Project Name: Transforming Lives in Bihar: A Comprehensive Initiative for Empowering Adolescents of marginalized communities through Flexible Learning, Gender Equality, Life Skills, and Digital Literacy
Donor: Sisters of Notre Dame
Project period: January 2024 to December 2024
Target Group: 500 adolescent girls of marginalized communities 20 Villages of Raxual and 30 Villages Gahiri.
Program Location: Raxual, East Champaran and Gahiri, West Champaran District, Bihar
Introduction:
The project “Transforming Lives in Bihar: A Comprehensive Initiative for Empowering Adolescents of Marginalized Communities” is to empower adolescents in marginalized communities of Bihar by fostering gender equality, providing flexible learning options, equipping them with life skills, and enhancing their digital literacy. By addressing these crucial aspects, the project aims to create a more inclusive and enabling environment for the holistic development and future success of adolescents in Bihar.
Objective of the project:
The objective of the project “Transforming Lives in Bihar: A Comprehensive Initiative for Empowering Adolescents of Marginalized Communities” is to holistically uplift and empower young individuals in these underserved areas. Through the implementation of flexible learning programs, we strive to offer accessible and adaptable educational opportunities that provide to diverse learning needs, with a particular emphasis on promoting girls’ education. Promoting gender equality is a core component, ensuring that both boys and girls have equal access to resources and opportunities. The project also focus on imparting essential life skills that enable adolescents to navigate daily challenges and make informed decisions. Additionally, enhancing digital literacy equips them with the necessary tools to thrive in an increasingly digital world, thus bridging the digital divide and fostering inclusive growth.
The project seeks to:
- Provide functional literacy and numeracy classes to 350 girls aged 08 -12 who are out of school or drop out or lacking age-appropriate learning in 15 village level Flexible Learning Centres and ensure their enrollment in local schools.
- Conduct gender sensitization training to contribute to a more just and equal society by fostering awareness, empathy, and positive action towards gender-related issues.
- To conduct life skill training to equip adolescents with essential life skills that are crucial for their personal, social, and academic development such as communication, problem-solving, decision-making, critical thinking, resilience, and self-esteem, enabling them to navigate challenges and make informed choices.
- To provide, digital literacy training, teaching adolescents how to use digital tools, navigate the internet safely, critically evaluate online information, and harness technology for learning, communication, and future opportunities to 300 girls studying in High Schools.
This project will help us contribute towards the achievement of mainly SDG 4- Quality Education and SDG 5- Gender Equality.
Activities:
The project encompasses several key initiatives as part of a comprehensive effort to empower adolescents in marginalized communities in Bihar.
- Flexible Learning Centres:
To address the educational needs of out-of-school and dropout girls from marginalized communities in 15 selected villages, Flexible Learning Centres (FLCs) will be established. These Centres will support to those girls who have never attended school or lack age-appropriate learning. A customized curriculum will be designed encompassing essential subjects such as language, mathematics, science, and social studies, in addition to life skills, gender sensitization, and digital literacy, and will be implemented across the FLCs. This comprehensive education will empower girls to overcome challenges and thrive in their communities. The FLCs will help girls regain educational opportunities, acquire essential knowledge and skills, and improve their future prospects. 15 local youths, especially women, will be identified and their teaching capabilities will be strengthened, providing support throughout their learning journey.
- Gender Sensitization and Empowerment:
The program will promote gender equality and empower girls to challenge stereotypes, advocating for their rights within families and communities through gender sensitization training. Collaboration with organizations addressing gender-based violence in Bihar, including a network of specialized lawyers, is planned. The project aims to conduct 25 two-day trainings, with 10 organized by the Raxaul Unit and 15 by the Gahiri Unit.
- Life Skills Training:
Adolescent girls aged 12-16 will benefit from tailored life skills training sessions, addressing their unique needs and challenges. These sessions will be held in government-run middle and high schools within the project area, following approval from school authorities. Utilizing UNICEF’s “Adha Fool” series, consisting of 26 modules, as resource material, we aim to conduct 45 three-day training sessions. The Raxaul Unit will organize 15 trainings, while the Gahiri Unit will host 30 sessions.