#sponsoreducationforachild

[planindiango]

Plan India's young girl changemakers from #DigitalMitra program have created a video on how education can equip girls with the necessary knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their lives and helps them break free from poverty and discrimination. Educated girls are more likely to participate in the workforce, contribute to the economy, and provide a better life for themselves and their families. The video has been conceptualized and created by the #DigitalMitra as an effort to amplify girls’ voices through storytelling.

[planindiango]

Plan India Sambhav

Jharkhand, home to 0.73 crore of India’s 24 crore adolescents aged between 10 and 19, has the third highest rate of child marriages in the country. 38% girls get married before the legal age of 18 years. In 2015, Plan India started ‘Sambhav’, an adolescent empowerment programme with support from UNICEF for reduction in child marriage and teenage pregnancy and increase in secondary education in six blocks of East Singhbhum district by 2019. With equal participation of adolescent girls and boys as their allies in 942 villages, the scale and the gender-transformative impact of Sambhav is unprecedented. Sambhav worked with 47,000 adolescents between 14–18 years by establishing a girls’ and boys’ adolescent group in each village. A youth who showed keen interest and leadership skills in each group was then groomed as a peer educator (PE) and trained in 10 life-skills modules such as decision making, problem solving, financial literacy and child rights. The PEs cascaded these trainings down to their youth groups. Sambhav also worked to fill gaps in forming and strengthening Child Protection Committees (CPCs). Vibrant village and block level CPCs worked in tandem to identify and address child protection issues in their regular meetings. Parents were oriented and mobilised on child rights issues. Intergenerational dialogues were established to spark conversations at panchayat and block-level meetings that were pivotal in giving children the opportunity and support needed to voice their concerns. Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Sahiyas were trained on CPC as well as other issues faced by adolescents. Their routine meetings were attended by Sambhav team members to drive AWWs to take on the health and nutritional issues of the adolescents. Sambhav and its youth champions prevented 40 child marriages in 6 months. Coming together of stakeholders has led to self-sustained youth empowerment supported by the larger community. Sambhav is now being merged with Tejaswini, a programme run by the Government of Jharkhand and the World Bank for socioeconomic empowerment of adolescent girls and young women. Tejaswini will be based on Sambhav’s learnings and will provide sustainability and continuity for the young community leaders shaped by Sambhav.

Highlights

22,643 adolescents (14,420 girls) reached through 1,614 adolescent groups and 1,878 peer educators trained

942 village-level CPCs with 8,241 members, 6 block-level CPCs and 42 parents’ groups established

3,562 FLWs, teachers and village-level CPC members trained to support vulnerable children and adolescents

[planindiango]

Plan India Eco Education

The daily lives of the residents of Vikarabad district of Telangana are full of surprises. The land that was drought-prone, over-farmed and nearly barren due to fertiliser and pesticide overuse is now slowly recovering through organic farming. Lively discussions about low-cost, replicable ways to save the environment are overheard at child forums formed at schools, communities and environment protection committees (EPCs) in the communities.

Households tend to kitchen gardens which they passionately advocate for environmental and livelihoods support while others are learning to make seed balls that can fill barren lands with lush greenery again. This is the effect of Plan India’s “Child Friendly Schools in Environmentally Sensitive Communities” project. Run in 40 schools and neighbourhoods with support from Oracle India, the project is a part of Plan India’s effort to prepare communities for climate change. The goal is to create model schools and enable children to become environmentally sensitive while realising their rights to quality education and holistic development.

The first-of-its-kind project in the state, it is in alignment with the government’s ‘Haritha Haram’ programme to raise awareness and greenery in the villages. It interfaces with panchayat, mandal and district level government agencies to strengthen community structures so that they can lead the initiative themselves. The project also raises awareness through behaviour change communication among children, parents, teachers, community members so that they can negotiate with their panchayat and government for secure futures.

