrates, being heard does not necessarily equate to being listened to.

Statistics released by Charlie Health show the opposite, with the majority of victims having previously met their aggressor, and these aggressors being substantially unlikely to face any legal repercussions. For the less than ten percent of aggressors which do face legal repercussions, the survivors they leave in their wakes report dismissal, purposely avoiding public spaces, and self-blame. As documented as this reality is, glancing at certain headlines would have you easily convinced of the opposite-an alleged ‘woke world gone mad’ where men are terrified to do so much as move.

Being unable to act without suffering is something women around the world are all too familiar with, no matter how they conform to patriarchy. Take the workplace for example: recent investigations published in the Harvard Business Review detail presumptions of “too much family responsibility and impending menopause” towards any woman of middle-age, whilst Laura Bates ‘Everyday Sexism’ recounts instances of career debutantes being denied career progression by reason of an ability to bare children in years to come. Judged on everything but personal merit, such discrimination seems insurmountable. Without a commitment to community-based change, it may well be.

Community-based change is indispensable in the fight against gender-based discrimination because everybody experiences sexism differently. For a programme participant in the USA, community-based change could resemble initiatives to combat the uptake in online misogyny; for a programme participant located in Guinea, that same change could take the form of supporting continued education.

Although differing in many respects, all local issues present potentially life-altering consequences for those who experience them – reminding us that sexism is not a simple abstract descriptor, but collections of behaviour that undermine the safety and integrity of those they impact.

We’re talking about sexism precisely because many others aren’t – and we want to invite you to join the conversation.

Read More: https://www.planindia.org/feminism-in-this-day-and-age-not-nearly-as-shocking-as-sexism/

#nutritionsupportprogramme #planontheboardmember #genderinequalitycasestudyindia

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The YHP aims to positively impact the health of adolescents in marginalized communities worldwide through research, advocacy and on-the-ground programs that are focused on the prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

#nutritionsupportprogramme #donateforindianpoorchildren #donationforpoorchild #donateforgirlchildeducation

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I Want to Create Child Marriage Free Villages

In India’s southern state of Telangana, close to 27 per cent of girls get married between the ages of 15 and 19. A vast majority of these marriages take place in rural areas, predominantly among the most socially and economically disadvantaged communities.

This situation is all too familiar to 18-year-old Ragini* who has seen many teenage girls in her area being forced into child and early marriage by their parents. Ragini, however, is determined that she won’t keep quiet and will do something about it.

My father abandoned me soon after I was born. He wanted a boy. He didn’t want to take up the responsibility of raising a girl child. Barely able to make ends meet, he couldn’t face the prospect of any more hardship to raise money for my dowry in the future. He left my mother and I was brought up by her and my grandmother.

My birth was a result of arranged marriage between my parents. My mother was barely 18. She didn’t have any say in her own marriage that so dramatically changed her life.

I have grown up witnessing the extreme suffering my mother has endured in raising me all by herself – particularly in a society that places even less value on a woman abandoned by her husband. She works very hard as a manual labourer to earn just about enough for us to survive.

Her daily struggles serve as a strong reminder to me as to why girls should never be forced into marriage and why they must be given an education to stand on their own two feet.

When I was in class 8, I became aware that my friend and classmate was getting married – her parents arranged it for her. I was shocked and deeply upset for her. I reported the matter to my teachers who met with the girl’s parents but to no avail. The parents were adamant and strongly resisted anyone interfering into their private affair.

My teachers backed off, but I wasn’t prepared to let this injustice happen to my friend who was just a child. I mobilised about 10 girls in my class and reported the matter to the local authorities. With their intervention the child marriage was stopped. It made me realise that if girls raise their voice, things can change.

A year ago, I became part of Plan India Girls Advocacy Alliance project that’s working to end child marriage in my district and is empowering girls to realise their rights.

Being part of a movement that involves many other girls like me has boosted my confidence and strengthened my resolve to make a difference. I have learnt how I can advocate for girls’ rights, mobilise girls to stand up for themselves and influence those who can make things better for them.

With the knowledge and skills I have gained, I have now taken on the challenge to make as many villages child marriage free as possible. I speak to religious and community leaders, hold meetings with local government officials and regularly motivate girls and their parents to put an end to child marriage. Only when the society starts valuing girls equally to boys, real change will happen.

It’s not easy to convince people to change their mindset. It takes a lot of effort. I am used to facing resistance from parents and community elders, but I don’t shy away from speaking my mind. If necessary, I remind them it’s illegal to get their daughters married off if they are under 18.

On the other hand, I tell girls about the help they can access if they are ever in that situation. They can call the helpline or even go the police. I strongly feel that people responsible for child marriage must not go unpunished. Slowly, the change is happening. It will take time, and I am not expecting miracles overnight.

I have completed my A levels and want to pursue a degree in commerce. I want to be a civil servant and pull myself and my mother out of poverty. Recently, my father made contact with us and visits us occasionally. Despite the extreme challenges of the past, I want to keep looking ahead.

