Empowering and Protecting Slum Girls

Unstoppable: The Story of Sukarya’s Empowerment of Adolescent Girls Project

In the dusty lanes of rural Haryana and the crowded slums of Delhi, where tradition often overshadows opportunity, a quiet revolution is unfolding. It doesn’t roar—it rises. It rises in the voices of girls who once whispered, now speaking with confidence. It rises in the dreams of daughters who were told to stay home, now daring to lead. This is the story of Sukarya’s Empowerment of Adolescent Girls Project—a movement that turns barriers into bridges.

Where Change Begins:

In many underserved communities, adolescent girls face a triple burden: poverty, gender discrimination, and lack of education. Early marriage, domestic responsibilities, and limited access to healthcare often dictate their lives. Sukarya saw these realities not as roadblocks, but as rallying cries.

The Empowerment of Adolescent Girls Project was born to rewrite these narratives—by equipping girls with the tools to take charge of their futures.

What the Program Offers:

This isn’t just a workshop—it’s a transformation. The project provides:

• Health education on nutrition, menstrual hygiene, and reproductive rights

• Life skills training in communication, decision-making, and leadership

• Vocational guidance to help girls explore career paths and financial independence

• Gender sensitization to challenge harmful norms and promote equality

• Peer mentoring to build solidarity and amplify each girl’s voice

Each session is interactive, culturally sensitive, and deeply rooted in the girls’ lived experiences.

Stories of Courage:

Take Neha, a 15-year-old from a village near Gurugram. She was on the brink of being pulled out of school to help at home. But after joining Sukarya’s program, she learned about her rights, gained the confidence to speak to her parents, and convinced them to let her continue her education. Today, she’s a peer educator, helping other girls find their voice.

Or Ruksar, who used to believe that menstruation was something to be ashamed of. Through Sukarya’s sessions, she not only learned the science behind it but now leads community discussions to break the stigma.

These girls aren’t just participants—they’re pioneers.

Impact That Echoes:

Since its inception, the project has empowered over 10,000 adolescent girls across North India. Communities report lower dropout rates, delayed marriages, and improved health outcomes. The ripple effect touches families, schools, and entire villages.

Supported by Sukarya USA and global partners, the initiative continues to grow—one girl, one story, one breakthrough at a time.

Sukarya’s Empowerment of Adolescent Girls Project is more than a program. It’s a promise. A promise that every girl, regardless of where she’s born, deserves to be educated, respected, and free to dream.

Links:

• facebook page of Sukarya
• Instagram Page of Sukarya
• LinkedIn Page of Sukarya

Zeenat, a 7th-grade student from Shivaji Nagar School, lives with her family in Shanti Nagar, Gurgaon. Originally from Uttar Pradesh, Zeenat lives in a loving family with her parents and siblings. Despite her parents being kind and caring, she often finds it difficult to share her feelings with them out of fear of being misunderstood.

One day, a trusted neighbor offered her chocolates and called her to his room under the pretense of needing help. Inside, he behaved inappropriately, making Zeenat feel uncomfortable. She bravely shouted for her mother, who immediately intervened. Her mother confronted the man and ensured he was asked to leave the premises. She also made Zeenat promise never to hide such incidents and to always speak up.

Through the Gender Equality Program, Zeenat learned the importance of trusting her instincts, seeking help from trusted adults, and speaking out against any form of abuse or injustice. She also gained awareness about equality, learning that all individuals—including transgender people—deserve equal respect and should never face discrimination. Zeenat’s story highlights the power of awareness, courage, and the importance of open communication within families.

About the Program:

The Gender Equality program for adolescent girls has been developed keeping in mind the need of tender-aged girls who are going through crucial transitions in their lives. The major objectives of this program are as follows:-

* Provide Basic Knowledge and Awareness to adolescent girls [10-19 yrs. age group] on       Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health, along with Gender and Health rights.

* Build their knowledge and Skills in Family Life aspects [Physical, Social, Psychological, and moral dimensions] to relate, understand, and cope with challenges to lead a healthier life.

* Build their knowledge and capacities in leadership and develop them as community resources, a change agent to bring about desirable change. This would ensure long-term impacts and sustainability.

During this period the project has achieved most of the required progress in both quantitative and qualitative parameters. The project has successfully executed maximum numbers of training on both the verticals of schools and the communities.

During this quarter, a total of approximately 250 girls have been enrolled across the schools and communities and they have gone through 14 module-based training sessions on Adolescent Health, Menstrual Hygiene, Reproductive & Sexual Health, Family Life Education, Safety measures & coping mechanisms, and Gender rights.

There was a maximum of 20“Lead Girls” who have been identified and developed as agents of change for gender rights. The project has also executed the orientation sessions for the parents and teachers to ensure their full support and active role in the promotion of gender equality within the Families and school spheres.

Geographical Coverage:-

6 Urban Slums and 4 Government Schools of Gurugram Region, Haryana. 

1. Tekchand Nagar Community

2. Basai Enclave

3. Bhawani Enclave

4. Sarhaul Community

5. Surat Nagar

6. Laxman Vihar

7. GGSSS Badshahpur 

8. Govt. Co-ed SSS Sarhaul, 

9. Govt. Co-ed School 4/7. 

10. Govt. Girls school Jacompura.

Highlights of the quarter:-

• International woman’s day celebration.
• Holi celebration.
• Youth Day Celebration.
• National Girl child day celebration.
• Republic day celebration.
• Human trafficking awareness day celebration.
• Self Defense training.
• Meeting with lead girls: - Role and Responsibilities of lead girls, Revision session of all six topics, Laws related to gender and women’s Rights, (Dowry Prohibition Act-1961, Domestic Violence act -2005, Sexual Harassment at Work place act-2013, and others) 
• Conducted awareness Session by lead girls. 

Activities achieved for the Quarter at a Glance:

Jan-March 2025

Total Number of communities identified for intervening the Gender Project - 6

Total number of schools identified for intervening the Gender Project. - 4

Total no. of batches operated during the period - 5

No. of batches operated  across the Schools  - 4

No. of trainings conducted at Schools  - 12

No. of participants attended the training sessions at schools - 600

No. of batches operated  across the communities - 1

No. of Trainings conducted at Communities - 2

Total no. of Participants attended the training sessions at community  - 82

Total no. of Participants attended the training sessions across the schools and Communities  - 638

Total no. of regular [ repeat participants ]attending the session across communities batches - 41

Total no. of regular [ repeat participants ]attending the session across schools batches  - 185

No. of Parents  orientation sessions held during the month at communities  - 2 

Total no. of Parents  Participants attended the Orientation sessions in communities  - 25

No. of lead girls identified and developed across the batches   - 20

No. of orientation and capacity building sessions held with lead girls  - 3

No. of lead girls participated in orientation and capacity session during this period - 20

No. of meetings held with school authorities  for permission to conduct training sessions   - 14

No. of Community meetings and situational analysis done to prepare batch across community / other activities - 12

No. of Other Activities Planned - 6

No. of Participants attended the other activities - 314

No. of batched certification completed with  - 20

Links:

• facebook page of Sukarya
• twitter handle
• LinkedIn page