Giving India’s Girls the Skills to Rise Up

Posted 12 October 2016 in EMpower News, Grantee Partner News   |   Share

EMpower and our incredible grantee partner organizations have been featured in an article for News Deeply’s Women & Girls Hub, “STEM in the Slums: Giving India’s Girls the Skills to Rise Up!” The feature focuses on EMpower grantee partners’ work to give adolescent girls in India opportunities to break the cycle of poverty, learn skills such as science and engineering and fulfill their potential.

“When girls reach their teen years in parts of India, they often lose the opportunities afforded to males. But some young women are writing their own futures, using what they learn from innovative education and leadership initiatives in India’s poorest communities.”

Despite India’s economic growth, major cultural issues continue to prevent girls from accessing education and vocational training. EMpower grantee partner organizations like Feminist Approach to Technology Society (FAT), have made girls’ education in India a priority by supporting projects to break through the barriers.

The article also shows the important work being done to engage girls by grantee partner Vacha Trust and the Adolescent Girls Learning Community in Mumbai. To fully empower girls and young women, EMpower’s Senior Program Officer in India, Nisha Dhawan says, it’s also important to get boys and young men on board. Co-ed grantee partner organizations like Lend-a-Hand India teach job and life skills to unemployed young people where boys learn home economics side-by-side with girls training in carpentry and electrical work.  

We’re extremely proud of all the work being done to support adolescent girls in India. Read the full story here!