Highlights

1,215 children (607 girls and 608 boys) from 80 child forums in 40 schools and communities trained

40 EPCs with 723 members (460 men and 169 women, 48 boys and 46 girls) strengthened through support and training

550 families across 40 communities supported for the development of kitchen gardens

[planindiango]

Plan India Picking up the Pieces

India is home to one of the largest child labourer population in the world. According to the Census of India 2011, more than 8 million children go to work rather than to school. New Delhi alone has more than 15,000 rag-pickers. Apart from living in inhospitable conditions, these children, along with their parents, work seven days a week, picking through garbage that is toxic in nature, a serious health hazard they are more than aware off. But they have to because their lives depend on it. Among such children was Sanam (name changed). She has been a rag-picker since the age of 8. “After my parents migrated to Delhi from Rajasthan, we thought our lives would change for the better. Struggling to overcome our financial situation, there was no other option but for me to join my parents and younger siblings in working at the go down.” “It was hard for me especially because I thought that after moving to Delhi, I would get the chance to go to school and college. Then I could get a job and provide a better life for my family. I struggled in the beginning to come to terms with this fact. But I never lost hope.” More than a year had passed and Sanam was still picking pieces of plastic from mounds of garbage. It was a meeting with a Plan India staff member from the Anti-Child Labour Project that would bring much needed change in her life. Staff members spent time talking and counselling the parents to send Sanam to school. The effort eventually paid off. Sanam, along with her siblings, soon enrolled into the project and joined the Knowledge Enhancement Centre. Along with the other children, she was given non-formal education. Not long after, one of her dreams was fulfilled when she was enrolled into a government school. “She is so active in class. The changes we’ve seen in her over the years are truly remarkable. Initially, she was shy and hardly spoke to others, often keeping to herself. Now, she’s the first to raise her hand to answer or ask a question.” – Vishal, Project Coordinator. Today, not only Sanam, but her parents have also given up rag-picking. They now live in a resettlement colony in New Delhi where they can see their children grow up in a safe environment. “Sanam was always eager to go to school and would often cry when, instead, she had to go to work. As a mother, it was hard for me to see her like this. Thankfully, now my children can look forward to a bright future. And as for Sanam, this is the happiest she’s ever been and that’s more than enough for me.” Nadeema, Sanam’s mother.

Read More: https://www.planindia.org/case-study/picking-up-the-pieces/

[planindiango]

plan india flexible funding is our future and our friend

The phrase, ‘flexible funding’ certainly makes sirens sound in the charity sector. Essentially meaning a donation is made without a requirement to spend it on a specific project area, it can seem that these funds are a get out of jail free card for charities who want or need to spend money on areas that don’t directly impact activities and change lives.

[planindiango]

Plan India's young girl changemakers from #DigitalMitra program have created a video on how education can equip girls with the necessary knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their lives and helps them break free from poverty and discrimination. Educated girls are more likely to participate in the workforce, contribute to the economy, and provide a better life for themselves and their families. The video has been conceptualized and created by the #DigitalMitra as an effort to amplify girls’ voices through storytelling.

[planindiango]

The 1st episode aims to simplify the concept of Cyber सुरक्षा, covering the basics of Cyberspace, Cybersecurity, key definitions, and terminologies. Through this episode, our four Agents of Change talk about what cyberspace is. What are the challenges associated with it? And how does cyberspace impact everyone, particularly vulnerable groups?

[planindiango]

Plan India Young Health Programme

A whopping 41 million or 71% of deaths occur due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) globally. In India, NCDs account for 63% of deaths. Young Health Programme (YHP) is one of the few initiatives that focus on the burgeoning problem of early deaths due to chronic ailments such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, respiratory diseases and diabetes. Besides NCDs, YHP also works to raise awareness about adolescent health issues, such as sexual and reproductive health and rights. YHP sensitises youth through sessions at schools and youth-led Health Information Centres (HICs). YHP is one of the first projects to have commissioned community scorecard exercises to rate government health facilities and establish monthly inter-generational dialogues.