Girls tell me that they feel inspired by me and think of me as a leader. I do feel proud of myself that despite all my personal struggles I never feel hopeless and beaten. On the contrary, I feel there is so much more I can achieve.

https://www.planindia.org/case-study/i-want-to-create-child-marriage-free-villages/

#nutritionsupportprogramme #planontheboardmember #genderinequalitycasestudyindia #donateforindianpoorchildren #donateforgirlchildeducation

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On this #InternationalDayOfTheGirl, we celebrated an extraordinary gathering of young ambassadors at the United Nations India Megha, Komal, Pooja, and Firdosh had the unique opportunity to serve as ambassadors for a day, representing the nations of Embassy of Denmark in India, Sweden in India, Embassy of Finland in New Delhi - Suomen suurlähetystö New Delhi Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi, respectively. These inspiring girls are taking bold steps to assert their rights and become agents of change. They discovered how United Nations in India agencies in India collaborate with various stakeholders to accelerate progress towards #SDG5, with a particular focus on girls' leadership. As Shombi Sharp aptly puts it, advancing gender equality, including girls' leadership, is the key to unlocking all our aspirations. It's a multiplier for everyone - women, men, boys, girls, communities, companies, and nations. These young ambassadors aren't just our future; they are the present, driving positive change and pushing for a world of equal opportunities.

#planindia #nutritionsupportprogramme #donateforgirlchildeducation #girlchildeducationdonation

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Meet Meera (name changed), a 17-year-old youth leader from Delhi. Despite facing initial hesitation due to eve-teasing, she joined Plan India's Safer Cities girls' club. Through our project, she learned about girl-friendly spaces, and now she’s transforming her community- bringing street lights, CCTV cameras and security guards to schools. She is leading safety assessments and engaging local leaders in community safety. Inspired by Meera her whole family now champions girls' rights. Her father an electric rickshaw supports the cause, and her mother actively promotes gender equality. Your Support Matters. Help us in creating safer cities for girls, where everyone is treated equally. Be part of this incredible transformation. Join us - https://www.planindia.org/get-involved/make-a-donation/because-i-am-a-girl-2/

#ngoforgirls #nutritionsupportprogramme #donateforindianpoorchildren

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Girls need to be safe online, as well as in the streets

According to Plan International’s research, cities are not safe places for girls and young women: on the streets, on public transport and in most public spaces they are frequently made to feel uncomfortable, unsafe and intimidated, just because they are young and female.

To combat this, we developed the ‘Safer Cities for Girls’ programme, which focuses on increasing access and safety in public spaces, giving girls a voice when it comes to urban development and governance and increasing girls’ autonomy and mobility in the city.

While we know that girls and young women are continually harassed on the streets, they are also faced with significant levels of harassment online. We carried out the largest ever survey on online violence – involving 14,000 girls in 22 countries – which shows one in five (19%) have left or significantly reduced use of a social media platform after being harassed, while another one in ten (12%) have changed the way they express themselves. More than half (58%) have been harassed or abused online.

Nineteen-year-old Kirti is one of Plan India’s Safer Cities for Girls youth leaders from the south-eastern region of Delhi.

Kirti, who is currently studying via distance learning at the University of Delhi, has been an active participant and leader within the Safer Cities programme for a number of years. She represented the project in the 2020 World Urban Forum, held in Abu Dhabi, and has trained as a Champion of Change.

She trains other girls on issues related to gender-based violence and what they can do to deal with sexual harassment in public spaces. “I encourage them to share their problems and be fearless,” Kirti says.

Kirti also carries out safety audits of local neighbourhoods, before presenting recommendations to authorities and local government. She believes the Safer Cities programme has “led to improved confidence and increased mobility among girls in my neighbourhood”.

But while girls are being given tools to tackle abuse in public spaces, when it comes to online harassment, reporting mechanisms are still not effective. “The world needs to acknowledge this issue because it is posing serious concerns. Almost every girl is using smartphones and online applications,” she says.

Kirti recalls a personal incident of online abuse. “I created an account on Instagram and posted a picture. My picture was downloaded by a boy. He used my picture for his Instagram profile.”

“I came to know about this. Instead of panicking, I reached out to my friends on Instagram and asked them to report this profile as fake to Instagram. He not only removed my pictures but also deleted the account. I was angry but dealt with it fearlessly.”

Kirti credits her training with the Safer Cities for Girls programme for helping her stand up for herself online, and for helping her feel a sense of community. “Girls should not feel scared if they face any incident of online abuse,” she says.

“Instead, learn about privacy settings and report to the Cyber Crime cell. We encourage girls to report and share. Together, we can deal with the issue.”

Kirti also has the following advice for social media companies: “I want to ask Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms to provide high-security features for these apps to prevent unwanted people from commenting without our permission.”

#nutritionsupportprogramme #planontheboardmember #genderinequalitycasestudyindia #donateforindianpoorchildren #donateforgirlchildeducation