Education India Project #49749

Empower disadvantaged girls in Indian slums

by OSCAR (Organization for Social Change, Awareness and Responsibility) Foundation

Project Report | Jul 2, 2021
Addressing the cultural taboo about menstruation in deprived communities in India.

By Lucinda Sowerbutts | Head of OSCAR International

Addressing the myths and misconceptions around menstruation is key to empowering young woman and girls living in the deprived slum communities in India. The topic is still taboo, which is compounded by female’s low level of understanding of puberty, menstruation and reproductive health. Tackling socio-cultural beliefs in India is very challenging but the OSCAR team is dedicated to educating girls and mothers about the menstrual cycle and protecting their mental and emotional state. Recognition, acceptance and understanding the menstrual cycle improves health, confidence and markedly increases the life chances of a young woman living in a low-income community. During menstruation girls all too frequently stay locked away missing school, college and work. In addition, the adverse health issues caused by re-using unhygienic cloth needs to be addressed urgently.

OSCAR Young Leader, Poonam has been instrumental in delivering a virtual menstruation awareness and education campaign. This is her positive feedback, direct from the Ambedkar Nagar community where she lives.

“Women and girls in slum communities are too shy to talk about menstruation, the taboo is so ingrained, they are frightened and ashamed. Women do not have the confidence to go to a shop to purchase sanitary pads, so instead they use unhygienic cloth. The OSCAR programme has reached out to over 2,300 women and girls, who have received health and hygiene advice. Over 3,000 sanitary pads have been distributed across Mumbai.

If a young girl in my community has her period, she misses school and opts out of any interaction with family and the community. The OSCAR programme empowers girls like me to accept menstruation as a natural cycle and nothing to be ashamed of. We are proud to hear OSCAR girls talk freely about the monthly cycle, accepting their bodies, growing in confidence and taking part in the community whatever time of the month. Please do continue to support us. We have many more communities which need our help and distribution of sanitary pads.” Poonam

Links:

Periods are a natural process, we do not need to feel shame.

Permalink

Mar 5, 2021
Netravati's road to empowerment - International Women's Day 2021 #choosetochallenge.

By Lucinda Sowerbutts | OSCAR International

Netravati,19 joined the OSCAR Foundation in 2017 and is currently an OSCAR Young Leader. She lives with her mother and sister in the low income, Badhwar Park Community in Mumbai. Her father died when she was 2 months old. Her mother works as a housekeeper and is a pillar of strength.

“The OSCAR football and education programmes have really helped me develop my confidence and leadership skills. I had no idea football could help build crucial life skills.”

Keen to share all she learnt as a beneficiary of the OSCAR programmes, Netravati became a Young Leader, with a mission to enrol girls from her community for football and life skills sessions. Lack of money and resources are huge barriers but society's attitude towards girls is a far greater hurdle.

Netravati said, “People have accused me of revealing my body because I wear shorts. They say I've been corrupted and will now corrupt the minds of young children in my community. On top of this, people are divided on religious lines.”

Weaving through deep rooted and complex beliefs is very challenging but Netravati says young girls in her community want to fight for their right to play and learn. Today, she runs her own team of girls, teaches football and gender life skills and has taken the unprecedented step of enrolling a transgender person.

The harsh reality and hardships of life in the community have taken a toll on Netravati's education.

“I was enrolled in an NIIT course with OSCAR’s education programme, but it clashed with the water collection timings for our community. I had to give up my place to ensure my family had water every day,”

This disappointment will not deter Netravati, who plans to enrol again and remains determined to provide for her family and continue to be a role model in her community.

Netravati is now working for OSCAR as a part time coach whilst pursuing her graduation. Over the last two years she's reached out to over 70 adolescent girls in the communities of Colaba and become a role model OSCAR is very proud of.

Links:

Permalink

‹ 1 2 3 4 5

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.