HICs are a critical element in grooming young people for taking the lead in spreading knowledge and awareness within their communities A recent win for YHP has been extending their interventions at schools for 226 teachers and 4,500 students. A successful signature campaign led by children lobbied with the municipal bodies for the development of an open gym in a community park. The YHP team sensitised 288 AWWs, ASHAs, and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) on how to limit risk behaviours among youth and promote adolescent-friendly health services at primary health centres.

The team also routinely organises nutrition awareness camps at Anganwadis and HICs to sensitise young people and encourage families to adopt healthy eating habits keeping various variables into consideration such as cultural acceptability, seasonality and low cost. In addition, sports sessions are organised within the communities to combat inactive lifestyles. The project, due to end in 2020, has achieved sustainability by training PEs to take the helm within their communities. Enrolment and active leadership in HICs and youth clubs where they plan and facilitate sessions to motivate the PEs. These champions of change have also been trained in street theatre over four years, thus creating a means of livelihood for their theatre society and adding to the sustainability of YHP.

Highlights                                   

52,597 young people (31,759 girls) and 17,646 community members reached with information on promoting healthy behaviour.

7,403 young people (3,697 girls) registered across Health Information Centres 

3 government-run health centres transformed into adolescent-friendly health centres

89 health workers sensitised on Rashtriya Kishori Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK)

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

[planindiango]

Plan India Reach Each Child

Reach Each Child Project (earlier known as Nutrition India Program) is being implemented in Amravati, Nandurbar districts of Maharashtra and Rajsamand, Kumbalgarh in Rajasthan to demonstrate a community-centred model to address the challenge of malnutrition in a sustainable manner. The project has a definitive emphasis on the inclusive development of women and children, in addition to ensuring last-mile accessibility to public healthcare services.

It intervenes in the first 1000 days, utilising digital and artificial intelligence-based innovative modules, strengthening the health, hygiene and nutrition status of pregnant women and children.

It is targeting towards 40% reduction in the number of children under-5 who are stunted and reduce and maintain childhood wasting to less than 5%. The project, being implemented with the support of Reckitt by Plan India, works with the local communities to build up a workforce of Community Nutrition Workers (CNWs), who are rigorously trained by a team of public health experts, paediatricians, gynaecologists and community development specialists.

Key Achievements

1,905 Under-5 children benefitted

1,331 Moderate Acute Malnutrition children were identified

390 Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) children were identified

296 SAM children were admitted in Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre

1,406 High-risk pregnant women were identified

200 Vouchers issued to SAM children

Read More: https://www.planindia.org/our-project/reach-each-child/

[planindiango]

flexible funding is our future and our friend

DISCOVER HOW OUR FUTURES FOR YOUTH PROGRAMME IS GETTING SUPPORT WHERE IT’S NEEDED FASTER

The phrase, ‘flexible funding’ certainly makes sirens sound in the charity sector. Essentially meaning a donation is made without a requirement to spend it on a specific project area, it can seem that these funds are a get out of jail free card for charities who want or need to spend money on areas that don’t directly impact activities and change lives. Although there isn’t quite enough space to write a book about it here, there are many reasons why flexible funding shouldn’t be judged by its cover.

Charities, and the sectors surrounding them, have histories with colonialist ways of fundraising. Deciding what programme participants need based on what our societies have told us to believe instead of asking them, or letting those we work with be seen as dependent or without freedom are both habits fixed funds can encourage – removing opportunities for future-focussed change. Choice ensures these opportunities stay open. With more flexibility than ever before, Futures for Youth leaves space for choice and allows us to support work how and where it should be, as quickly as possible.

So, we know that flexible funding means donations can be spent where they can have the greatest impact, but what does this mean in practice?

Flexible fundraising lows us to immediately, and authentically, integrate into the communities we work in.

