POWER WITHIN – LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS (SALONI)

“To all the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful, and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.” Hillary Clinton

“I raise up my voice - not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. … We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.” - Malala Yousafzai.

“Power Within” is a concept denoting the inner capacities and confidence of a person and acquiring these shall be a part of the processes for empowerment. This is also the moral power and integrity of a person which helps one to stand straight without inhibitions, fear and other complexes like inferiority, helplessness etc. Developing the leadership, in both hard skills as well as in soft skills and the empowerment of the Adolescent Girls has been another focus area of DISA. As the adolescent population constitutes about 25 % in our country, enhancing their character and competence matters a lot to make India Shining and be a global force to reckon with. Hence enabling the Adolescent Girls to shoulder the future responsibilities of our country and making them Change-makers and multi-taskers will also promote Gender Justice and Equity, a priority area for DISA. DISA intervened in facilitating and mentoring Saloni Sangams and promoted gender sensitization among Communities, enhanced their skills through trainings in acquisition of Life Skills, promoted and encouraged to pursue their formal studies, conducted classes on personal hygiene, sanitation, various health-related issues and personal safety. Some of the Girls were given technical skills like tailoring, Computer skills, managing the digital world etc. They were also given inputs on rights and entitlements, family education, promotion of safe environment by managing kitchen garden, plantation of trees etc. In order to promote saving and thrift they are encouraged to start small deposits of coins in small pots (Gullaks). They also contribute to the income of the Family by way of kitchen gardens. Regular monthly meetings, exposure visits and inter-face meetings, immunization, blood checkup etc were organized for them. They had regular interactions with ANMs, ASHAs, Anganwadi Workers, Primary Health Centre and all frontline health service providers.

The following Table reveals the Focus Area, the number of Saloni Sangams and the number of Members: