The word empowerment is oft-repeated but mostly in newspapers and speeches. But now, an innovative programme by the Higher Secondary Education Department, providing a platform for ordinary girl students to meet successful women in the society, is making waves.
“As many as 2,400 girl students from four districts have already benefited from the project, the main aim of which is to inspire the children to emulate their heroes.
The girls seem to be living in a state of fear which inhibits them from excelling in life,” says Dr S. Nazeeb, state co-ordinator, Career Guidance and Counselling Cell.
While in Alappuzha, the likes of Dr Beena, former Ernakulam collector, Sheeba Ameer, social activist and Gargi Antharjanam, Woman Pilot, inspired the girls, Deepa T. Nair, Deputy Forest Conservator, cine and TV actress Kukku Parameshwaran and Mayor Prasanna Earnest took the lead in Kollam. Lida Jacob and Bobby Aloysius interacted with the students in Pathanamthitta.
“We missed such opportunities in our childhood…here’s one programme that is actually demonstrating the concept of women’s empowerment. Many of the girls are in a shell and in a state of fear. They have shocking experiences which they could not share with anyone. For instance, many of them are sexually exploited by relatives. At the end of the day, they have to go back to their houses,” Dr Beena says.
“We plan to extend the programme to all districts by the next academic year,” Dr Nazeeb says.
The department has given permission to 575 more schools to start ‘Souhrida’ clubs this year, taking the total number to 700. “The main aim of the programme is to identify teenage problems, particularly those related to health and exam fears,” Aseef Reju M. I, an official of the Career Guidance session says.
One of the schools to benefit is the Girls Higher Secondary School, North Paravur. “The objective of the club is to improve the physical, academic, social and inter-personal skills of the adolescents and lead them towards successful adulthood,” Annie Daleela, Principal, GHHS, North Paravur, says.
All the 718 students of the schools are members of the club. The main activity is to identify the problems students face and give them counselling. Another is to help them overcome exam anxieties.
There is a meeting every month when the programmes are chalked out by the students with the help of a programme officer.
A sum of Rs 75 lakh has been sanctioned by the government beside a grant by the rural health mission.
“Initially I was very afraid to attend the model exams. I worried a lot that I would forget all that I’ve learned….But after attending a class by an expert, I realised that it was only my fear that is defeating me and that I could perform better,” Navya Suresh, a student of class 12 says.