Our main priority will always be providing the best programming possible, but through a modern and decolonising lens, this looks different. It looks like investing money into safeguarding, consulting local experts, and creating safe spaces alongside community members with their input. In the coinciding ages of the pandemic and climate crisis, bespoke programming is key. We need funding that can be moved easily enough to create such environments, not funding constrained by conditions created in an entirely different, often biased context, which doesn’t meet the needs of local people.

It means we can involve the next generation – the right way.

Each new generation has a new set of social issues to contend with, so we shouldn’t be using techniques from the last one to deal with them. Whether this be equipping youth with tool kits to combat evolving problems like online misogyny or using our platform to get their ideas to legislators, for equality to be achieved, we need to not only work with younger generations, but also work with them on their terms. Restricted funding cannot give this group a space where these conditions are listened to and acted on.

Making sure we know how, when and where to spend money on overheads.

When done correctly, overheads can be the key to a door otherwise locked – take fundraising and marketing for instance. Often thought of as expenses which sacrifice revenue in favour of vanity, taking the time to better understand and cater to audience’s means we can evolve and expand. The intersectional and anti-racist values we promote are unfortunately still outside of societal norms, but with smart investment in fundraising and marketing, little by little, this will change. Read More: https://www.planindia.org/flexible-funding-is-our-future-and-our-friend/

[planindiango]

Whose story is it anyway our new commitment to encourage self expression among young people

The stories we tell define how other people see us and give them an insight into how we perceive the world. What if this power was taken from us precisely because these perceptions do not reflect what others are used to?

The global charity sector has a history of doing exactly this, us included. By filtering what programme participants have said and choosing to share only what we thought audiences would want to hear, we undermined their autonomy and contributed to colonialist and otherwise unhelpful ways of thinking. Now, to encourage a move away from these practices, Futures for Youth is making a commitment to participative, first-person storytelling, straight from the mouths of the young people participating in our projects.

As a method of communicating which prioritises the exchanging of rich human knowledge and experience over bland and generic information, participative storytelling communicates what personally matters to project participants – in their own unique way. For our programme participants who are confident and wish to convey their truth independently, there will be minimal restrictions regarding setting, style, or method, with advice or support available if they need it. That said, the purpose of participative storytelling is to welcome and facilitate everybody who wants to join, so our teams will also support anybody who wants more support throughout the process. From discussing what their participation will mean in context to what it will look like in practice, it will be unique from the get-go. After all, who can tell your story better than you?

If you are a long-time friend of Plan’s, you may be wondering where this commitment is coming from, and what it means for you. The launch of Futures for Youth aside, we’ve noticed the media dis empowers young people more and more with each passing day. From labeling them as work-shy and over-sensitive, to expecting they single-handedly solve the world’s problems by virtue of their age, everything is contradictory, and few things are fair. Try as we might to create campaigns which counter this messaging, none of them could ever have as much authenticity as those created through participative storytelling.

Participative storytelling quite literally allows young people to take back the narrative. By trusting programme participants to live, learn, and to discuss their realities in a way which feels natural to them, they won’t be scared anymore. When their friend, who may not have heard of Plan International before, sees this courage, they’ll feel it too. When a group forms, this feeling will be too large to ignore – and those who didn’t believe in them at first will have to learn too.

This is the power of participative storytelling, and this is the power you’re helping to drive forward by supporting Futures for Youth. After all, nobody can resist a good story and we think it’s time that all stories had their time to shine, no matter who is telling them or where they are being told from.

https://www.planindia.org/whose-story-is-it-anyway-our-new-commitment-to-encourage-self-expression-among-young-people/

[planindiango]

This is Plan India’s flagship program, dedicated to provide holistic information on Menstrual Hygiene and management. We operate in urban resettlement colonies in North Delhi and rural blocks in Hazaribagh district, Jharkhand. Our goal is to ensure that all adolescent girls and women can manage their menstrual hygiene safely, easily, and with dignity. We educate parents, local leaders, teachers, Anganwadi workers, and Panchayati Raj representatives about this mission, helping them learn more about menstrual hygiene and encouraging their active participation in community-led campaigns.