To drive accountability on adolescent rights and issues, 300 girl champions were selected and trained to lead various initiatives, raise awareness on adolescent priorities such as education, nutrition, health, sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), safety and agency. Tools like village mapping sheets, social audits and plans for community meetings were created with the help of partner NGOs, academics and researchers.
The data generated from these social audits was analyzed and presented to government officials at district, state and national levels, community leaders, peers via open letters, one-on-one meetings, open mic sessions and a bus tour through 3 states.
These 60 girl champions further trained 300 other girl champions based on the skills learned by them under the ‘Ab Meri Baari’ campaign. These skills include assessing government services, engaging with different stakeholders, conducting social audits, public speaking, analyzing data and presenting recommendations to their local administration, and working on implementing these recommendations in partnership with relevant people.
These 60 girl champions further trained 300 other girl champions based on the skills learned by them under the ‘Ab Meri Baari’ campaign. These skills include assessing government services, engaging with different stakeholders, conducting social audits, public speaking, analyzing data and presenting recommendations to their local administration, and working on implementing these recommendations in partnership with relevant people.
Over 200 letters expressing challenges faced by these girls were shared with local government authorities, on-ground workers and community leaders!
|
|
|
The recommendations from the girl champions come at a crucial time as the government representatives recognize the high rates of teenage pregnancies and child marriages in Jharkhand as a cause for concern.
National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data shows that 37.9% of adolescent girls in Jharkhand got married before the legal age, higher than the national average of 26.8%. Young mothers and girls who are married before 18 are at a high risk of violence, deprivation, malnutrition and death related to childbirth. The children born to young mothers also have lower chances of survival.
National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data shows that 37.9% of adolescent girls in Jharkhand got married before the legal age, higher than the national average of 26.8%. Young mothers and girls who are married before 18 are at a high risk of violence, deprivation, malnutrition and death related to childbirth. The children born to young mothers also have lower chances of survival.
GRAM VAANI
To compliment the on ground events, Ab Meri Baari partnered with Gram Vaani to launch an Interactive Voice Response Service (IVRS) to drive awareness and engagement amongst adolescents on Government schemes and services meant for them.
Key objectives:
Key objectives:
- Create weekly episodes to convey key themes and messages to increase awareness amongst adolescents on services like AFHCs, contraceptives, menstrual hygiene etc
- Roll out a baseline and end line survey to track change in behavior / increase in awareness around the schemes and services
- Engage with the adolescents by allowing them to record testimonials and ask questions through the IVRS
- Aid in collection of the social audit data by allowing adolescents to take the survey after each episode
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FIELD
Girls from Rajasthan and Jharkhand identify issues and service delivery mechanisms through a participatory research methodology to develop the social audit tool. 
Girl champion leads conversation on early marriage and pregnancy in a kishore kishori samooh. 
2 girl champions engage with a Mahila Mandal to discuss accessibility, accountability and regularity of sexual and reproductive health services. They also discuss the demands of the community |
Girl champions participate in the social audit and letter writing training workshop in Jharkhand and Rajasthan. 
Girl champions conduct social mapping of their village to identify some of the most vulnerable households. 
Girl champions interview the BDO of Thetaitangar block, Simdega. Also present were the ICDS supervisors. |
किशोरों द्वारा गाए गए #अब मेरी बारी की धुन
(Songs from the community)
Kishore Kishori Samooh in Dugni village of Saraikela district sing an empowerment anthem: "Dariya kasam, maujon ki kasam, yen tana bana badlega" (I swear by the river, I swear by the waves, things will have to change.) |
A field facilitator from Rajasthan composes a song on the adolescent themes that the campaign focuses on: "Ab hai meri baari, sahyog sabhi ka ho" (Now it's my turn, I need everyone to cooperate and support.) |
Photo Credit: Abhijeet Chanda, CINI
|
स्वास्थय का हो मुद्दा |
|
Abhijeet Kumar from Saathealth wrote and composed a poem for #AbMeriBaari
|